The Observer (Kampala)
David Tumusiime
29 October 2009
As if Facebook groups popping up claiming to be accounts for President Museveni are not enough, a website has also joined the fray. However unlike some of the Facebook groups that claim to support NRM, the new website www.musevenimustgo.com is decidedly anti Museveni.
The founders of the group describe themselves as, "a coalition of Ugandans, very much aware of developments both in recent times and over decades, who have joined forces to do everything possible to reclaim our country."
The website features articles that discuss for example what they allege are similarities between current Ugandan president with former Presidents Milton Obote and Id Amin. The site though does seem like the latest reincarnation of the Radio Katwe website that at one point was allegedly shut down by government. Or at least access to it by Ugandan readers was temporarily blocked.
Barbara Yata quits WBS TV
She has been the face of Showtime Magazine on WBS TV for several years now. A regular on the party circuit because of her former job, Star Trail has learned that the petit TV and radio presenter has thrown in the towel at WBS TV. Yata has apparently decided to shift into fulltime events management instead of covering events as a TV host.
Star Trail can confirm that Yata has joined the advertising agency Fireworks Advertising Uganda Ltd as a Public Relations Events Manager. She reportedly joined the agency at the beginning of October, although it had been kept hush-hush. The move means that the talented TV and Radio presenter will work actively in organizing events for and on behalf of Fireworks' clients. Her experience as a TV host of Showtime Magazine was the main clincher for the posting. Yata is also a graduate of Mass Communications from Uganda Christian University in Mukono.
Nalongo Shifa Mwesigye!
Our very own Observer reporter Shifa Mwesigye has had a name change. This, after she surprised all by popping twins at Nsambya Hospital on Sunday morning. Nalongo Shifa Mwesigye is the proud mother to a boy and a girl, and mother and tots are in great shape. Congratters Shifa on the latest addition to The Observer family!
Mayinja boxed into corner
It looks like musician Ronald Mayinja is under a lot of pressure. The musician's songs like Landlord, which praises Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and Africa, which accuses African leaders of failing their people and Tuli Kubunkenke have been quietly banned on many radio stations scared of provoking the wrath of the Broadcasting Council.
While attending the Ingyezi Troupe 10th anniversary celebrations, Mayinja complained to journalists that he had been unfairly labeled a political musician. He said, "I did love songs until I exhausted what I had to sing about. So I decided to change direction and try another kind of theme. I'm not interested in politics."
Now Mayinja says, "I'm going to change again. I'm tired of explaining that I'm not a political musician. I'm going to start singing about other things." Mayinja however, would not say what those "things" he plans to sing about are.
Tame Iryn goes Francophone
The Iryn Namubiru at Emin Pasha Hotel last Saturday was the alter ego to the exhibitionist chanteuse that gives lecherous fans carte blanche to put their hands under her skimpy frocks.
Saturday's Iryn was rather tame, in a free-flowing ankle length skirt, a top that covered up her cleavage, an orange headscarf that partly covered her braids, huge bangles on her wrists and a large-beaded necklace that gave her the look of an African diva.
Apparently, she had gotten a stern briefing from the show sponsors Alliance Francaise not to attempt anything close to donning an unflattering swimsuit, or even lifting her skirt Tshala Muana style. Also Emin Pasha did not want to scandalize guests and patrons.
French fusion was the gist of the concert, her French links being by marriage to a one Morrel, the music practitioner that was supposed to take I-jay to international heights before Juliana Kanyomozi cried foul about allegedly getting the short end of the stick.
The fusion was absent and the French bits at the show only showed by way of renditions of French classics from Edith Piaf the renowned 1930s cabaret and music-hall singer. And yet Iryn's French links run deeper with the notable Ensi album she contributed vocals to. It was an imaginative electronica/World Music set whose single Ansobela earned her a Best East African Female Artiste Kora nod in 2004.
The bulk of her song list that night comprised her Ugandan pop hits (Nsonyiwa, Nkuweki, Simbalala, Y'ono) that have endeared her to the local masses. Those left the Caucasians wondering what was getting the Luganda-speaking locals excited about lines as plain as inserting forks in food, licking soup bowls or a man "standing up" to the sensual touch of an alluring female.
For those that could read the sub text in the lines, this was Iryn being a "senga" of sorts with allusions to intercourse, cunnilingus and giving her man erections. She tantalized further with a new one penned by the king of Luganda sexual innuendo, Saava Karim who stayed around to sing his notorious hit Ggaba ku Mazzi.
Overall, this was Iryn out to prove that she was an underappreciated songstress with an immense vocal range. Her renditions of Malaika and Makoma's Butu na Moyi were living proof and it was noble of her to sing through the rickety sound.
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