A young man whose dad died during or shortly after the five-year NRA bush war would later become the toast of the opposition’s political campaigns.
This is the story of Adam Mulwana, 36, who died on Tuesday after a sudden illness.
His song, Toka Kwa Barabara, a Kiswahili statement for ‘get out of the way’ was opposition strongman, Dr.Kizza Besigye’s signature tune as he made a fourth attempt to unseat President Museveni from power in 2016.
Speaking during Mulwana’s funeral at his office along Katonga Road, Dr.Besigye described Mulwana as one who was not able to get formal education but found his way from Luweero to Kampala to eke a living.
“He realized his parents were away (had died) and therefore there was no one to educate him. He was therefore not able to go school but found his way to move from the village to Kampala and struggled to make ends meet until he came to us. Before joining this joint struggle of ours, he was already in the struggle, first to eke a living. Through this struggle, he was able to move from the village( in Luweero) while still a young boy and came to make ends meet in the city until he joined us with his songs,” Besigye said.
Whereas not so much is known about his past, it has been reported that Mulwana was part of Eagles Production, a local band not as a musician but rather as one who used to erect posters wherever the band was to perform
Hajji Asuman Ssemakula, a former aide to Dr.Besigye says he would later introduce Mulwana to the opposition strongman.
Speaking with tears rolling allover his cheeks, Ssemakula told mourners that he met Mulwana in Ndeeba where the former was dealing in timber.
“He narrated to me his story of how his father had died in the NRA bush war while he was only three years. I told him this was the situation many people go through. He later composed a song and brought it to me that he said was from the bottom of his heart for Dr.Besigye and the country at large,” Ssemakula said, amidst a deafening silence at Katonga Road.
Meets Besigye
Ssemakula, who was an aide to the opposition strongman would later lead Mulwana to Besigye and as they say, the rest is history.
“When I took him, the song was played and Dr. Besigye loved it but asked him to add a few words which touch the ordinary Ugandan and the situation in the country.”
He says a day later, Mulwana returned to Besigye’s home with a new version of the song, after adding the lines that he had been asked to.
“One of the songs he composed was in Luganda and while launching Dr.Besigye’s campaigns( for 2016) at Nakivubo, Adam was given opportunity to perform. Whereas there were other musicians singing love songs, when Adam hit the stage, everyone loved his song right away,” Ssemakula said.
Ssemakula says because the song had left everyone surprised, current Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who was the master of ceremony during launch of the campaigns asked the Mulwana be made part of Besigye’s campaign trail.
“Since he was now going to be part of the trail, Hon Ssemujju gave Adam eight t-shirts to put on during the trail.”
Enter Toka Kwa Barabara
Whereas Mulwana had other songs like Essaala ya Kabaka, Mperekera, Obulamu and Kampala Ayola among others, it was Toka Kwa Barabara that many know him for.
Ssemakula says that whereas Mulwana’s first song for Dr.Besgye was in Luganda, he(Mulwana) suggested that it is translated into other languages so that its coverage gets wide.
“Now that we were going to Teso, Adam suggested that in order to spread the message in the song, he should return to Kampala to record another song.”
According to Mubiru, three days after returning to Kampala to hit the studio, Mulwana returned to Besigye’s campaign trail with ‘Toka Kwa Barabara’ which was a new hit.
This became the toast of Besigye’s campaign.
“The song has verses in different languages including Runyankore, Kiswahili and Luganda. This song spread like a wildfire as everyone loved it. Wherever Doctor(Besigye) was going to address a rally, it was Toka Kwa Barabara that welcomed him to stage.”
