The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Justine Nabbosa is a renowned gospel artiste, lead worshiper and co.pastor with Wilson Bugembe at the Worship House.
The vocal dynamo is also president of Next Girl Champion, an annual conference that empowers girls and women in Uganda. Many in the gospel music circles first knew her as a back-up voice in Wilson Bugembe’s music.
Although it remains the podium that brought her to the limelight, her first album featuring ‘Oli Katonda’ has since its release in 2016, broken barriers and performed beyond her expectations. “I am grateful to God for the far he has brought me with that song,” Nabbosa says, “I realized that it was time for me to shine and no one could stop me”.
Featuring in Bugembe’s music made her voice popular and the audience started demanding for solo music but Nabbosa was not about to take on a solo career. Three years ago, she emerged out of the comfort zone and started singing compositions by different people starting her solo music journey.
The start of the journey would seem tough as her first songs were scarcely received not until she released ‘Oli Katonda’ that shook airwaves.
Perhaps her music journey has not been a tough one since it is where her passion lies but also because she never saw music as a source of income but as a part from ministry work. Bugembe, who she considers to be the right person, has always been her stepping-stone, she says.
“Backing him made my voice popular and came with so many favours of recording for free so by the time I chose to go solo,” Nabbosa says, “the industry was ready and willing to take on my music.” She recalls meeting Bugembe in 2002 during her Senior Four long holiday at his first concert.
She was only a visitor at Christian Life Church in Bwaise, while she stayed at her uncle’s home in Kampala. On the fateful day, Nabbosa landed on a poster announcing Bugembe’s forthcoming concert to which she vowed to attend even when her pockets wouldn’t support the urge.
She would later make it inside the performance room, which opportunity, she says, remains one of her happiest in life. It was not long before she made headway to stay and study in Kampala at Lubiri Secondary School.
This opened more doors to meet and interact with Bugembe through the school exchange fellowship meetings. About the same time, Bugembe spotted the singing talent in her and when he chose to start a church in Nansana, Nabbosa was made one of the founder members.
“I started singing with pastor Bugembe on his third album of ‘Kani’ and God used me miraculously to touch lives of many people,” she says. On April 24, 2017, Nabbosa held her maiden solo concert and has since travelled the world ministering thorough music.
She is the middle child of the nine children of James and Tappi Kiyingi born and raised in KamuliEastern Uganda. She is a graduate of Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Makerere University with several awards in the ministry. She is yet to get married to the love of her life
