General Megga Dee

Last week, I missed an appointment to interview the General of the ragga army of the republic of Uganda. Calling him up again last Monday, I apologised for my lack of military discipline and requested for a second chance.
" Fine", came the reply "tomorrow nine o'clock in the morning. Make sure you're there."
I promised him I would.
Nine o'clock came and the general told me over the phone that he's coming over. Twenty minutes later he stood in music Uganda office, regarding the environment like it was an aftermath of war, something normal to a general. After making the intros, I got down up close and personal with the afande.

M.U: Let's get down to the basic intro. What's your real name and why are you called General Mega Dee?

Mega D: My real name is Kigenyi Amos. Mega Dee is my stage name and General is a tittle I attained while at Makerere University, which was a position of leadership at my former hall of residence.

M.U: Let me guess.. that's the former Northcote Hall.

Mega D: You're right. It's like an attachment to my former hall of residence.

M.U: So what got you going in music? When did you exactly start out?

Mega D: Basically it began in primary school but I realised that I had it in me when I was in the University. That's when it blossomed.

M.U: Tell us about your childhood.

Mega D: I was born in Lacor hospital in Gulu, 1976 though my village is Bufuula. My father was a policeman so I really didn't grow up there due to his transfers from district to district.
We finally settled, and I started primary at Kivubuka primary school from P1 to P7. When I was in P5 my father died then I lost my mother in P7. From then on my brother who had gone to the U.K. to study returned and took over the gap left by our parents.

I later joined Kiira College Butiki from S1 to S6. So, in senior one, it was compulsory to join the house choir and since we were young then, we had no choice. I was tiny and comical and that's when I begun perfecting my stage skills. I joined the drama club later and we used to go visit the neighbouring girls' schools entertaining them.

I played mostly female roles in plays, which brought me a lot of popularity, and I ended up being teased by the girls. It felt good anyway… As a matter of fact, Drama was my speciality. I became a producer/playwright in S.3. I finally started doing Ragga music in S.4 during an inter-house competition in rap music. I tried to protest initially because I didn't know how to rap so I made up a rap song in Luganda. I teamed up with a friend called Ronald Kobo and we performed that song. People loved it so much that they congratulated me after the show and I haven't looked back since.

I then started accompanying my school's football team to football and I would be the chief moral booster with my Ragga music. It was something different so it got a lot of attention wherever I went. In Makerere University, I continued with the same and composed "Nze Ndeka". After I had got some money, I started recording while I was at the campus. So far, the Makerere University version of that song is the best but of course I had to make a Radio Edit. From there I recorded "Tu Temere" (Lusoga), "O'mbulilangako" and "O'sanyukangako" popularly known as 'In Heaven's no beer'. "Dimula" and "Love me" were by Menton Krono. This was my first album.

M.U: Tell us how you went about promoting your first album…

Mega D: I recorded it on CD's and took it to Simba FM. The Programme Manager, Collin Mutambo did his best and played the songs so much. He began before I had left the station! The next station I went to was CBS FM but their response was lukewarm. When I went to Capital FM, the white-guy in charge dissed me and said that they don't play such songs on their station.

The same happened with Sanyu FM and other stations. After the song became a hit, the other stations PIRATED it on TAPE! The quality was very poor… but they played it anyway. My second album was recorded with a guy called Little J. I didn't waste any time and went straight to Simba FM. Collin Mutambo has done a great job promoting local Ugandan artists. He will take your music as long as you're good.

M.U: What are your songs about?

Mega D: I songs are basically message-songs for my people.

M.U: Do you have any new songs coming up?

Mega D: Yes I do. I have an album, which is yet to be officially released at the end of this month. This has been my best album so far because I was in a better position to record. The only problem I have this time is that of promotion because I am very busy.

MU: What do you do apart from making music and entertaining on stage?

Mega D: I'm a DJ and programme Manager at Kiira FM in Jinja. I'm also a graphic designer by profession and will soon start working in that field but I won't throw music away because that's my talent.

M.U: Tell us about your daily timetable.

Mega D: By 7:00am, I'm travelling to Jinja and I spend the whole day at the station and come back after 9:00pm.

M.U: With your experience in the music industry, what can you say Ugandan artists and how to promote them?

Mega D: Artists should know what they are worth and serious businessmen should enter into the music sector because there is money to be made there. Once an artist doesn't have a definite value, he is open to exploitation. Music in Uganda is going down because people are desperate to make money. If you observe carefully, most of the promoters we have are illiterate and since they have the upper hand, they are afraid to sign contracts because they want to exploit the artists. That's why we have problems like what recently happened with Saida Karoli.

M.U: Before you go, can you tell us what is going to be on your new album…

Mega D: The new album is called "Ekili Mu Beere" and has songs like "Mukolere", "Nancy", "Tusimye", "Ensambo" and "Reggae calling".

M.U: Finally, what is your hobby and favourite food?

Mega D: I'm an all-round sportsman and I love Matooke and Beef.

Mr.Vegas to again grace General Megga Dee’s launch! By Isaac ssejjombwe.

Following his deserted Akabadi album launch at Africana people’s space last year, Singer Mega Dee has embarked on Mr. Vegas to ounce again grace his Forthcoming album launch.

The Jamaican music sensation was the same artist Mega Dee flew in 2 years ago while launching “Nebwonvuma Agaiso” at Kyadondo rugby club on the same day Bebe Cool was launching “Big is big” at Africana.

After the success of that particular album launch, the Akabadi singer thought he was better off launching alone and people proved him otherwise by snubbing his launch last year.

With only the lead single titled “Ina De Dance” alongside Bobi Wine, Sizzaman and Butcher Man out off his entire album, the show looks to be a Mr. Vegas concert after his “something about you track” has caught the attention of all Ugandan music lovers.

Isac44@gmail.com