Heaven Bound's 'Every Step'

By Paul 'P-Tech' Mwandha and Buuba

If you feel troubled and need that reassurance that someone called Jesus cares, the Gospel group Heaven Bound have exactly what you need in a remake of their track "Every Step" song. Paulo Mugarura, one of the founder members of the group, now based in Canada sent us this lovely MP3. He says "The song I've sent you is from the old repertoire of songs that we used to do – just re-tracked and re-recorded in Canada".

The idea behind the song production was to tap back into the 90's R&B feel that was predominant when the group first started (1993/94) and which they had a high affinity for, while at the same time adding elements, energy, and a little growing-up that are unique to us as individuals. The song carries a deeper meaning though, than just the musical packaging.

It was written at a time when members in the group were having the shared experience of heartbreak – romantically related – and it was a time for them to create a reminder that no matter what, they have Jesus by our sides and he accepts them and loves them just as they are – failures, screw ups, successes, triumphs, the works!

"Every Step" seems to have worked wonders for the group! Four years later, two marriages, two kids (Michael's), one on the way (Chris), others threatening to get married (you'll see! Heh!); successful careers and career changes, doors opened, lives that they've come in touch with changed; the list goes on and on - their lives are a continual testimony to the fact EVERY STEP they have taken, Jesus has been right by their side.

Heaven Bound got married to Tawnia, his American fiancé. He was then the Programs Director at Power FM, a Gospel FM radio station at that time where he also presented the "Day Break Kampala" show every morning. Other members of the group threw a Music Celebration titled the "Who's Next Concert" in his honor. Many of his friends were there to flag off Michael with songs to congratulate him upon being the first among the group to 'swallow the pin' and be a man. Also featured at the concert were 30 minutes of Kawesa's live performances, Keith Ministries and a rib cracking send off by the newest gospel act then, THUG Squad. The fans got a chance to see the mugole, who just flew into the country for the wedding. Michael met Tawnia on tour in the USA back in 2000. Turns out Chris Nsubuga was next on the marriage row, so two of the original members are married now.

The group has gone through a lot of re-evaluation and rejuvenation since then because they've had members of the group move all over the world. They had to decide whether to keep going or not. At the moment Heaven Bound is regrouping; both Paulo and Michael had to leave because of geographical relocations (Canada and the US respectively), and Denis Makhande AKA Deno is working on his masters degree in South Africa. That said, Chris has recruited two dynamic and extremely talented individuals – Emma Okullo and Jeremy Byemanzi and has called back into active service Abimelech Dhatemwa aka Kadi. They are in the process of writing a couple of very progressive contemporary Christian songs that they hope to have the chance to work on later this year.

...more about Heaven Bound

How the group started

The year is 1994, in a secondary school in the middle of the Pearl of Africa. The main hall, packed to capacity in the hot tropical afternoon as the students of Kings college Buddo waited in anticipation to savour the flavor of the big time gospel group, Limit X. One of the members of the group, Dennis, appears and announces their need for curtain raisers. Any talented youth?

After some moments of hesitation and urging from friends, three young boys walk to the stage and pick up microphones. The need for introduction comes and they think on their feet.
They said, "the name of the group is Heaven Bound." And that's how Heaven Bound was born.

Their debut album was Sitani Alwana and it was briskly followed up by thirty-three new tracks! They were really making a lot of music for Jesus then; who could be against them with God on their side? That's a question no one should dare answer for obvious reasons. Besides these guys had a blast demon-stomping all over the place, most especially in Kenya.

So, who in the world are the Heaven Bound guys? Well the original Heaven Bound consisted of Chris Nsubuga, Paul Mugarura, Denis Mahande, Michael Kisaka and Abemelech Dhatemwa. Their shows spanned Kampala Pentecostal Church, Makerere University, and Daystar University in Kenya just to mention. Paul's splendid instrumentation skills graced their debut album with Denis, Abemelech, Micheal and Chris' vocals mellowing the flow yo!

We asked Chris when he dropped by one day in 2002 to briefly tell us about the group and what he felt about the whole thing; he told us that besides winning souls for Christ, their ministry is tackling day-to-day issues of life. Though they do not quote directly from the bible in their songs, their message is Christ-centered And their main aim was to show that the Christian life is not a sour lemon life but a life that's the bomb. It's just the way one makes it.

Their biggest problem in the beginning was album sales and distribution since the few music shops were not adequate for a proper distribution network. And with no copyright law or mechanical rights, the situation was not colorful at all.

Watch this space for more ..