TAKEAWAYS

• Joanita Kawalya says she cannot raise children fathered outside her marriage.
• She believes such responsibility should remain with the biological mother.
• The singer also reflected on stereotypes facing female musicians and her 30-year marriage to Jim Wange.

Veteran singer Joanita Kawalya has stirred conversation after openly sharing her stance on raising children fathered outside her marriage.

Speaking during an appearance on Sheebah Karungi’s podcast, Muganga: Let’s Talk About It, the longtime Afrigo Band vocalist said she has always been clear about one issue — she would never take on the responsibility of raising children who are not biologically hers.

According to Kawalya, if her husband, Muganga, were to have children outside their marriage, the responsibility of raising those children should remain with their biological mother.

The Jim singer explained that her position is rooted in personal conviction and the realities of family responsibilities. She noted that after dedicating decades to building a family, she finds it difficult to imagine taking on such obligations later in life.

“I have always said I cannot raise children that are not mine,” Kawalya stated.

She further argued that it would be unfair for her own children, who should be preparing to establish their own families, to shoulder responsibilities connected to children born outside the marriage.

“My children should not be looking after another woman’s children when they are meant to be building their own lives,” she added.

During the discussion, Sheebah Karungi also asked Kawalya how her husband managed to embrace a relationship with a female musician despite longstanding stereotypes surrounding women in the entertainment industry.

Kawalya acknowledged that female musicians have long battled assumptions of being uncontrollable, heavy drinkers or unfaithful partners. However, she said her husband looked beyond those stereotypes and chose to understand her as an individual.

That understanding, she revealed, has helped sustain their marriage for more than 30 years, proving that trust and mutual respect can outshine public perception.