TAKEAWAYS

• Ava Peace says politics has dominated public attention, contributing to fewer hit songs in Uganda.
• She praised Ray G, Winnie Nwagi, Elijah Kitaka, Jeff Kiwa and Dr. Jose Chameleone’s upcoming song “Yeffe.”
• The singer says Ugandan music continues to break international barriers, citing her success in Mauritius and the global achievements of artistes like Eddy Kenzo and Joshua Baraka.

Ugandan singer Ava Peace has blamed the growing influence of politics for what she believes is the stagnation of Uganda’s music industry, saying political discussions have overshadowed music and limited the production of major hit songs.

Speaking in a recent interview, the singer noted that while Uganda continues to produce talented artistes, the entertainment space has been dominated by political conversations, leaving music struggling to command the attention it once enjoyed.

“The reason we haven’t had many big hit songs is because politics has taken over the space. Music has not been enjoying the attention it deserves.”

Despite her concerns, Ava Peace said she remains optimistic that the industry will regain its momentum as the year progresses and music once again becomes the centre of public conversation.

She also praised several artistes whom she believes have kept the industry alive through quality releases. Among those she highlighted were Ray G, Winnie Nwagi, Elijah Kitaka, and herself. She also commended her manager Jeff Kiwa and veteran singer Dr. Jose Chameleone for their upcoming collaboration, “Yeffe,” predicting it will become one of the country’s biggest songs once fully released.

“I believe ‘Yeffe’ is going to take over the music industry when it’s officially released. It’s one of those songs people will love.”

Ava Peace further dismissed claims that Ugandan music is failing internationally. She revealed that one of her songs is currently trending in Mauritius, where fans have embraced it through dance challenges on social media.

She added that Dr. Jose Chameleone is currently touring parts of East Africa because of his enduring musical legacy, while stars such as Eddy Kenzo and Joshua Baraka continue proving that Ugandan music can compete on the global stage through international recognition and award conversations.

According to Ava Peace, Uganda’s music industry has what it takes to break barriers—it simply needs the spotlight to return to music.