Bad Black, whose real name is Shanita Namuyimbwa, recently revealed her four best female vocalists in Uganda.
Although the list was impromptu, given during an interview with Grace Khan—whom she also named among the top vocalists—Bad Black immediately cited Juliana Kanyomozi, Rema Namakula, and Winnie Nwagi.
The outspoken socialite, who once ventured into singing and managed to release only one song, added that other female artists rely heavily on autotune.
Who is Juliana Kanyomozi?
Juliana Kanyomozi, born on 27 November 1980 in Kampala, is the daughter of Prince Gerald Manyindo and Catherine Manyindo. She grew up in Kampala and began her education at Bugema Adventist Secondary School before transferring to Namasagali College.
Her musical talent appears to be inherited, as her father was a passionate music enthusiast and amateur drummer. While at Namasagali College, Kanyomozi's talent blossomed under the mentorship of Father Damian Grimes, the headteacher, who encouraged her to join the dance class after hearing her sing a Mariah Carey song at a school event.
At just 16, she began singing karaoke, an experience that paved the way for her professional career. Her brother, Eddie Kim, who worked as a DJ at Sabrina's Pub—owned by producer Hope Mukasa—helped her secure opportunities to perform there. With her father’s permission, she started performing regularly at the pub during her Senior Six vacation.
It was at Sabrina's Pub that Kanyomozi met producer Steve Jean, who worked on her first song and the collaborative album she recorded with Iryn Namubiru under their duo name, I-Jay. Her first solo song was recorded while she was still in A-Level.
A turning point in her career came when she collaborated with Bobi Wine on Tata W’abaana, a major hit. Their subsequent song, Mama Mbire, was equally successful.
In addition to her music career, Kanyomozi worked as a radio host at Capital FM for six years during her Senior Six vacation. She has also ventured into acting, appearing in the film Kiwani, directed by Henry Ssali, a former entertainment journalist at Daily Monitor who now runs a PR firm.