Rachael Namubiru to bring the gospel to Katumwa's show

With five days to go to the Isiaiah Katumwa at 30 concert slated to take place at the Kampala Serena Hotel, the artiste’s dream of delivering a divine show is taking shape.

We have since learnt that it is mainly singer Rachael Namubiru, who has been handed the mantle to bring the gospel into the jazz show. She will bring a fresh, soulful voice to this major jazz celebration that marks three decades of one of Uganda’s most revered jazz icons.

To Namubiru, the relationship between jazz and gospel is both natural and purposeful.

“Music is organised sound,” she said with conviction. “Genres simply help us categorise music by style or message, but they should never limit our expression of it.”

Her performance at Katumwa’s milestone concert isn’t a genre crossover, she explains, it’s a fusion.

“I will deliver the gospel message through the sound of jazz. It’s not about switching genres, it’s about amplifying the message in a new way,” she says.

Namubiru’s musical journey began in her early years and matured in the pews and at the pulpits of the church, where she served as a worship leader.

It was, however, in 2010 that her talent hit the national radar when she emerged as one of the top performers in the East African Tusker Project Fame competition.

A year later, she took to the stage at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, a defining moment that gave her international exposure.

Shortly after that, she reached out to Katumwa, whose mentorship would become a catalyst for her musical breakthrough.

“Working with Katumwa was an answered prayer,” she said warmly. “It catapulted my career and gave me the structure, discipline and belief that I could go far.”

Katumwa penned her now- signature song ‘Nzize’, which debuted at his concert in 2012 and became an anthem.

“‘Nzize’ got my name into people’s ears,” she reflected. “Even today, it’s the first song people mention when they hear my name.”

While Katumwa is best known for his mastery of the saxophone and his contribution to jazz in Africa, Namubiru describes him as an “unsung songwriting genius” and a man of deep spiritual conviction, a perfect fit for her gospel roots.
“We shared more than music; we shared a purpose. I thank God for bringing him into my life,” she says.

Their collaboration under the Parapanda Music EA project helped Namubiru grow not only vocally, but professionally, giving her insight into the music business and the confidence to pursue her entrepreneurial and outreach initiatives.
Today, she wears many hats: Gospel artiste, worship leader, entrepreneur and community outreach worker.

She uses music as a tool to educate, inspire and entertain. She also carries the legacy of those who influenced her, like Philly Lutaaya’s lyrical depth and Nicole Mullen’s spiritual grace, to the vocal strength of Mariah Carey and her late uncle, Godi Mwambala, a pillar of Afrigo Band.

“I have matured vocally and spiritually, and I bring that depth with me every time I step onto a stage,” she said.