Raise the Roof Academy releases Independence song ‘Beautiful Uganda’

Raise the Roof Academy, an academy choir, has released a new song titled Beautiful Uganda to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.

The academy’s choir, which is based in Kalungu District, is famed for using song, dance and cultural expression to tell a story of hope, faith and opportunity beyond the classroom. This time, they have used music to spotlight Uganda’s beauty, identity and national pride on Independence Day.

JJ Bugoma, a passionate percussionist who is also a performing arts director, says it is a musical tribute to the country and its people as Uganda marks its 64^th Independence Day celebrations.  

“Through Beautiful Uganda, Raise the Roof Academy seeks to celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and the spirit of togetherness that unites its people. The song also fits into a wider conversation about the role of music in celebrating national identity, bringing people together and presenting Uganda through the voices of its younger generation,” Bugoma says. 

He reveals that the release of the song also adds to the Independence Day celebrations, during which artists and creatives use their platforms to reflect on Uganda’s journey, celebrate its achievements and inspire hope for the future.

He credits the trainers, Suzan Nivece Nassolo, Tonny Kato and Alex Kisekka for doing a thorough job with the academy on the independence song project. 

The academy, located in Bwasandeku, in central Uganda, was founded by David and Marlene Ssebulime. Its roots go back to 2008, when the couple visited the village and encountered children facing significant barriers to education and opportunities.

The school officially opened on March 7, 2011, with just 30 children and two teachers. It has since expanded its reach, providing education and other community services to children and families across the districts of Kalungu, Masaka and Bukomansimbi.

A choir born out of a bigger dream

Bugoma says that music has been central to the academy’s identity since its early days. The choir was its first extracurricular activity, introduced in 2011, and has developed into one of its flagship performing arts programmes.

“The choir brings together children and young people whose performances combine singing, dancing, African cultural instruments and contemporary musical influences. Through these performances, the students showcase their talents while sharing stories of faith, resilience and the opportunities that education can create,” Bugoma says.

He says that a school that started with 30 children to an institution serving a much wider community, Raise the Roof Academy, continues to build its identity around education, empowerment and the development of young people. And through music, its students have found another way to tell that story.