For years, some critics treated Ray G as an artist whose biggest strength lay in Western Uganda.
Mbarara was his territory. Runyankore was his language. Kampala, many believed, was a different game.
Ray G has since given that argument a serious headache.
The Western Uganda star has taken his predominantly Runyankore music to major stages in Kampala, first making a major statement at the Lugogo Cricket Oval before taking things several levels higher with his August 7 concert at the Kololo Independence Grounds.
The scale of his rise has now caught the attention of prominent journalist, news anchor, and theologian Samson Kasumba, who believes there is much more to Ray G’s success than his music.
In a post on X, Kasumba praised the singer’s approach to his career, pointing to the humility and discipline that have become part of his public image.
Ray-G is different and he will teach local artists the art of branding oneself. When was the one time you ever heard katemba or hullabaloo around Ray-G? Have you seen gangs around Ray-G? There is this humility around this young man. Ray-G must have studied the things that bring local artists down and he has avoided them all.
That assessment comes at an interesting point in Ray G’s career.
His success in Kampala has challenged the old assumption that regional artists need to change their sound or abandon their native languages to win over the capital’s audience.
Ray G has largely stayed with Runyankore while building a following far beyond Western Uganda, turning what some once saw as a limitation into a defining part of his identity.
Kasumba now believes the singer could take that formula even further.
The day he starts singing in Swahili added to that immense vocal ability you will not believe what he will become.
Ray G’s journey is increasingly becoming less about proving that a Western Uganda artist can fill Kampala venues and more about showing just how far an artist can go without abandoning where they come from.
Ray-G is different and he will teach local artists the art of branding oneself. When was the one time you ever heard katemba or hullabaloo around Ray-G? Have you seen gangs around Ray-G? There is this humility around this young man. Ray-G must have studied the things that bring…
— Samson Kasumba (@SamsonMKasumba) August 12, 2026