Singer and songwriter Mesach Semakula opened up about one of the darkest and most painful chapters of his life, revealing that the challenges he faced at the height of his early music career nearly pushed him to quit music altogether.
Semakula was reflecting on the inspiration behind some of his deeply personal songs when he recalled the difficult period surrounding the recording of his song ‘Tulaba Bingi’, which he says was written during a time when he was battling illness, rejection and heartbreaking rumours about his health.
According to Semakula, although the song did not become an instant hit when it was released, its lyrics have recently resurfaced on TikTok, with people using some of its words without necessarily knowing the painful story behind them.
“Surprisingly, there’s a song I recorded and it didn’t hit instantly back then, but these days I hear people using some of the lyrics and words from it on TikTok. The song is called ‘Tulaba Bingi’.”
He explained that the song came at a time when he was beginning to make a name for himself on Uganda’s music charts, but success was accompanied by unexpected resistance and personal challenges.
“That song, when I started hitting the charts, I faced lots of challenges and resistance from all different sides that I didn’t know where they were coming from. I could find myself that even the person I trusted so much had done me things that were not good.”
Semakula revealed that the emotional and physical pain became so overwhelming that he seriously contemplated abandoning music.
“I remember even writing it in a lot of pain. I even contemplated quitting music. I drove to Kiwatule Recreation Centre and met with Mr. Bidandi Ssali for an adult talk since I had no one to talk to.”
He also opened up about the serious illness he battled during that period, saying it almost cost him his life. He said the illness was accompanied by hurtful rumours and public speculation about his health.
“I had also got an ill swollen leg that almost ended my life. Lots of words were said about my illness then. From that illness to date, I’m HIV positive.”
The singer, now able to speak about his status without the same emotional pain he experienced in his youth, explained that the revelation was particularly devastating at the time because he was only 27 years old and HIV/AIDS carried enormous stigma.
“At this time I don’t feel hurt. That’s why I say it out without feeling any pain. But then, I would feel offended because I was still young, 27, and such a huge statement had been made against me.”
He recalled how the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS was much harsher at the time, noting that many people had lost their lives to the disease and that effective treatment was not as accessible as it is today.
“Back then, it would really hurt, and the doctors had failed to find the illness that had made my legs sick. I was published in newspapers with claims of witchcraft and all sorts of other things.”
The singer said the situation left him feeling isolated, especially because some of the people he expected to stand by him distanced themselves when he needed them most.
“I was so heartbroken and deeply hurt. The world looked small for me, and those that would have been by my side had distanced themselves.”
It was from that painful experience that Semakula poured his emotions into ‘Tulaba Bingi’, turning his suffering into music.
“On that song, many people didn’t understand it, but everything I said was reality of life. I wrote it while crying. Whenever it plays, my memories run back to those days.”
He went on to reveal that another deeply personal song, ‘Mummy Nzize’, was born from the same period of emotional turmoil.
“In that situation came the ‘Mummy Nzize’ song. Fortunately, it blew up and people loved it so much, but I continued asking myself who to talk to about this situation yet dad had passed on long ago. So the option I had was to talk to mom.”
Semakula noted that despite recording countless songs throughout his career, ‘Tulaba Bingi’ and ‘Mummy Nzize’ remain particularly special because they were born out of some of the most painful moments of his life.
“I have sung lots of songs, but those two touched me so deeply.”
The singer also singled out ‘Kankutendereze’ as another song that carries a significant part of his life story.
Unlike the pain behind his earlier songs, he said ‘Kankutendereze’ was inspired by gratitude after overcoming the hardships he and his colleagues experienced while trying to establish themselves in the music industry.
“The other song is ‘Kankutendereze’. When I recall the struggle we went through when we couldn’t afford sleeping in lodges after long hours of work, but after time, when I saw that I could afford a car, house and many other things, I thanked God in that song.”
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