Juliana grateful to Tusker Project Fame

 

Ugandan music star Juliana Kanyomozi performs at the Influential Women in Business Dinner Gala (IWBDG) event at Kigali Serena Hotel. Photo/Daniel Sabiiti 

By Joram Muhoozi Rwanda Today

In Summary

• Juliana: “I actually don’t know the criteria they used to choose me as a judge in TPF but I remember I was in a bank withdrawing some money when I received a phone call asking me if I would like to be a judge in TPF.”
• Saying she was at first nervous about the post, especially because she did not know how the public would react to her performance, Juliana added: “The Juliana of today is actually more mature, loves motherhood, has learnt much along the way and become wiser.”

Juliana Kanyomozi, one of Uganda’s singing stars, says being a judge in Tusker Project Fame (TPF) has increased her fame and enriched her life.

Juliana, who recently performed at the Influential Women in Business Dinner Gala (IWBDG) at Kigali Serena Hotel recently, said: “I actually don’t know the criteria they used to choose me as a judge in TPF but I remember I was in a bank withdrawing some money when I received a phone call asking me if I would like to be a judge in TPF.”

Saying she was at first nervous about the post, especially because she did not know how the public would react to her performance, Juliana added: “The Juliana of today is actually more mature, loves motherhood, has learnt much along the way and become wiser.”

She however declined to discuss her marital status, saying it is personal.

She said: “I don’t live a life based on what people say or think I should do but I believe in things that I know it’s right time for me to do.

“I know I will get married at the right time and to the right man, who will put a ring on my finger, but so far I haven’t met him. I wish to get married to a man who is respectful and God fearing.”

About performing in Rwanda, Juliana says the country feels like a second home.

‘Treat me like a sister’

“The fact is that I love Rwandans and they always treat me like a sister. Apart from Kenya, I think this is another country that I love so much.”

Born 31 years ago in Kampala, Juliana comes from a family of six children; two girls and four boys. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as one of the all-girl duo I-Jay with Iryn Namubiru.

The group’s single, Vive la Vie, was popular on Ugandan radio stations then.

After the duo disbanded, Juliana launched a solo career that has included the release of such popular songs as Say Yes,Nabikoowa, Nkulinze, My Heart, Diana (originally released by the late Philly Lutaaya), Alive Again, All I Wanna Know, Usiende mbali,Kanyimbe,I Am Ugandan,Omutima Oguluma (A heart that hurts), and Ndi Bulungi (I am fine), among others.

She claims more than 200 songs to her name.

The Nabikoowa hit maker also works with a charitable organisation in Uganda to raise awareness on the need to prevent and control fistula, enhance visibility of the disease and generate new ideas on obstetric fistula, which affects women.