In music, stories of near-misses and last-minute interventions are common and one involves Haruna Mubiru’s popular song “Ekitooke Kifa Nsalila” and how it was almost sold to the late Kato Lubwama.
Thanks to the timely intervention of Mesach Semakula, Haruna was able to retain the song, and it became a breakthrough hit in his career.
Mesach Semakula narrates the incident, recalling how he first heard Haruna Mubiru singing the song.
Caught by the tune, Mesach suggested that they head to the studio the next day to record it. However, when he returned the following day, Haruna dropped a bombshell—he had already sold the song to Kato Lubwama.
This news did not sit well with Mesach, who, in his frustration, slapped Haruna and demanded to know who had bought the song.
Mesach, a close friend of Kato Lubwama, was conflicted. He respected Kato but found it difficult to ask him to return the song, especially since Kato had already sold it to Doreen Mutiibwa, though it had not yet been recorded in the studio.
Faced with a tough decision, Mesach proposed: he and Haruna would rush to the studio and record the song first. They went to Dream Studios, owned by Eddie Yawe, and Haruna recorded “Ekitooke Kifa Nsalila.”
When Kato Lubwama eventually approached Mesach about the situation, Mesach apologized and explained that the song was meant to be Haruna’s big break.
He wanted to ensure that Haruna’s moment in the spotlight wasn’t lost, and his efforts paid off.
The song became a massive hit in Uganda and since then, Haruna has remained influential in Ugandan music.
