Long before YouTube became a major platform for music videos, podcasts, and digital creators in Uganda, veteran deejay DJ Erycom says he was already exploring its potential.
The celebrated entertainer, whose real name is Eryck Paul Mutebi, has claimed that he was the first Ugandan to open a YouTube channel after discovering the platform in its early days. Speaking during a television interview, DJ Erycom reflected on how his curiosity about emerging technology led him to embrace YouTube years before it became a mainstream tool for creators and musicians.
His comments offer a glimpse into the early days of digital content creation in Uganda and the role the internet has played in transforming the country’s entertainment industry.
An Early Interest in YouTube
During the interview, DJ Erycom recalled following YouTube closely after Google acquired the video-sharing platform in 2006.
According to the veteran deejay, he quickly became fascinated by how the platform worked and spent time learning its features before creating his own channel.
“I’m the first Ugandan to open a YouTube channel.”
He explained that after studying the platform for about two months, he launched what he says was Uganda’s first YouTube channel.
“Google bought YouTube in September 2006, and after two months, I had started understanding how these things work, and in November, I opened a YouTube channel.”
The claim reflects DJ Erycom’s account of his experience and has not been independently verified in the information provided.
Claim of a YouTube Recognition Award
DJ Erycom also stated that his early adoption of the platform earned him special recognition.
According to him, YouTube acknowledged creators who were the first to open channels in their respective countries by presenting them with an accolade.
“I have an accolade as the first Ugandan to own a YouTube channel in Uganda. Every creator who opened a YouTube channel first in their country was given this accolade.”
Reflecting on today’s growing creator economy, he congratulated fellow content creators who have received YouTube awards while emphasizing that, in his view, he was among the earliest pioneers.
“When I see everyone possessing YouTube accolades, I hail you, but we did it first.”
The existence and nature of the accolade described by DJ Erycom were not independently confirmed in the source material.
A Pioneer in Digital Music Promotion
Regardless of when his first channel was created, DJ Erycom is widely recognized as one of Uganda’s pioneering deejays who embraced the internet to promote local music.
Over the years, he has built a reputation for uploading Ugandan music, helping artists reach audiences beyond traditional radio and television.
His work coincided with a period when online platforms were beginning to reshape how music was discovered and distributed across Africa.
Many artists who initially relied on physical media and broadcast stations eventually turned to platforms like YouTube to expand their audiences, and deejays such as DJ Erycom played a role in that digital transition.
His Current YouTube Presence
According to the information provided, DJ Erycom’s current YouTube channel was opened on December 8, 2011.
Since then, it has grown to attract more than 44,500 subscribers and has accumulated over five million views.
The channel continues to serve as a platform for Ugandan music and entertainment content, reflecting the veteran deejay’s long-standing commitment to digital media.
While YouTube has evolved dramatically since its early years, DJ Erycom says his interest in the platform began long before online content creation became a mainstream career path.
Why His Story Matters
Today, YouTube is one of the world’s largest platforms for entertainment, education, and business, giving creators unprecedented opportunities to build audiences and generate income.
DJ Erycom’s story highlights how some Ugandan entertainers recognized that potential well before the creator economy became widely understood.
Although his claim of being Uganda’s first YouTube creator remains his own account, it underscores the enthusiasm with which early adopters embraced digital technology at a time when internet access and online video were still relatively new in the country.
His experience also reflects the rapid evolution of Uganda’s entertainment industry—from CDs and radio broadcasts to streaming platforms and social media.
Human Angle
For DJ Erycom, YouTube represents more than a website; it symbolizes years of adapting to change.
As technology reshaped the music business, he says he chose to learn rather than resist it, positioning himself among the entertainers exploring digital opportunities before many others recognized their potential.
Whether behind the DJ booth or behind a computer screen, his passion has remained the same: using every available platform to connect Ugandan music with wider audiences.
As Uganda’s creator economy continues to grow, stories like DJ Erycom’s serve as a reminder of the pioneers who saw opportunity in online platforms long before they became central to modern entertainment.