Mesach Semakula has opened up about one of the most painful periods of his career, revealing that illness, rejection and hurtful rumors about his health once pushed him to consider quitting music.
The veteran singer was reflecting on the stories behind some of his most personal songs when he revisited the circumstances surrounding ‘Tulaba Bingi’, a song he says was born out of intense emotional and physical pain.
Semakula said the song did not immediately become a hit after its release. Years later, however, some of its lyrics have found a new audience on TikTok, with users embracing words whose painful origins they may not know.
He recalled that the song came during a period when his career was beginning to gain momentum but was also marked by resistance and betrayal.
“I could find myself that even the person I trusted so much had done me things that were not good,” he said.
The pressure became so overwhelming that Semakula contemplated abandoning music altogether. He recalled driving to Kiwatule Recreation Centre to speak with former politician Bidandi Ssali because he felt he had no one else to turn to.
The singer also revealed that he was battling a serious illness at the time. He said his leg became severely swollen and that doctors struggled to establish what was causing the problem.
According to Semakula, the health crisis was accompanied by painful public speculation, including claims about HIV/AIDS and accusations of witchcraft.
He said the situation was particularly difficult because he was only 27 and HIV/AIDS carried significant stigma at the time.
“Back then, it would really hurt,” Semakula recalled, explaining that the combination of his illness, public speculation and the reaction of people around him left him feeling isolated.
He said some of the people he expected to support him instead distanced themselves, making an already difficult period even more painful.
That suffering eventually found its way into ‘Tulaba Bingi.’ Semakula said the lyrics reflected his real-life experiences and that he wrote the song while crying.
“Whenever it plays, my memories run back to those days,” he said.
Another song, ‘Mummy Nzize,’ also emerged from the same period. Unlike ‘Tulaba Bingi,’ it became a major success, giving Semakula another outlet for emotions he had been struggling to process following his father’s death.
With his father already gone, he said, his mother became the person he turned to through the song.
Semakula also identified ‘Kankutendereze’ as another important chapter in his musical story. That song, however, came from a different place: gratitude.
He recalled the difficult early days when he and his colleagues could barely afford accommodation after long hours of work. Eventually, he said, being able to afford a car, a house and other milestones inspired him to thank God through music.
For Semakula, those songs remain more than career highlights. They are musical records of the struggles, losses and breakthroughs that shaped his journey.
“I have sung lots of songs, but those two touched me so deeply.”