Ugandan singer Karole Kasita wants local musicians to start thinking beyond Uganda, arguing that domestic popularity alone is not enough to build internationally recognised music careers.
Speaking during an appearance on the Musoga Eclipse Podcast, Karole challenged fellow artists to pursue audiences in other countries instead of concentrating almost entirely on the Ugandan market.
She acknowledged that Uganda has a strong music audience that supports local musicians financially, but believes artists should use that support as a foundation for expanding their reach internationally.
Karole shared an experience from a trip abroad that made her realise how differently a song can perform outside its home market.
The singer said she travelled expecting people to recognise a song she considered a major hit in Uganda. However, she was surprised to discover that some people she encountered were unfamiliar with both the track and her identity as an artist.
“Sometimes, no matter how big your song is in Uganda, those people don’t want to know. I went there with a hit song thinking they would be excited, but they don’t even know some Ugandan musicians. I told them about the song and they asked who I was,” she narrated.
For Karole, the experience highlighted the gap between being popular at home and building recognition in international music markets.
She believes Ugandan musicians should continue investing in their local audience while making deliberate efforts to introduce their music to listeners elsewhere.
The singer also questioned why local artists appear comfortable competing for the same domestic audience when international musicians are actively working to attract Ugandan listeners.
“One thing we need to do as Ugandans is we should stop fighting for only our audience. Our audience is very good to fight for because it’s what gives us money. Even those international artists are fighting for our audience, but for us, why are we comfortable fighting for only our audience? We should fight beyond borders for other audiences,” she added.
Her comments put the spotlight on a wider challenge facing Uganda’s music industry: turning strong local popularity into sustainable international recognition.
While the domestic market remains an important source of income and support, Karole’s message is that artists should not mistake success at home for global reach.
Her argument is straightforward: Ugandan musicians should compete for international listeners with the same determination that foreign artists bring when pursuing the Ugandan market.