Ugandan singing duo Kataleya and Kandle have ruled out quitting music, saying their passion for the industry and the changes it has brought to their lives continue to motivate them despite the challenges of their careers.
The duo reflected on their journey into the music industry, pointing to their humble beginnings and the progress they have made as reasons to keep pushing forward. For them, music is about more than financial rewards; it is something they have loved since childhood.
Kataleya explained that remembering where they started helps them maintain perspective whenever they encounter difficulties in the industry.
“We can’t quit music because we grew up on music. Since we were kids, we’ve been stars from the word go,” she said.
She added that their decision to pursue music was driven by passion rather than money alone, describing the craft as something they genuinely love doing.
“Sometimes, when things happen to us, we remember where we came from. It’s not that we came to music to make money. It’s passion. It’s something we do because we love it,” Kataleya explained.
Kandle, meanwhile, offered a glimpse into the work they did before entering the music industry, revealing that the pair used to sell clothes at Kajja Market.
Their hustle sometimes involved hawking merchandise and promoting their clothing business on social media. According to Kandle, those experiences taught them the value of hard work and made the changes brought by music particularly meaningful.
“Before joining the music industry, we used to sell clothes in Kajja Market, and sometimes we could hawk them and post them on social media,” she recalled.
“We went through all the hustle until we started making music, and life changed a bit. So there’s nothing that can push me to return to the old lifestyle I lived,” Kandle added.
For the singer, the transformation has provided a strong reason to continue pursuing music, even when the industry becomes difficult to navigate.
She also highlighted the experience of performing for an audience that knows and sings along to their songs as one of the rewards that makes the journey worthwhile.
“However much music challenges me, it changed my life. Making music and finding an audience singing line for line feels so nice,” she said.
Kandle used the opportunity to encourage young people working towards their own ambitions, urging them not to allow their backgrounds to determine what they can achieve.
“To every youth still chasing life, don’t let your background define you. You can still make it, and you can still do what you want to do,” she said.
Their reflections offer a personal account of the journey behind Kataleya and Kandle’s music career, from selling clothes at Kajja Market to building an audience as recording artists.
Despite the obstacles they say come with the industry, the duo remain focused on moving forward, with their passion for music and the progress they have experienced continuing to shape their ambitions.