By Bash Mutumba

When 2019 started, Namagembe Shena aka Shena Skies Original, set a goal to write for every new school female artist in Uganda: from Vinka to Nina Roz and everyone in between; and all that she has achieved — and a little bit more. She has successfully made hits for Rema and Spice Diana, and has also written for male artists like Allan Toniks, Levixone; The Ben and Bruce Melody from Rwanda, and many more.

Born in Kawempe, Shena started writing right from her school days, and she always knew music was her calling, even though she studied Computer Science at Makerere University.

“Up to date, l think ‘Jangu Ondabe’ by Spice Diana has gone the furthest(among the songs written). I am incredibly proud of all my works ‘cause l put a lot of me in them. But l did enjoy writing ‘More of this’ for Rema Namakula with Slick Stuart & Roja, and the emotion and heart that came with ‘Bye bye X’ by Fille Mutoni was quite the story.” The versatile artist described her works with effortless fervency.

“l didn’t write Gutujja, people keep thinking l signed an NDA and l was told to not tell but no l didn’t. Or did l ” The Diva left me in unending suspense when I asked if she wrote the hit for B2C and Rema.

She also adds that she can never be paid enough to sell her style, but she isn’t complaining, and that those that like can go on to credit her in the song outros with “S.K.I.E.S”.

However, with all this success in the songwriting business, Shena maintains that she is a singer first, and then a songwriter, and would love that you check out her own music too on YouTube, like “Ayagadde Munne” which is currently enjoying handsome airplay.

Vinka entertains students during a mentorship session on responsible drinking held at Makerere University on Friday.

By Our Reporter

As part of the initiative to discourage drunk driving and promote responsible drinking among the youth, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) on Friday went to Makerere University and conducted a mentorship session on drunk driving.

The mentorship which was under the Red Card initiative brought together university students, student leaders and members of the teaching body who engaged in the responsible drinking conversation and later made the commitment to Join the Pact to never drink and drive.

Speaking during the session, Uganda Breweries Corporate Relations Manager David Onyango advised the youth to spearhead the campaign against drunk driving because they constitute the largest percentage of the country’s population.

The crowd also received mentorship from the campaign ambassadors Vinka, Innocent Nahabwe and Calvin Kalule.

At the same event, Vinka put up a massive performance of her songs including her latest Red Card song urging the students who were in a groovy mood to be responsible when drinking.

The Backstreet Boys will welcome nominees, presenters and guests to the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday, August 20 by performing on the red carpet.

Nick Carter and his bandmates will join Bazzi and Bryce Vine for the event’s red carpet pre-show.

VMAs bosses will also debut the first-ever PUSH Artists Stage, featuring performances from Hayley Kiyoko, Jessie Reyez, Juice WRLD, and PRETTYMUCH.

Travis Scott, Ariana Grande, and Post Malone, among others, will perform during the big show.