MUKONO – Two city bands will battle for honours this Saturday as the family of the late Mzee Yosam Rutanga roots for charity – remembering his love for music including nurturing both girls and boys in pursuit of education and musical talents two years since Kabale’s education icon passed on.
Uganda’s iconic Afrigo Band will take on Congolese band, Treasure Maza, at Colline Hotel, Mukono on Saturday November 9, in what has been termed as battle of the bands.
Proceeds from the event, that starts at 5pm in Mukono, will go towards renovating Kaharo PS, founded by Mzee Rutanga, says Dr. James Akampumuza Rutanga, one of the organisers.
The family last month held a memorial service at their home in Kaharo, Kabale District in honor of Mzee Rutanga’s legacy -stressing his contribution to music.
At the same function, the Rutanga Foundation was launched in commemoration of late Yosamu Rutanga being the founder of Kaharo Primary School in 1945 who used the band to mobilize children to join the school.
His children said they started Rutanga Foundation focusing on promoting education where they started with infrastructure improvement in the school to make it a model primary and secondary school in Kaharo area saying it’s only through education the area can be developed to another level with community contribution.
According to Dr. Akampumuza Rutanga, the family has organized Music events whose proceeds will go towards the planned renovation of Kaharo Primary School.
On Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Colline Hotel Mukono, Akampumuza Rutanga, said there will be a battle of bands between Afrigo Band vs Treasure Band Maza (Congolese Band). The evening will be curtain raised by popular sole artiste Iryn Namubiru.
The family will also hold a fundraising dinner and dance at the Golf View Hotel with entertainment by Treasure Band on Saturday, November 16, 2019.
Mzee Rutanga is remembered for introducing a ‘brass’ band using locally-made musical equipment – flutes made out of plants such as ekinimba and ekijembajembe, which sound more like a bugle, as well as calabashes and drums, among other improvised instruments.
It is reported that the band moved around the village enticing children and their parents to choose schooling instead of domestic chores. Mzee Rutanga later acquired more instruments for his band, which evolved into the Boys’ Brigade in the area.
His efforts didn’t go to waste as thousands of people, who went through the school, have gone on to become leaders in different fields. These include his children, Prof Mulindwa Rutanga and Dr Maurice Murari-Muhwezi, both of Makerere University; Dr James Akampumuza of Akampumuza & Co. Advocates; Henry Rwaganika, an advocate; Robert Sabiiti of FAO in Rome, and Kellen Nyamugasira.
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