President Yoweri Museveni stunned guests at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Saturday when he revealed that celebrated Ugandan musician and President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), Eddy Kenzo, is the son of the late Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Eriya Mwine, popularly known as Cheefe Ali.
The revelation came during the launch of Yoweri, a music album project organized by Kenzo under the UNMF, where Museveni was the chief guest.
While commending the Sitya Loss hitmaker for his honesty in using government funds transparently, the President paused to disclose what he termed as an “open secret.”
“Eddy Kenzo is the son of a soldier,” Museveni declared, turning to Kenzo. “Did you tell them, or you wanted me to keep it a secret? Where are the other children of Chief Ali? Stand up. Even they look alike.”
The announcement sent murmurs across the audience, many visibly shocked by the revelation of Kenzo’s previously unknown paternal link.
For years, Kenzo, born Edrisah Musuuza, has spoken about losing his mother young, living on the streets, and struggling before finding success through music. Until Museveni’s remarks, little was publicly known about his father.
Before his passing in 1999, Chefe Ali, whose real name was Eriya Mwine, served among others the UPDF’s Chief of Staff and commander of three different divisions. Back in the bush war, he is most remembered for commanding the 11th Battalion, which besieged the Simba Battalion barracks in Mbarara in 1985.
Gen. Cheefe Ali would later become Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces from 1996 to 1998, steering the UPDF during a critical period in the country’s security landscape.
