Ugandan musician Bebe Cool revealed during the Media launch for World Tourism Day, Tourism month and Explore Rwenzori domestic tourism promotional campaign at Fairway Hotel in Kampala that through his 30+ years of being a recording artiste and performer has managed to traverse and appreciate the countryside beauty of destination Uganda thereby calling upon all fellow artists and Ugandans to also take charge and visit the country’s unique prized tourism offerings and share the good moments with the World.
Bebe Cool also urged the youth who comprise 70% of the population to embrace patriotism and get to appreciate and love their own Country.
He revealed that he has travelled extensively to almost more than 30 countries across the world including the United States, Europe, and Asia among others but no country is better than Uganda with its fine weather, warm welcoming people, good food, and everything he has managed to achieve has been in Uganda including his music breakthrough and success, family, and status.
He said, ‘’Music has given me the privilege to travel across Uganda majorly by road, allowing me to experience the country physically by eyesight. I have seen first-hand the breathtaking sceneries, the rich diversity, and the potential that Uganda offers. If more people, especially the youth, took the time to explore Uganda, they would quickly realize that it truly is a gem. Having travelled abroad and compared my experiences, I can say without hesitation that Uganda is pure gold — its beauty, its people, and its potential are unmatched’’.
He added, ‘’Uganda’s rich and diverse landscapes and warm, welcoming people are part of what makes this country so special. Growing up in Kasese, a district renowned for its rich culture and picturesque scenery, I was immersed in the warmth of the Bakonjo people. I lived near the Kilembe Mines with my stepfather at the ages of 9-12 years and often travelled by train through the region. These experiences shaped my appreciation for the richness of Uganda and deepened my connection with the people of Kasese.
He concluded, ‘’Tourism is also a major economic driver, one that has the potential to generate significant revenue for Uganda through foreign exchange. Countries that have prioritized tourism have reaped immense benefits. For Uganda to do the same, the government must increase its investment in the sector.
I urge the government to allocate a bigger budget to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities so that Uganda can better compete on the global stage. With the right investment and promotion, Uganda has the potential to become one of the world’s top tourist destinations.’’
Events such as World Tourism Day and the Explore Rwenzori campaign offer vital platforms for Ugandans to see their country for themselves, appreciate its beauty, and develop a sense of pride in what Uganda has to offer.
Bebe Cool together with family and the Gagamel members will be part of this year’s World Tourism Day celebrations and the Explore Rwenzori domestic tourism campaign as he will leverage the events to showcase the beauty of Uganda using his social media platforms.
Born on 1st September 1977, Bebe Cool is a 47-year-old Ugandan reggae and ragga musician. He started his musical journey in 1997 in Nairobi Kenya as he was one of the first artists affiliated to Ogopa DJs, a veteran production house and record label in Kenya.
He is a three-time winner of the ‘’Artist of The Year’’ at the HiPipo Music Awards and also winner of several awards at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards). He is also a former nominee of the Kora All-African Music Awards in 2003 and 2005.
He sings in Luganda, Swahili and English. Together with Kenyan music duo Necessary Noize – they formed the East African Reggae Bashment Crew in 2005 where they released one album titled ‘’Fire’’ which also had hitsongs including Africa Unite, Kube and Fire among others tracks. The Group received a nomination at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2008.
In 2017, Bebe Cool was part of the invited Ugandan artists for the Coke Studio Africa project where he also performed with Jason Derulo on an RnB track titled ‘’Push Up’’ and also collaborated with Nigeria’s Folarin Falana known as Falz on a song titled ‘’Skip’’.
On 27th June 2008, Bebe Cool performed at the Nelson Mandela Honour 46664 Concert in London, United Kingdom. In 2013, Bebe Cool had a music battle with Nigeria’s top music star at the time D’banj at the Glamis Arena in Harare Zimbabwe as the show was organized under the theme ‘’Battle for Africa’’ where he put up an energizing performance.
In 2007, Bebe Cool, several musicians came together to re-record the Late Philly Lutaaya’s greatest hits and Bebe Cool sang the ‘’Born in Africa’’ song that was later voted as the greatest song for all time. The song came at number 15 in Fifty anthems for the African continent. BBC World Service listeners suggested the African songs that summed up the continent to them. This was to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union – formerly the Organization of African Unity, From the suggestions, the BBC’s DJ Edu, who hosts a weekly African music show on BBC radio, compiled them into a special five-minute mix of 50 songs from 50 countries.
Bebe Cool won one AFRIMA Award for the best East African male artist in 2018.
