Sematimba’s Dungeon Studios changed Uganda’s urban music scene – Alan Kasujja

BBC journalist Alan Kasujja has given businessman and politician Peter Sematimba props for his contribution to what has become Uganda’s urban music culture, courtesy of his exceptional work ethic.

According to Kasujja, Sematimba's Dungeon Studios produced some of the hit songs that gave urban music direction.

He said songs like Kakokolo earned the studio its stars, with the single being its first hit and a non Kadongo kamu record that became permanent on the playlists of Capital Radio and Sanyu FM.

Produced by Sematimba himself, it partly unlocked a new recording standard.

 “I am a lifelong fan of this great man - Peter Sematimba. We’ve been friends since the mid 90s. The songs his Dungeon Studios produced (Kakokolo, Owundikwenda, Semusajja Agenda) changed Uganda’s urban music scene. If all the talented Ugandans I see today had Peter’s work ethic..!” Alan captioned a photo of them together.

 In August 2023 while appearing on Urban Television, media personality Roger Mugisha observed that Sematimba is not being given enough credit for his contribution to local music, particularly laying the foundation for what has now become a vibrant and profitable music industry.

Mugisha also credited him for singlehandedly crafting the local pop culture that ended the dominance of Congolese music locally.