Prince Paul Job Kafero, often affectionately called the Golden Boy of Africa, remains one of Uganda’s most respected and influential musicians to this day. He was a true pioneer and master of the Kadongo Kamu genre a traditional Ugandan style of music known for its deep storytelling, poetic lyrics, thoughtful messages, and emotional connection with listeners. Even though he left this world at a very young age, his powerful voice, heartfelt songs, and remarkable talent continue to touch millions of hearts across Uganda and beyond.His sudden death caused widespread mourning, with fans shedding tears and the entire music world feeling a deep sense of loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Early Life and Musical Journey
Paul Job Kafero was born on 12th July 1970 in Kilembe, in the Nkoko-njeru area of Mukono District, Uganda. He sadly passed away on 17th May 2007 at the tender age of 36 years old. In his short but highly productive life, he managed to release an impressive 21 music albums and composed a total of 83 original songs. His music was rich in wisdom, cultural values, love stories, social commentary, and personal reflections that resonated strongly with ordinary Ugandans.
One of his biggest and most popular hit songs was “Walumbe Zaaya”. This powerful track captured the imagination of listeners everywhere and quickly spread across the world, becoming a massive success.
The Story Behind the Hit Song “Walumbe Zaaya”
The beautiful song “Walumbe Zaaya” was originally written at a very young age by talented songwriter Angel Ssekandi. However, Angel did not release it himself at the time. Later, another respected Kadongo Kamu singer, the late John Mabirizi, also performed the song but chose not to release it to the public.
It was Prince Paul Job Kafero who eventually recorded and released the song, bringing it to life and making it a worldwide sensation. Unfortunately, this happened without first informing or properly compensating the original writer, Angel Ssekandi. The song’s enormous popularity brought both fame and some controversy.
Feeling that his intellectual property had been taken without permission, Angel Ssekandi responded by composing a strong retaliatory song titled “Ebiggo mu Bayimbi” (which translates to “Downfall of Artists”). In this emotional track, he openly expressed his frustration and called out the person who had used his song without credit. He invited them to come and witness his own success as he released yet another powerful song.
Angel had even planned to create a sequel called “Walumbe Zaaya Part Two” to clearly reveal to the world that he was the original creator behind the story and lyrics. However, for various reasons, that particular project did not materialise.
For a long time, Prince Paul Job Kafero was not aware of the full details of this behind-the-scenes scandal surrounding the song. When he finally learned the truth, he acted with maturity and respect. He personally met Angel Ssekandi, offered a sincere apology, and the two men reconciled peacefully. From that moment onward, they formed a strong creative partnership. Angel Ssekandi began writing many more songs for Kafero, and together they produced and released numerous successful tracks that further enriched Ugandan music.
Kafero’s Love Life, Relationship with Robinah Namatovu Bisirikirwa, and Struggles with Alcohol
One of the most celebrated women in Paul Kafero’s life and music was Robinah Namatovu Bisirikirwa, popularly known simply as Bisirikirwa. She is the woman lovingly praised and immortalized in his beautiful song “Bisirikirwa”. Even after his passing, Robinah has remained dedicated to preserving and protecting his musical legacy.
She has given several honest and emotional interviews where she shared intimate details about their relationship, his creative process, daily habits, and the realities of life with the legendary artist.
Kafero’s death on 17th May 2007 sparked many rumours and speculations. Some people claimed he died from HIV/AIDS, others pointed to traditional witchcraft, while many believed alcohol played a major role. According to Robinah Namatovu herself, in heartfelt interviews, the truth was closely tied to his extreme lifestyle.
She described Paul as a “Daily Drinking Officer” (D.D.O.) — someone who drank alcohol every single day, heavily and consistently. On top of that, he had developed a very poor eating habit. He hardly ate proper food, which caused his body to weaken, shrink, and lose strength over time. Robinah explained that even when she prepared delicious meals and placed them on the dining table, Paul would often ask, “Where is the meat?” because he loved meat so much. Yet, despite his interest, he would barely touch the food.
Throughout his entire adult life, Paul was deeply attached to waragi (local gin) and other alcoholic drinks. Robinah even shared that he introduced her to drinking, and over the years, their relationship became one where both of them drank heavily. She recalled how they would sometimes drink from morning until evening. While she tried to eat something in between, Paul would consume almost nothing but alcohol.
Their drinking sessions were frequent and intimate. Robinah narrated funny yet revealing stories for example, she would sometimes sneak out to bars and rush back home before Paul returned, pretending to be fast asleep. Little did she know that Paul had a clever way of checking: he would first feel the bonnet of her car to see if it was still warm from driving. On more than one occasion, he caught her! Instead of anger, they would laugh about it, bring wine and beer, and continue drinking together late into the night right at their dining table.
Their Love Story, Fancy Lifestyle, and Challenges with Family
Despite the deep love between Paul and Robinah, it may surprise many people to learn that the couple never went through any formal, traditional, or customary marriage ceremonies. They lived together as loving partners, but no official wedding or introduction to family rituals ever took place.
The main reason was that Robinah’s family strongly disapproved of Paul at the beginning. They did not like him because he was a musician and had a reputation for drinking. Robinah revealed that whenever Paul expressed his desire to marry her properly and meet her family, she would warn him honestly, saying they might even have him arrested.
Instead of pushing for marriage, Robinah asked Paul to help her start a small retail bar so she could have her own business and source of income. When she first made this suggestion, Paul laughed heartily. Yet he continued to show his love in many generous ways. He bought her first car a Toyota Starlet while she was still at university. Every semester, he would upgrade her car to a newer and better one. The public began to realise they were in a serious relationship when Paul would drive his famous short Pajero to the university just to visit and see her.
Paul showered Robinah with gifts, comfort, and an easy, fancy lifestyle. He made her life luxurious and stress-free. It was only towards the later years of his life, when he was already very ill and close to death that Robinah’s family finally began to accept and love Paul.
There is even a direct line in one of Paul’s songs that says something like “Ddala Namatovu obeera onoonya ki okuva ku Paul?” (Meaning “Namatovu, what exactly are you looking for from Paul?”). Robinah recalled how her aunt once called her angrily, questioning how and when she had fallen in love with “such a drunkard and local musician.”
Later, Paul composed the immortal song “Bisirikirwa” specifically about her. When her elders heard it, they contacted Paul and asked him how he knew her special name “Bisirikirwa,” what the name truly meant, and why it had been given to her. Paul calmly replied that he knew everything because Robinah herself had told him the full story.
Humble Beginnings and Daily Life Together
When Robinah first visited Paul’s home at the start of their relationship, he was renting a very simple single room with a rough cement floor. Coming from a stable and comfortable family background, Robinah’s feet were clean and soft. When Paul saw her about to remove her shoes, he immediately stopped her, ran to get old newspapers, and carefully laid them on the floor so she could walk without stepping on the dirty surface. It was a small but touching gesture of care.
As their relationship grew, they moved to a double room in Maganjo. Life there was lively but sometimes chaotic because of the many visitors who came every single day in the morning, afternoon, evening, night, and even at midnight. Two of the most frequent guests were fellow Kadongo Kamu musicians: Willy Mukabya and especially the late Herman Basudde, who became like a permanent member of the household. At one point, they stopped locking their door because they knew Basudde could arrive at any hour.
Robinah would cook delicious meals, but Paul remained uninterested in eating. One day, Herman Basudde asked in amazement how such a young girl had learned to cook so well. Paul was extremely protective and loving. He gave Robinah almost no space to interact freely with other people, including her university friends. He truly loved her deeply and wanted her all to himself.
The Song “Ebisigala Byabafu” and the Painful Controversy
In one of his deeply emotional and sorrowful songs titled “Ebisigala Byabafu” (Remains of the Dead), Paul poured out his heart and disappointment. At one point in his career, false and damaging rumours spread that Paul had human remains in his house. Some newspapers and media outlets sensationally claimed he was a wizard, sorcerer, or night dancer who practiced dark arts.
These stories caused a huge scandal. Police and journalists raided his home without proper verification. Paul was deeply hurt and angered by the false accusations and the invasion of his privacy. When he returned from a trip abroad and learned the full extent of the damage, he released this powerful song as a strong message to journalists and the public: always seek the truth and confirm facts before rushing to broadcast damaging stories.
The Realities of Loving and Marrying a Musician
Being in a relationship with a famous musician like Paul came with both joys and challenges. Robinah shared that they had an agreement: whatever money fans threw onto the stage during his live performances would be considered her “salary.” Paul would faithfully bring every coin and note home to her.
Sometimes he would finish a show with almost nothing, but he would still stop at a fuel station on the way home to get some small change and present it to her as her share. She admitted she was quite young at the time and perhaps did not fully understand the complexities.
Female fans would sometimes write their phone numbers, addresses, or even car number plates on the money notes they threw. Paul and Robinah would simply laugh about it together at home. Robinah trusted him completely. Even if she occasionally found him backstage with other women, she remained calm because she knew he would always come home to her she was his true wife and the one who ran their household.
The Beautiful Story Behind the Song “Bisirikirwa”
Paul had his own special chair at home, just like a traditional head of the family. Whenever he returned, Robinah would humbly sit at his feet, resting gently on his legs. One day, he asked her curiously, “Why do you seem to hate your own name ‘Bisirikirwa’?”
Not long after that conversation, Paul woke up very early one morning, went straight to the recording studio, and composed the entire song “Bisirikirwa”. When he came back home, he woke Robinah up and excitedly played the demo for her. She listened and burst out laughing, telling him that nobody would ever like or relate to the song. Paul smiled and replied, “You are so lucky people are going to fall deeply in love with this song.”
He was absolutely right. The song became another massive hit.
Later, while they were at Kasiwuukira’s place, the late comedian and musician Kato Lubwama asked Paul directly, “Who exactly is this Bisirikirwa you are singing about? Quote me correctly.” Paul simply laughed and walked away without answering. His driver then pointed at Robinah and revealed, “She is the one.” Kato Lubwama was shocked and exclaimed, “I fell so much in love with that song, and all this time Paul was singing about you, Robina, whom we see and live with every day!”
Recent Trends and the Song “Dipo Nazigala”
Even many years after his death, Prince Paul Job Kafero’s music continues to live on strongly. One of his songs, “Dipo Nazigala”, has been trending massively for several months on TikTok and other social media platforms. The catchy and powerful line “Ogunde Gunde… Ayi Ssabasajja Oggunde… Ssebo Taata Nsensebuse” has captured the attention of a new generation. Many people have created their own versions, changed the lyrics, translated them into different local languages, and even used the song to hype political figures, including the President of Uganda.
However, the family of the late Paul Job Kafero, through the Prince Job Paul Kafero Cultural Heritage, has come out strongly to warn and discourage such practices. They have stated clearly that anyone who alters, re-voices, or uses his original songs without proper permission may face legal consequences. They emphasise the importance of respecting the artist’s legacy and intellectual property.
The Final Days and Circumstances of His Death
In his last days, Paul’s health deteriorated rapidly. He refused to eat properly and often rejected medical treatments. When doctors inserted a cannula (a tube for intravenous medicine) into his arm, he would sometimes remove it himself. Some people wondered whether he had simply given up and wanted to die.
According to multiple accounts and people close to him, including social media personality Jenipher Nakangubi (Full Figure), Paul had grown to distrust many women during his illness. He preferred to be cared for only by certain men, such as fellow singer Mesearch Ssemakula, Senkubuge, and others. These friends looked after him faithfully for some time. However, as their own responsibilities grew, they eventually called Robinah (Bisirikirwa) to come and take over his care. It was during this period that Paul passed away on 17th May 2007.
While rumours of HIV/AIDS, witchcraft, and other causes circulated widely, Robinah’s testimony pointed strongly to the damaging effects of years of heavy daily alcohol consumption combined with severe lack of proper nutrition, which weakened his body, affected his organs (including leading to kidney complications according to official reports), and contributed to his early death.
A Lasting Legacy
Prince Paul Job Kafero may have left this world too soon, but his music, stories, wisdom, and voice remain alive in the hearts of millions. He was not just a singer he was a storyteller, a cultural icon, a lover, a fighter, and a true legend of Kadongo Kamu. His songs continue to be played, shared, remixed, discussed, and loved by both old fans and new generations on TikTok, radio, and in homes across Uganda and the world.
The life of Paul Kafero teaches us many lessons: about talent, love, the dangers of excess alcohol, the importance of respecting creators’ rights, the power of forgiveness and collaboration, and the enduring strength of a genuine legacy.
Long live the legacy of the Golden Boy of Africa. Rest In Peace, Prince Paul Job Kafero. You will never be forgotten.
