BIGSONG:
Judith Babirye is a Ugandan gospel musician and politician. She is a senior pastor at “New Life Deliverance Church”, in Makindye Division, in the southeastern part of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. She also served as the elected Member of Parliament representing Buikwe District Women Constituency in the 10th Parliament (2016–2021).
Babirye was born in Nyenga, Buikwe District, to Mr and Mrs Mukooza, on 23 September 1977. She attended Nalinya Lwantale Primary School in Luweero District. She studied at Ndejje Senior School for her O-Level education and at Iganga Secondary School for her A-Level studies, graduating with a High School Diploma in 1998.She was admitted to Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism degree.
When she was in Senior Two at Ndejje Secondary School, Babirye won the music composition festivals in which they were tasked to compose the school anthem. At Iganga, she also composed the school anthem sparking off her musical career.Her debut song, “Beera Nange”, won the best gospel single in the 2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards. She has had hits like “Wambatira”, “Omusaayi gwa Yesu”, “Ekitibwa kyo Mukama” and “Maama”.
Babirye was married to Niiwo with whom they have a daughter. However, in January 2017, she filed for divorce. She later married Paul Musoke Sebulime, on 28 July 2018, in a traditional ceremony.