Who is Mordecai Muriisa? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with the late Betty Naluwoge, Dreke Kirabira, Joshua Kabanda, the early life and education of agospel musician, author and pastor from Uganda.
Pastor Wilson Bugembe is a well-known gospel musician, author and pastor from Uganda.
His mission is to “Reveal the heart of Christ to nations” and he is the founder and lead pastor of Worship House Church (formerly Light the World Church), which is situated in the Nansana Wakiso District of Uganda.
Presently, Pastor Wilson Bugembe stands as one of East Africa’s top gospel performers. In 2023, he published “The Pregnant Man,” his latest work.
Net Worth
Pastor Wilson Bugembe is estimated to have a net worth of over 1.62 million dollars as of 2022.
Early Life
Wilson Bugembe was born in 1984 to the late Betty Naluwoge and Dreke Kirabira in Gulama Village Masaka.
Bugembe was born into a family of six boys, but he spent a portion of his childhood on the streets after becoming an orphan at a young age.
After the death of Bugembe’s parents, his Grandfather Joshua Kabanda offered to take care of the orphaned children.
He took responsibility for Bugembe’s education but later the two fell out and he stopped paying Bugembe’s school fees.
Bugembe then ran away and went to live with his grandmother in Kampala, where they were just trying to survive.
Bugembe’s life turned difficult, and he began to live on the streets. He was hungry, homeless, and constantly crying.
After leaving the streets, Bugembe joined a Born-Again group which facilitated his rehabilitation process while he was sickly and tiny.
Education Background
Pastor Wilson Bugembe attended several elementary schools, including St. Joseph Gulama, where he finished his Primary Seven education in 1997.
He has prior also attended Stella Malice Primary School, where his grandfather enrolled him.
After that, Bugembe enrolled in S.1 at High Way College in Makerere, where he finished his O and A Level education. He studied HED/L in S.6.
He continued to university where he studied for only one semester and eventually dropped out.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| 1997 | St. Joseph Gulama | PLE |
| High Way College Makerere | UCE & UACE |
Family Background
Pastor Bugembe’s father, Kirabira was a singer. He started Hossana Choir Kijabweme in Masaka District.
His mother died when she was 26 years old and his father followed when he was 30 years old.
Wilson Bugembe is the second born of six boys, all of whom were born HIV positive except for Bugembe and his brother Brian Ddumba.
Out of Bugembe’s five siblings, there are only two who are still alive; he and Brian.
Brian Ddumba is also a gospel artist and songwriter, Born Again Christian, and medical doctor, and currently lives in the United States of America (USA).
His stepbrother Dr Frank in Kyotera and his stepmother are as well still alive.
Marriage / Relationship
Pastor Wilson Bugembe is in a relationship and plans to get married to his fiancée in 2024.
Bugembe had earlier dated a girl who left him and he suffered serious heartbreak, and also before this, he had a girl he loved and dated who got married to another man but this wasn’t a serious heartbreak.
He says he learnt a lot from his previous relationships saying “Not every pain is bad pain, so in that I learnt.”
Career and Professional Work Experience
Pastor Wilson Bugembe started the Worship House Church with nine members while in his S.6 class at only 19 years old.
He started by buying a 100 by 100 plot of land, and they continued to acquire plots after that at a rising cost.
Currently under construction, the church is being built on a 3-acre plot of land registered under the name Worship House.
The registrar at the Wakiso District Headquarters drove him and his colleagues out when they sought to register the church at the outset. The registrar thought they wanted to rob people since they were all teenagers.
Bugembe changed the church name from Light the World Church to Worship House because the name appeared too long for him and he wanted something simple and brief.
He fasted and prayed for it, and whenever they worshipped at church or crusades, God descended and they could witness his power and miracles, so he renamed it Worship House.
Music Career
Pastor Wilson Bugembe began singing in his S.6 class. His breakthrough song was Mukama Njagala Kumanya.
This sold out utmost as it received nonstop airplay on both Radio and Television stations. This also prompted him to release his first album “Yellow”.
From Mukama Njagala Kumanya, Pastor Bugembe proved that he had come to stay when he released yet another society-related song titled Komawo Eka.
This too sold out highly and was followed by other inspirational and society-awakening hits such as Bwalikujukira, Kani, Ani, Lengera Embaata, Bamuyita Yesu and many other singles that followed.
He has worked with famous artists like Sylver Kyagulanyi, Icha Kavons and Isaiah Katumwa.
Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s Songs
Albums
Yellow
Njagala Kumanya
Kani, 2010
Ani, 2010
Lengera Embaata, 2011
Biribabitya, 2012
Akawala ako, 2013
Sibiwulira, 2014
Wanaza
Singles
Who Cares
Omwoyo
Katonda
Ebitala Bikutadde
Mwoyo Mutukuvu
Meeme Yange
Ofaayo
Nkusabira Nyo
Worship Hour
Essanyu
Speed
Leero
Wanaaza
Tembeya Njiri
Wandibadde Mufu
Komawo Eka
Samson
Bethlehem
Olwaleero Mbaga
Katonda Byakola
Oli Waggulu
Mpangira Akawala Ako
Bambi DJ
Akaseera
Buli Lwomukowola
Lengera Embaata
Bamuyita Yesu
Munaabe Omusaayi Gwa Yesu
Kijja Kuggwa
Balabye Nnyo
Yakuwa
Entalo Zo
Essuubi
Bwalikujukira
Mukama Njagala Kumanya
Nakowoola Mukama
Nvunama gyoli
Yesu
Tulina Erinya
Akasati Ka Yellow
Twali Mudungu
Katonda Talimba
Erinya Lya Yesu
Bibuzabuza
Abajulizi
Muzukuke
Nsumulula
Simbula Naye
Waliwo Awona
Siza
Mbaga
Emigugu
Katonda (Y’abadde Mw’Eno Ensonga
Tusize
Katonda
Nakibuka
Winner
God Over Money
Nkusabira Nyo
Oli Mufere
Kyamagero
Essanyu
Numya Kale
Wanaaza
Ani
Kaninde
Sala Zange
Nfuula Zaabu
Mwoyo Mutukuvu
Sibiwula
Ddaala
It’s My Turn
Mercy
Kwata Omukono
Mpangira
Ani Yali Amanyi
Talemwa
Kani
Komawo Eka
Bamuyita Yesu
Ekkubo
Njakuyitayo
Biliba Bitya
Mukama Mulungi
Nangirira
Katonda Byakola
Oliwagulu Yesu
Njagala Nyo Mukama
Achievements and Awards
Pastor Wilson Bugembe has also won several awards including three Pearl of Africa Music Awards; Best Gospel Artist (2007), Best Gospel Single (Komawo Eka) and Best Gospel Artist (2008).
In 2016, his song “Daala” took home the VIGA Awards’ top song of the year award.
His life story documentary, which highlighted the significance of his journey, took home the International Christian Film Awards in 2023.
An orphanage is run by Pastor Wilson Bugembe. With assistance from friends in Europe, he oversees Mercy Schools, which are situated in Mende along Sentema Road in the Wakiso District.
The primary goal of the schools is to educate the less fortunate kids and orphans by giving them access to literacy.
Many celebrities have sought sanctuary in Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s haven, and he is always willing to help those in need.
Controversies
At one time Pastor Wilson Bugembe had serious misunderstandings with Pastor Bugingo but the two reconciled and today they are on good terms. He pointed out that he wins his battles through prayer and fasting.
At one time, he turned down the late Pastor Yiga’s offer to broadcast his church services on his ABS TV, saying Yiga’s things were not very straight to him “I like him but he goes off God’s message.”
Pastor Bugembe accepted the invitation to sing in the Tubonga Nawe song, a song that featured most Ugandan singers used in President Museveni’s 2016 presidential campaigns.
He also revealed that Bobi Wine is his great friend despite their political differences.
He also accepted to feature in the Tuliyambala Engule song, he remembered the time Bobi Wine helped him, yet, he was nobody and he was a music star.
This was misconceived to be political, yet not, Bugembe says his chorus was not in any way related to politics.
