By Brian Mugenyi
KAMPALA — Stepping into Sikia Studios in Ntinda on a quiet morning, I carried a fountain pen, a writing pad, and a set of questions for my literary project, Tobanga Wankyaawa. I sought insight into storytelling, but I walked out with a profound masterclass on the soul of creativity.
I was there to meet Sylver Kyagulanyi—musician, songwriter, poet, and lawyer. Dressed in a calm grey suit, he greeted me without fanfare. Within minutes, it became clear I was not merely interviewing a legendary artist; I was conversing with a man who has built his entire life around the weight and power of words. Beyond our shared reverence for literature, there was also a personal thread: through my mother, Ms Sarah Namagembe of the Embogo clan, Kyagulanyi is my uncle. Yet, our dialogue quickly transcended family lines to explore the artist’s calling.
For Kyagulanyi, reading and writing are distinct gifts, but when merged, their potential is limitless. Surrounded by guitars, song manuscripts, and a piano, he reflected on a journey that began in high school, describing composition as divine inspiration.
To him, music and poetry are instruments for social healing. “Music can heal the wounds and stabilize the community,” he explained. “Poems can change lives socially, culturally, and economically if well guided. To me, all are a blessing from God.” He views the creative industry not just as entertainment, but as an economic engine capable of tackling youth unemployment across Uganda.
Adapting to the modern landscape is critical to that vision. Kyagulanyi spoke passionately about founding Civic Online Television to highlight community stories, offering a stark reminder to fellow creatives: “The creative world today has adopted modern technology, and if one is to impact society, he or she must go digital.” A phone is now a newsroom; a studio in Ntinda, a global broadcast station.
Yet, he insists that art must be respected as real labour. Pointing to historic figures like Shakespeare, he emphasized that pricing creative work must reflect shifting economic realities. Creativity requires time, expertise, and sustainable business practices.
Behind the public profile is a quiet father of three and an introspective thinker. “I know my own faults and shortcomings better than anyone,” Kyagulanyi admitted candidly. “The difference is that I know I want to improve, and the law fraternity has already improved a great deal in me.”
Inside Sikia Studios, as melodies echoed from the recording booth and instruments sat ready in tranquil wooden rooms, the space felt less like a studio and more like a sanctuary for ideas.
Leaving Ntinda, I looked at my fountain pen with renewed purpose. Kyagulanyi’s message to the next generation is clear: do not waste your gift. Develop it with discipline, take it digital, build it into an enterprise, and use it to serve society. Talent may open the door, but passion gives it direction, discipline grants it endurance, and God’s grace gives it ultimate meaning.
Brian Mugenyi is a Ugandan creative journalist, author, and lover of literature and nature.
Email: mugenyijj@gmail.com | Contact: +256 752 469 758
The post THE PEN, THE PIANO AND GOD’S GRACE: My Encounter with Sylver Kyagulanyi at Sikia Studios appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.