About Golden Gate Choir Uganda

The Golden Gate Choir Uganda Started in 1973 as a family choir, Currently it is among the most popular gospel music groups in Uganda. It Was founded by Robert Solika Munyagwa who said in a 1993 interview before his death that the vision to start the choir came from God.

He composed the first songs and together with his wife, four children, and house help, performed them at Bunga Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church in 1973. It was only in 1975 that he allowed outsiders to join the choir.

Golden Gate Choir’s story began in Kiwafu Muyenga, where Munyagwa, a Radio Uganda broadcaster, lived. Using Radio Uganda as his platform, Munyagwa promoted the choir’s music. In the 1970s when President Idi Amin banned some Christian sects, the choir began ministering in Anglican churches.

It impressed the former Archbishop of Uganda, Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo (at that time a reverend), and it is no wonder that Munyagwa was Nkoyoyo’s best man at his wedding.

The choir was banished by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for ‘embracing worldly values’ and performing for other denominations. In the late 1970s, Munyagwa got paralysed on a trip to Cairo, Egypt. He also spent three years in Mulago Hospital after a cancer diagnosis. While there, he started a singing group for the nurses.

In 1982, he enlisted a celebrated Kadongo Kamu composer and singer, Isaac Mukalu.

Songs Of Golden Gate Choir

1. 666 (Old)
2. Abeebaka (New)
3. Abeebaka (Old)
4. Akaseera Katono
5. Ani Alinga Yesu
6. Anoonya Mikwano Gye
7. At The Golden Gate
8. At the Golden Gate
9. Awebwe Ekitiibwa
10. Ayita Mpola
11. Babuloni (New)
12. Babuloni (Old)
13. Balikaaba (Old)
14. Balina Omukisa (New)
15. Balina Omukisa (Old)
16. Batulumayo
17. Beera Mwesigwa (Old)
18. Beera Omubuulizi (New)
19. Beera Omubuulizi (Old)
20. Budde Buli Kumpi
21. Buli Muntu
22. Bwenawulira Sagaana
23. Bwenzijukira
24. Ddala Kiiba Kitya
25. Ebintu Tubibagambye
26. Edda Nali Musibe
27. Eddembe Lyange
28. Ekikolimo
29. Ekiseera Kituuse (Old)
30. Ekitiibwa
31. Ekitwesimisa (Old)
32. Ekkondeere (New)
33. Ekutte Akati
34. Ekyama Version 2
35. Ekyama Version 1
36. Embuyaga By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
37. Enjiri Mu Bibuga Byonna By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
38. Ensi Eguddemu Eddalu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
39. Ensi Gyetuyimu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
40. Esuubi Lyaffe By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
41. Exemplar-School-Profile.pdf
42. Genda Mubibuga (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
43. Genda obuulire By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
44. Golden-Gate-Choir-ettendo.jpg
45. Golden-Gate-Choir2.jpg
46. Gyolaga Gyengenda By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
47. Have a Little Talk (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
48. Have A Little Talk By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
49. Hossana (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
50. Hozaana Gwe Kabaka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
51. I Was Unworthy By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
52. Jangu Olabe Yesu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
53. Jangu Omukillize By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
54. Jubilee (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
55. Jubilee (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
56. Kabona Waffe By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
57. Kabonero Bwe Kabembulwa Bpm By Golden gate Choir.mp3
58. Kabonero Bwekabembulwa (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
59. Katonda Byagera By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
60. Katonda Yeyatonda By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
61. Katusinze Mukama By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
62. Kiseera Ki (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
63. Kiseera Kituuse By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
64. Kitaffe Ali mu Ggulu (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
65. Kitaffe Ali Mu Ggulu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
66. Kitange Nkukowoola By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
67. Kukkiriza Yesu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
68. Laba Kabaka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
69. Leero Lukulu (Instrumental) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
70. Leero Lukulu Gyoli By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
71. LEERO LUKULU Instrumental.mp3
72. Leero Lwa Bulokozi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
73. Linda (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
74. Linda (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
75. Lunaku Lwa Ttendo (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
76. Lunaku Lwali Lwattendo (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
77. Lwazi Lwedda By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
78. Matongo By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
79. Mbuulira By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
80. Mikononi Mwangu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
81. Mpulira Eddobozi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
82. Mu Kiwonvu Kya Era By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
83. Mu Mirembe Gyedda (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
84. Mu Mirembe Gyedda (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
85. Mujje Ku Mbaga By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
86. Mujje Tusanyuke By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
87. Mujje Tusinze By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
88. Mukama Wa Bakama By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
89. Mukama Ye Musumba 2 By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
90. Mukawera (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
91. Mukawera (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
92. Muno Munsi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
93. Mutendereze Mukama By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
94. Muzukuke Version 1 By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
95. Muzukuke Version 2 By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
96. Mwebazengako By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
97. Mwokozi Wangu Ni Rafiki By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
98. Namwandu Oli By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
99. Nandaga Omugga (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
100. Nani Ajuaye Bwana By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
101. Ndagushima By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
102. Nebwenjogera Ennimi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
103. Nenda Uyiambie Ulimwengu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
104. Nendaba Eggulu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
105. Neno La Bwana Yesu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
106. Nikodemu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
107. Nina Essuubi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
108. Nina Tumaini La Uzima By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
109. Nitafika Kwake By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
110. Njagala Muwereze By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
111. Njagala Nyo Okubeera By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
112. Nkiza By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
113. Noah By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
114. Nsaba Nkugoberere By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
115. Ntume Ani (New1) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
116. Ntume Ani (New2) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
117. Ntume Ani (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
118. Nzikiriza Nti By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
119. Obulamu Buno By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
120. Okwagala By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
121. Olunaku Lulituuka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
122. Omusumba Omulungi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
123. Omwana Wa Daudi – Golden Gates choir (Old).mp3
124. Ondage Ekkubo By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
125. Osaana Okwebaza – Golden Gate (original).mp3
126. Oterebuka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
127. Otwale Obubaka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
128. Phodida By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
129. Piga Simu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
130. Profile Brochure Digital Version.pdf
131. Saulo By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
132. SHAK-JUNIOR-SCHOOL-PROFILE-2020-1.pdf
133. Sikiriza Siku Zote By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
134. Siku Ambayo Yesu Alfukuka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
135. SongCoverApril2023-01.jpg
136. Sooka Onoonye By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
137. Towemuka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
138. Tuliraba Amaaso Ga Yesu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
139. Tuliwumula By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
140. Tullibinyumyako (Capella) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
141. Tumeja Furaha By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
142. Tusanyuke By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
143. Tusemberedde Enkomerero 2 By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
144. Tuyimbire Yesu By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
145. Tuzze Gyoli By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
146. Twaende By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
147. Twessunga Nyo (New) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
148. Twessunga Nyo (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
149. Wa Rumi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
150. Walimbuulidde By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
151. Waliwo Ekitwesimisa By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
152. Waliwo Kabaka By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
153. Webaze Mukama By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
154. Wulira Eddoboozi By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
155. Yerusalemi Ekiggya By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
156. Yesu Ali kumpi Okudda By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
157. Yesu Bweyateesa (Old) By Golden Gate Choir.mp3
158. Yesu Lwalidda By Golden Gate Choir.mp3

Some of the choir’s Popular songs include, Babulooni, Totunula mabega, Ntume Ani, Ekondeere, Beera omubuulizi, Emirembe gy’Abaruumi, and Tulibinyumyako.

Arguably, the most popular of their songs is Babulooni, referencing Chapter 18 of The Book of Revelations. Mukiveemu Babulooni, Mukiveemu! Mukitye kuba Mukama y’ayogedde. Omusango gw’akyo gujja, guli kumpi. Mukifulumemu mwe abantu bange. Babulooni, Babulooni nga kigudde! Ebibonyobonyo byakyo byona okutuka ku lunaku lumu. (Come out of her (Babylon). Come out of her! Fear her, the Lord says. Her judgement is coming, it is near. Babylon! Babylon has fallen! Her plagues will come in one day).

In Christianity, Babylon symbolises a religious and political system of worldliness and evil.

Departures

In 1992, other members, Hannington Bukenya, Rebecca Nalwadda, Kisuule Waguma and Dan Kabenge also left to form The Remnant Crew Ministries. In 1993, when Munyagwa was on his death bed, The Remnant Crew were a tremendous help to him and his family.

Munyagwa’s widow, Margaret Namatovu, who is the custodian of the choir, reminisces of this tough time. “It was hard for us but we lived on the hope that we were serving a living God.”

A series of deaths of the choir leaders sent the choir into hibernation.

Something beautiful

Today, the choir is active. Remmy Michael Kizito, an accountant with Multiplex Limited, is the chairman. “I became interim chairman in 1999. Nowadays, about 25 choir members regularly attend choir practice at Munyagwa’s residence every Friday. We have 40 active members,” he says.

One of the new members, Lydia Mugalu, a soprano, who joined in 2013, is a midwife at Kansanga Domiciliary Home. “I find fulfillment in the choir. When I applied to join, I went through a lengthy vetting process but I now know that is the reason why this choir still stands strong.”

After celebrating their Ruby Jubilee in 2013, Kizito used his position to mobilise funds to buy a choir bus. “We plan to establish a music academy but this is something that needs strong partnerships,” he says.