Up-and-coming artist Omega Bugembe Okello recently received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding World Music Artist.
The Ugandan songstress began her musical career as a young child when she was selected as one of the first and youngest members of the African Children’s Choir, touring throughout North America and Europe to raise awareness of the plight of war-torn Uganda.
“I was raised by parents who loved Jesus and instilled that faith in me as a child,” she says. “Imagine how thrilled I was at four years old to join a ministry like the African Children’s Choir, and share my faith worldwide!”

Through her past involvement with the African Children’s Choir, she has helped raise funds to facilitate primary and high school education for over 5,000 African children who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend school. Presently, Omega has teamed up with Ugandan and international partners to start the Alpha and Omega School in Kampala, Uganda; providing scholarship-based primary education for over 300 students.
But her passion is as a health care advocate. In August she returned to her homeland perform a benefit concert that she herself produced. The concert raised funds that specifically supported Mulago Hospital’s maternity ward (the nation’s only referral hospital) with the intention of helping decrease the high maternal mortality rates. Proceeds from the concert have been used to purchase much needed surgical beds, which will help provide surgery in a timely manner for high-risk expectant mothers.
She has also worked with organizations her in the U.S., including New York Presbyterian Hospital (New York, NY) and the Yale School of Medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and Group Health Hospital (Seattle, WA).
Omega is poised to release the first single from her upcoming gospel album, Amazed. It’s a beautiful song.
Last spring, I highlighted her world music album Kiwomera Emmeeme. Except for one song in Swahili, all of the songs on that album are in her native tongue Luganda. That album is really unique and captivating.
The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards will be handed out February 12th. For more information about Omega, visit her website.
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