Today Buganda Palace at Bulange had a different kind of visitor. Not a president. Not a bishop. But the Queen of Dancehall from Jamaica — Spice.
Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga welcomed her himself. He even gave her a Kiganda name: Nankula. And in just one day, she’s already been to Kasubi Royal Tombs, met kingdom officials, and made headlines.
Saturday 9th May, she’ll be at Lugogo Cricket Oval to perform. But ssebo, this visit is not just about “wine and go down low”. This is about Uganda, Jamaica, culture, tourism, and money. And we need to talk about it properly.
What Ordinary Uganda Is Seeing And Saying
The young girl in Makindye is screaming. “Spice is here! The real Spice from Jamaica!” For her, this is like seeing Beyoncé. She grew up on “So Mi Like It” and “Go Down Deh”. Now the queen is in Kampala, eating matooke at Kasubi, wearing gomesi, and saying our food is nice. That’s pride.
The boda rider in Nakulabye is also excited, but for different reasons. “If Spice posts Uganda on her Instagram, my boda business might get more tourists. Maybe one muzungu will say ‘take me where Spice went’.” That’s hustle thinking. And he’s not wrong.
The mama selling rolex in Ntinda is confused though. “Who is Spice? Is she coming to give us jobs?” That’s the reality too. Not every Ugandan knows dancehall. But when they hear “Jamaica” and “Queen”, they pay attention.
And the old man in Masaka listening to radio is smiling. “Jamaica and Buganda have history. Bob Marley loved Africa. Our kabakas fought for culture. Now their queen comes to our palace. That’s respect.” He sees the deeper connection.
What Elite Uganda Is Calculating Quietly
The tourism firm CEO or boss in Uganda is taking notes. Katikkiro said it clearly: “When influential figures like Spice choose Uganda, they do more than perform — they tell our story to the world, attract global attention, and open doors for tourism, culture, and investment.”
That’s the game. One post from Spice to her millions of followers is worth more than 10 tourism adverts on TV. She went to Kasubi Royal Tombs. That’s UNESCO heritage. Now the world sees it through her eyes, not through a brochure.
The culture expert at Makerere is thinking about “cultural exchange”. Jamaica and Uganda share blood. Many Jamaicans are descendants of Africans taken during slavery. Their music, their dance, their spirit — it’s African. So when Spice dances in Buganda, it’s not foreign. It’s homecoming. The name Nankula given by Katikkiro is symbolic. It means “she who has grown”. That’s Buganda saying “you’re one of us”.
The event promoter at Lugogo is counting money. Saturday 9th May is going to be packed. Tickets on http://quicket.co.ug are moving. Hotels will be full. Taxis will work overnight. Vendors will sell. That’s the “Spicy weekend” economy.
The diplomat is seeing soft power. Uganda has been in the news for politics, for bills, for security. But today, Uganda is in the news for music, for culture, for a global star eating luwombo. That changes the narrative. And in 2026, narrative is everything.
Why This Visit Matters More Than We Think
One: It puts Uganda on the map for the wrong reasons, finally in the right way. For months the world hears about our Parliament fights, our protests, our laws. Now they hear “Queen of Dancehall is in Uganda praising the food and culture”. That’s free marketing.
Two: It connects Uganda to the Caribbean market. Jamaica is small but influential. Their music runs the world. Their tourists travel. Their diaspora has money. If Spice says “Uganda is beautiful”, Jamaicans will listen. African-Americans will listen. That’s new tourism.
Three: It validates our culture. When Katikkiro hosts Spice at Bulange, it tells young Ugandans “our kingdom, our traditions, our tombs — they’re world class”. Too many youth think success means leaving Uganda. But when a global star comes here and respects our heritage, it tells them “you can be global from home”.
Four: It’s business. Let’s not pretend. Spice didn’t just come for rolex. She’s working with Uganda Tourism Board and Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board. That means contracts, campaigns, content. Ugandan photographers, dancers, guides — they’re all getting paid. That’s the “investment” Katikkiro talked about.
What Young Ugandans or Musicians Should Do With This “Spicy” Moment
Watch and learn. If you’re an artist, see how Spice commands stage, how she brands herself, how she moves. Talent is not enough. Nankula is a businesswoman.
Think beyond music. Jamaica used reggae and dancehall to build an identity. Uganda can use kadongo kamu, dancehall, afrobeats, our drums, our food. Culture is not just entertainment. It’s economy.
Saturday at Lugogo will be spicy. But the real spice is what we do after the music stops.
Let’s get spiced up, Uganda. But let’s also get serious.
The world is watching. And for once, they’re not watching our Parliament. They’re watching our culture.
And that’s a win we can’t afford to waste.
