Mataali legend Ahmad Mukasa dies after cancer battle
By Jafar Mugera
Just hours before his group’s scheduled departure to Makkah for this year’s Hajj on May 17, Khalifah Ahmad Mukasa — one of Uganda’s most celebrated Mataali performers, was pronounced dead.
Mukasa, a director at Muzaata Tours and Travels — one of the country’s pioneer private Hajj and Umrah operators — had spent nearly a year battling intestinal cancer, an illness diagnosed shortly after his return from last year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
According to family and close associates, Mukasa developed severe abdominal discomfort while in Makkah during last year’s pilgrimage. Initially suspected to be stomach ulcers, the condition later turned out to be advanced-stage intestinal cancer after medical examinations upon his return to Uganda.
In the months that followed, he remained admitted at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago, where he underwent specialised treatment as his condition deteriorated.
“He was going to undergo surgery, but after carrying out further scans, the doctors decided against it because it would have further complicated his condition,” the Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Galabuzi, told mourners at Kibuli Mosque on May 18.
Beyond his role in the Hajj and Umrah services business, Mukasa was widely revered for his contribution to Mataali music, an Islamic devotional performance art that combines rhythmic drumming, chanting and dance. Through Luganda compositions rooted in Islamic teachings and community life, he became one of the most recognisable figures on Uganda’s Muslim entertainment scene.
His performances were a staple at Muslim weddings, Eid celebrations, Hajj send-offs and welcoming ceremonies for returning pilgrims. Admirers credit him for helping popularise Mataali among younger generations while preserving its religious and cultural significance
He rose to prominence in the late 1980s at a time when Mataali performances were largely dominated by Arabic and Swahili renditions. He distinguished himself by composing songs in Luganda, making the genre more relatable and accessible to local audiences while preserving its Islamic essence. Through his creativity and stage presence, he helped transform Mataali from a niche ceremonial performance into a widely appreciated cultural expression among Ugandan Muslims.
Beyond entertainment, he mentored numerous young performers and played a central role in nurturing Mataali groups that continue to perform across the country. Admirers remember him for his discipline, humour, charisma and unwavering commitment to promoting Islamic values through art and culture.
“He was our mentor. Most of the current generation of Mataali performers in Uganda learnt from him and sought to emulate his style,” said Khalifah Sulaiman Lwanga, a renowned Mataali performer from Butambala.
Khalifah Ahmad Mukasa was laid to rest at Namabo in Mpigi Town Council in the presence of hundreds of mourners, among them an emotional Prince Kassim Nakibinge Kakungulu.
