Uganda's top 100 celebrities 2021

It has become very boring, and someone needs to knock Ann Kansiime off her perch. 

For the 6th straight time, the comedienne has come out on top of the New Vision’s list of Uganda’s Top 100 Celebrities. How does she do it? By staying on top of her game, that’s how.

Katusiime came to our attention when she released several video clips of her comedy sketches on YouTube, and she has never looked back. 

More than her appearances with the Fun Factory outfit, and the several TV shows she has appeared in but which didn’t exactly win any awards; she has maintained her online presence at a time when many Ugandans entertainers still think online is where you go after work to catch up with gossip.  

In a way, Katusiime was in way before it became the norm, but she is not giving up her top spot easily.

The methodology

For the first time since we started compiling this list in 2009, we have not included media mentions. 

It is a sad truth that mainstream media has an increasingly small part in the information that the public consumes. Thus, it is all about social media, in this case, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

We computed the nominees' presence on social media, entered that into a weighted formula developed by the statisticians in our Research Department, and came up with the final list.

Readers’ choice

We carried out a readers’ survey for a month, and below are the Reader’s Choice Top 10:

1. Judith Heard
2. Viper Ranking
3. Faiza Fabz
4. Ezzy
5. John Blaq
6. Sheebah Karungi
7. Cindy Sanyu
8. Lydia Jazmine
9. A-Pass
10. Azawi

Who featured on the list?

There has been no live entertainment for close to two years, so all of our entertainment was online.

We saw TV presenters more than we saw anybody else, so you would think they would feature high up on the list. 

But they still haven’t figured out that their social media presence impacts their ratings, their employers need to have a strict talking to them, they need to up their game. But Douglas Lwanga (#10) and Faridah Nakazibwe (#12) are on top of their game.

We also listened to radio presenters a lot, but like their TV counterparts, many still have a minimal social media presence. This is why kudos go to Capital Radio’s Lucky Mbabazi (#15), who might not have the best voice on the radio, but knows how to play her audience.

Musicians haven’t had it very good, so give it up to Sheebah Karungi (#2), Spice Diana (#3) who had something of a break-out year, and Lydia Jazmine (#5). They probably have the best of ending the Katusiime domination. 

Jose Chameleone (#4) and Juliana Kanyomozi (#6) represent the old guard, with Bebe Cool a distant #22. 

Surprisingly, not many other comedians haven’t tried to do what works very well for Katusiime, with only Teacher Mpamire (#19) appearing in the Top 20. Alex Muhangi (#27), Patrick Salvador Idiringi (#63) and Pablo Kimuli (#89) are the only other comedians on the list.

It was a bad season for the so-called socialites, with no opportunities to air their dirty laundry in public. But some re-invented themselves, and whereas Ugandans love to hate on Sheila Gashumba she was right there in the Top 10 at #7. 

Anitah Fabiola (#17) became a serious businesswoman, and Desire Luzinda (#28) made a surprising come-back.

Our athletes gave us a lot of cheer this year, but it seems after that they just go back to the training track. 

Someone tell them i9t is important to their brand to have a string social media presence. Joshua Cheptegei could only make #66, while his fellow champion Jacob Kiplimo was a disappointing #97. 

There have been debates whether these lists actually add value to anyone, but in these times when building one’s brand is important to add a few millions to your bank account, you should take them seriously. 

Because ultimately this list is about brand building, and you can add it to your CV, of course.

So, for better or for worse, these are Uganda’s Top 100 celebrities for the year 2021.

1. Ann Kansiime            
2. Sheebah Karungi        
3. Spice Diana                
4. Jose Chameleone        
5. Lydia Jazmine            
6. Juliana Kanyomozi     
7. Sheila Gashumba       
8. Fik Fameica                
9. A-pass                        
10. Douglas Lwanga        
11. Winnie Nwagi            
12. Faridah Nakazibwe    
13. Cindy Sanyu              
14. Vinka                         
15. Lucky Mbabazi          
16. Irene Ntale                 
17. Anitah Fabiola           
18. Rema Namakula         
19. Teacher Mpamire       
20. Ykee Benda               
21. King Saha                  
22. Bebe Cool                  
23. John Blaq                   
24. Dianah Nabatanzi      
25. Zanie Brown              
26. MC Kats                    
27. Alex Muhangi            
28. Desire Luzinda           
29. Geosteady                  
30. Anna Talia Oze          
31. GNL Zamba               
32. Navio                         
33. DJ Shiru                     
34. Farouk Miya              
35. Leila Kayondo                       
36. Zuena                         
37. B2C                            
38. Zahara Totto              
39. Angella Katatumba    
40. Mun–G                      
41. Emmanuel Okwi        
42. Flavia Tumusiime       
43. Maurice Kirya            
44. Iryn Namubiru           
45. Irene Namatovu         
46. Grace Nakimera         
47. Martha Kay                
48. Hellen Lukoma          
49. Wilson Bugembe        
50. Florence Nampijja      
51. Azawi                        
52. Lynda Ddane             
53. Ziza Bafana                
54. Prim Asiimwe            
55. Levixone                    
56. Judith Heard              
57. Mesach Semakula      
58. Lilian Mbabazi           
59. David Lutalo              
60. Dennis Onyango        
61. Canary Mugume        
62. Gravity Omutujju       
63. Patrick Idringi Salvado 
64. Khalifa Aganaga        
65. Sylvia Owori              
66. Joshua Cheptegei       
67. Ceasarous                   
68. Nutty Neithan            
69. Kasuku                       
70. Gaetano Kagwa         
71. Doreen Nasasira         
72. Catherine Kusasira     
73. Naava Grey                
74. Eleanor Nabwiso        
75. Fille                            
76. Samson Kasumba       
77. Bina Babie                 
78. Andrew Kabuura       
79. Vyper Ranking           
80. Josephine Karungi      
81. Etania                         
82. Isaiah Katumwa         
83. Tina Teise                   
84. Brian Mulondo           
85. Eddie Kenzo               
86. Kenneth Mugabi        
87. Abby Mukiibi             
88. Robert Kabushenga   
89. Pablo Kimuli              
90. Stella Nantumbwe     
91. Nince Henry               
92. Gabbie Ntaate            
93. Crystal Newman        
94. Mary Luswata            
95. Aamito Lagum            
96. Coco finger                
97. Jacob Kiplimo            
98. Nancy Kacungira       
99. Denzel Mwiyeretsi     
100. Anita Beryl