Pride Of Entebbe

The Elizabeth Sserunkuma Kanyike I Knew

Very few parents, if any especially today’s parents would want their child to pursue a career in the arts, let alone music. Back in the day in Entebbe, some parents would boldly say, “No child of mine will grow up to become a mudongo (musician).” Whenever sons or daughters insisted on following the craft, some parents went as far as burning music books, destroying sound recorders and walkmans, or breaking homemade instruments. Despite such resistance and altercations, a few fortunate ones pressed on. Some even wrote songs pleading with their parents, especially their mothers: “Please ma, please be reasonable and see things my way. Things are going to be just fine.” But to Elizabeth Sserunkuma Kanyike, mother of an Entebbe original and Uganda’s reggae and dancehall artist Peter Miles, things were different. She was always on the frontline, walking alongside her children in whatever path they chose. That is the Elizabeth I knew. She allowed her son, Peter Miles, to run his home-based “ROAD BLOCK” recording studio right from her house.

With great sorrow, I inform you that we have lost one of Entebbe’s elders. Her passing on the 23rd of May, 2026, was completely unexpected, coming in the last couple of hours. Stunned and full of pain, I have had to sit back and reflect.

Entebbe was once a town where a single glance at a child revealed the entire family tree. As the son of Late Nyakaana and Nalongo, I was the "culprit" every time she met me. Whether I was in the company of Peter Miles, Paul Muga, or John Miles, she always had that knowing, warm greeting: "Mutabani waa Nyakaana ne Nalongo, how are you?"

To us, she was simply Mukyala Kanyike.

I knew her personally from childhood. She was a woman of immense grace a talented designer who dressed with an elegance that matched her spirit. She never lost her sense of humor; she joked easily, smiled freely, and carried herself with a dignity that commanded respect. Above all, she carried Entebbe in her heart.

My mother, Nalongo, will miss her deeply as a loyal friend and a regular customer from the good old days of Entebbe. It was a friendship that spanned years and endured until the very end.

It meant so much to me to know that someone who had watched me grow up alongside her own children admired my work so deeply. She was a devoted fan of the stories I tell on Pride of Entebbe stories of the town we both loved. Many of the tales I shared were events she had witnessed herself, and she always expressed how deeply nostalgic and moved she felt while reading them. Knowing she found joy in my writing, especially my piece celebrating her son, Peter Miles, is a memory I will hold onto forever.

Nothing in the world can prepare you for the loss of a mother. And for her children John, Paul, and Peter now that Mukyala Kanyike has gone to rest, this is a day you certainly won’t forget.

While on the surface Mrs. Kanyike a mother, retired public servant, leader, and counselor might have looked like your average mother of sons, her story shows she was truly a special individual. She was a woman whose actions reflected her love for giving and gifting with all her heart. Above all, it was her love for the people around her, especially in Entebbe, that truly made her stand out. She was well known for spreading joy and happiness to neighbors, friends, and even strangers alike. It is no wonder she became so exceptionally beloved in our community.

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. If you were once connected with someone, does it make sense that the connection is broken just because of a physical death? No, the connection stays. You may just have to listen differently. You may just have to talk differently. The truth is that the connection is never broken; it is impossible to break the most powerful connection in the universe.

As long as you exist, the connection stays. Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed, and very dear. They continue to participate in every act, thought, and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. Mrs. Kanyike will always be in mind, forever in our hearts. As the saying goes, “The life of the dead is placed in the heart of the living.”

Yet, when we speak of her, we speak of a woman whose hands were never empty. In Entebbe, among her family, and among the many lives she touched, she is remembered as a constant force of generosity.

She was a Giver. She gave of her time, her humor, and her boundless heart.

She was a Gifter. She gifted us her presence, her style, and the profound impression of what it means to live a life of love.

Rest well, Mukyala Kanyike. Your beautiful spirit lives on in every life you touched.

Charles
Artistic Writer | Curator | Rotarian