Rehema Namakula (born 07 April 1990), known professionally as Rema Namakula or simply Rema, is a Ugandan singer, songwriter and record producer.
Early life and career
Rema was born in Lubaga Hospital, on 24 April 1991, to the late Hamida Nabbosa and the late Mukiibi Ssemakula. She is the last-born in her family. She attended Kitante Primary School for her elementary school education. She studied at Saint Balikudembe Senior Secondary School for both O-Level and A-Level studies. Later, she joined Kyambogo University. which she never completed and says she plans to do so in future.
Career
During her Senior 6 vacation, she began singing karaoke. Later, she became a back-up singer to another Ugandan female musician Halima Namakula, who became her mentor. She continued her music career as a backup artist for Ugandan musician Bebe Cool in Gagamel, Bebe Cool’s recording group. In 2013, Bebe Cool was watching television when he saw Rema talking about launching a solo album, which Bebe Cool didn’t know about. So he fired her and she went solo. In 2013 she released “Oli Wange” which was written by Nince Henry which made her popular in the music industry of Uganda.
In 2016, Rema Namakula was selected to represent Uganda at the fourth season of Coke Studio Africa 2016. Other Ugandan recording artists selected included Lydia Jazmine, Eddy Kenzo and Radio and Weasel. Other participants in the invitation-only event included 2Baba (2Face Idibia) from Nigeria and Trey Songz from the United States.
Parents and family
Rema Namakula was born to her father, Hamida Nabbosa and mother, Mukiibi Ssemakula, who are now both late. She is the last-born in her family.
Husband and children
Over time, Namakula began a romantic relationship with Ugandan recording artist Eddy Kenzo. On 26 December 2014, Namakula gave birth to a daughter at Paragon Hospital, in the Kampala neighborhood of Bugoloobi. Kenzo (real name Edrisa Musuuza), who has another daughter (Maya Musuuza) from a previous relationship, acknowledged being the father and named the newborn Aamaal Musuuza.
On 14 November 2019, Namakula introduced her new fiancé, Dr. Hamza Ssebunya, in a ceremony that took place at her home in Nabbingo, near Kampala. The introduction was a national affair, as thousands camped out along the procession route to her home.
On 7 November 2021, Namakula welcomed her second child. A baby girl named Aaliyah Ssebunya.
Children
Rema has a daughter named Aamal Musuza with the singer Eddy Kenzo, who was born on December 26, 2014. In addition to Aamal, she and her current husband Dr. Hamza Ssebunya recently welcomed their first child, Aaliyah Ssebunya, on November 7, 2021.
Net worth
Rema Namakula has an estimated net worth of around $1 million – $2 million.
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