His life inspired him to do charity

Since childhood, he dreamt of being an artiste and liked his cousin Bebe Cool. Stephen Kwagala, also known as Brown San, is a gospel artiste who will not only be seen performing in church or only during gospel shows, but other events like the East African Carnival as Bebe Cool’s back-up artistes and also as a solo artiste.
His type of music is reggae, dancehall, Afro beat and Zouk. Brown San has recorded one album called Child of Africa, it has songs like Child of Africa, Praise God, Wotali, Mama, Obulamu Lugendo, Don And Tina, Forgive, Ansingira and Warrior. He shares his life story.
I lived with my father from the age of 3 to 7 years, and I have four siblings.
While growing up, I contracted a strange illness which took long to heal and my father stayed away from paying hospital bills, claiming I wasn’t his son. From then, I had to stay with my mother and deal with the reality of being disliked by my father. I don’t even know his whereabouts.

Starting music
After Senior Six in 2004, I stayed home for two years because my mother had financial constraints, thus could not raise school fees.
Then I joined Miracle Teens, a choir at Miracle Centre in Rubaga. We used to take part in crusades in and around Kampala. In 2011, we hosted Not Ashamed Band from Michigan, USA.
I was asked to perform a song titled Nasalawo which was my first song. I had recorded it in 2008. Among the band members was a couple, Donald and Tina Scott who picked interest in who I was. I shared my life story and they offered to be my guardians and started paying my tuition fees for university. They are sponsoring my education, not music, though the latter is my passion.

Why he does charity
I started doing charity in 2008. I used to do fundraising in the church called Labour for Christ Ministry in Kansanga. In 2011, I registered San Scot Charity Ministry, a charity organisation. Last year, I changed its name to African Charitable and Humanitarian Initiative.
My foster parents don’t fund the organisation. It is through music that I mobilise people to donate basic necessities.
I have 14 songs with four videos. Last year, I held a charity concert at church, Labour for Christ Ministry in Kansanga, and we went to Luweero where we donated clothes to 200 children, we fed over 300 children. My mother is happy that I met the Scott family and that they have helped me achieve my dream of doing philanthropy through music.

Challenges
I face financial challenges in terms of promoting and recording music. And, being a gospel musician, people expect most of the performances to be free of charge.

Achievement
From music, I have been able to collect funds for charity. I have also started a company called San Acts which shoots music videos for young artistes at no cost.
I’m also planning an annual football match of awareness; this will always be at Mulago where celebrities participate in different sports to fundraise for the sick people at Mulago hospital.

Launching For Life Fundraising Concert
The concert will take place today at Hotel Sojovalo in Rubaga from 3pm. Brown San will perform together with artistes like Levixone, Dangelo Busulwa, Simon Mirembe and Jackie Ssenyonjo.
This is aimed at launching a charity campaign which is going to run for three years. We will be organising events in schools, churches and other places to sensitise people about helping the needy.

FACTFILE
Stephen Kwagala, also known as Brown San, was born 26 years ago to Joyce Ayisat in Kansanga.
He went to New Lwoga Memorial Primary School in Bombo, , Nabitalo Secondary School in Namulonge from s1 to s2, then Merryland High School for S.3 to S.4. and completed high school at Molly and Paul Secondary school in Kibuye. Currently, he is pursuing a Diploma in Project planning at Makerere University.