Tom Close Biography: Age, Parents, Songs, Family, Net Worth, Wife, Kids, Nationality

Biography

Tom Close, born Thomas Muyombo on October 28, 1984, in Uganda, is a prominent Ugandan-born, Rwanda-based musician and physician.

He is widely recognized in East Africa as a pioneering artist in modern R&B, Afrobeat, dancehall, and hip-hop, often blending these genres with traditional Rwandan influences.

Known for his smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics, he has released multiple albums and singles, including the recent project Essence (featuring 13 tracks), and popular songs like “Cinema,” “Mama wabana,” and collaborations such as “AGACA.”

By profession, Dr. Thomas Muyombo is a qualified medical doctor, famously balancing his medical career with music—earning descriptions like “a doctor by day and musician by night.”

He is celebrated as one of Rwanda’s key figures in contemporary music and maintains an active presence across platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Instagram.

Rwanda musician and physician
Tom Close
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Thomas Muyombo
Stage Name:	Tom Close
Born:	28 October 1986 (age 39 years old)
Place of Birth:	Masindi, Uganda
Nationality:	Rwandan
Education:	Masindi Army Primary School, Kiziguro Secondary School, French Lycée de Kigali, National University of Rwanda
Height:	N/A
Parents:	Edward Karangwa, Faith Grace Dukuze
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Ange Tricia Niyonshuti (m. 2013)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Ineza Ella Muyombo, Ellana Muyombo, Imena Elan Muyombo
Occupation:	Musician • Physician
Net Worth:	$500,000-$800,000 (USD)

Early Life & Education

Thomas Muyombo, professionally known as Tom Close, was born on 28 October 1984 in Masindi District, western Uganda, as the second of three children to Rwandan refugee parents.

His father, Edward Karangwa, served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), while his mother, Faith Grace Dukuze, was a Sergeant and accountant in the Ministry of Defence; both actively participated in the liberation struggle that ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

His father passed away in 1995, and his mother succumbed to illness in 1996, leaving young Thomas to spend much of his early childhood under the care of grandparents and aunts in Uganda while his parents were engaged in the battlefield.

He belongs to the Banyarwanda ethnic group, specifically from the Tutsi exile community that returned to Rwanda after the genocide. He is Christian, having begun his musical journey by singing in church choirs from fourth grade (Primary 4) onward, while still in Uganda, and later continuing in an Anglican church choir during his secondary school years.

His early education commenced in Uganda, including time at Masindi Army Primary School, where his mother once enrolled him as a boarder under the guardianship of relatives. Following the family’s relocation to Rwanda shortly after the 1994 liberation, he completed his secondary schooling at Kiziguro Secondary School and the French Lycée de Kigali.

He later pursued higher education, graduating with a degree in Human Medicine from the National University of Rwanda in 2013.

Career

Thomas Muyombo, better known as Tom Close, began his music career in 2005 after moving to Rwanda and finishing his early education. At 21, he started a group called Afro-Saints with four friends. They recorded five songs between 2006 and 2007, but the group saw only limited success.

Tom Close then went solo, releasing his first single, “Mbwira,” in November 2007 and his debut album, Kuki, in May 2008. This album helped him break into Rwanda’s growing music scene, where he mixed R&B, Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, and pop with local African and Rwandan styles.

From 2008 to 2013, he put out several more albums, including Si beza (also spelled Subeza), Ntibanyurwa, Komeza Utsinde, and Mbabarira Ugaruke. During this time, he became known as a pioneer of modern Rwandan music and won awards such as Best Artist at the National University of Rwanda competition in 2008 and the Salax Awards Artist of the Year for three years in a row.

His smooth voice, emotional lyrics, and skill at blending genres made him a well-known figure, and he was often called the “king of Afrobeat and dancehall” in Rwanda. Some of his popular early songs are “Mama wabana” (with Radio & Weasel), “Baza,” “Mbwira Yego,” “My Number One,” and collaborations with East African artists like Eddy Kenzo.

While his music career was taking off, Tom Close also studied medicine and graduated from the National University of Rwanda in 2013 with a degree in Human Medicine. Since then, he has balanced his work as a doctor—serving in the pediatrics department at Kacyiru Hospital and later managing, then directing, the Blood Transfusion division at Rwanda Biomedical Center, including the Regional Center for Blood Transfusion in Kigali—while still making and performing music.

Recently, he has continued releasing music, including the 13-track album Essence, which features both upbeat and soulful songs, as well as singles like “Nyigisha,” “Ndacyagukunda,” and others. He collaborates with other regional artists and remains active on platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Instagram.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Tom Close
• Facebook: Tom Close
• YouTube: Tom Close

Personal Life

Thomas Muyombo, professionally known as Tom Close, is currently 39 years old, having been born on 28 October 1984.

He has been married to his longtime partner, Ange Tricia Niyonshuti (also known as Ingabire Ange Tricia or simply Tricia), since 30 November 2013, after dating for 9 years.

They are the proud parents of five children—three daughters and two sons. Their children include daughters Ineza Ella Muyombo (born 16 August 2014) and Ellana Muyombo, as well as son Imena Elan Muyombo (born in June 2017), with the details of the other two children remaining private. The family is known as a devoted unit that prioritises quality time despite busy schedules.

Although they faced brief online divorce rumours shortly after their wedding (which Tom publicly refuted at the time), the couple has remained strongly united for over a decade and continues to openly share practical advice on communication, teamwork, patience, and compromise as recently. His height is not publicly documented.

Net Worth

Thomas Muyombo, professionally known as Tom Close, has an estimated net worth of around $500,000 to $800,000.

This figure reflects his long-standing dual career as a prominent Rwandan musician and a qualified medical doctor, with income streams from music releases, live performances, collaborations, endorsements, and his government salary in the health sector.

His earnings from music—streaming royalties, event appearances across East Africa, production work, and occasional brand deals—significantly supplement his professional income.

Reports from earlier years indicate that music has often outpaced his salary as a physician employed by the Rwanda Biomedical Center or Ministry of Health, where doctor salaries typically range from modest government scales (around Rwf 500,000–1,500,000 monthly, depending on experience and position, equivalent to roughly $400–$1,200 USD).

Tom Close has publicly noted that music provides a substantial boost beyond his medical earnings, enabling him to invest in family and property while maintaining stability from his healthcare role.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Kuki (2008) – His debut album, marking his breakthrough in Rwanda.
• Subeza (also spelled Si beza or Sibeza, around 2008–2010)
• Ntibanyurwa (or Ntubanyurwa, around 2008–2013)
• Komeza Utsinde (around 2008–2013)
• Mbabarira Ugaruke (or Mbabariara Ugaruke, around 2008–2013)
• Ndakubona (around 2010s, featuring tracks like Garuka, Igitabo, Kuki Ari Wowe, Maria, Mugitereko, Ndakubona, Ndamukunda, Ndinda Tujyane)
• Inzora (2021)
• Essence (2023) – A 13-track album including A Voice Note (feat. Bull Dog), Finally (feat. Wezi), Fly Away, Inside, Kampala (feat. Apass), and others.

Additional projects include compilations like Best of Rwanda Classics (2021) and various greatest hits collections.

Notable Singles and Popular Songs

Tom Close has released numerous singles over the years, many of which have become staples in East African music. Key tracks include:

• Mbwira (2007, debut single)
• Mbwira Yego
• Baza (feat. Fizzo)
• Mama wabana (feat. Radio & Weasel)
• Sinarinkuzi
• Ndacyagukunda (2024)
• Sinzigera Nkureka (2024)
• Cinema (feat. Bull Dog, 2025)
• Ngwino (2024)
• Nyigisha (2024)
• Niyo Ikamena
• Thank You (2017)
• Karame Rwanda (2020)
• So Fine (2021)
• Iyo Nakunze (2020)
• My Love
• Zero Distance (feat. Eddy Kenzo)
• Ikofi (various collaborations)
• Mariwe
• Byararangiye
• Igikomere
• Isi
• Ndinda Tujyane

He has collaborated with artists such as Eddy Kenzo, Radio & Weasel, Bull Dog, Wezi, Apass, Nel Ngabo, Platini P, Igor Mabano, Sean Kingston, and others. His work continues to evolve, with recent singles in 2024–2025 and ongoing projects, solidifying his status as a pioneering figure in contemporary Rwandan and East African music.

What People Ask