Meet Sheebah Karungi’s Parents: Ahamada Kimali Musoke and Edith Kabazungu

Sheebah Karungi, popularly known as Queen Karma, is one of Uganda’s most dynamic entertainers, celebrated as a singer, dancer, actress, and feminist voice.

With chart-topping hits such as Ice Cream, Nkwatako, and Twesana, she has become a household name and an icon of empowerment in East Africa.

Born Samali Karungi on November 11, 1989, in Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda, she was raised in modest circumstances by her single mother, Edith Kabazungu, who worked tirelessly to support her family.

Her father, Ahamada Kimali Musoke, a Rwandese Muslim with more than 30 children, was largely absent from her life, leading to a strained and distant relationship. She has a sister named Mariam Jumba.

Sheebah’s heritage reflects her mixed background, with Rwandese roots from her father and Ankole roots from her mother.

She first attended Kawempe Muslim Primary School and later joined Midland High School, but economic hardship forced her to drop out in Senior 2. Determined to change her circumstances, she began dancing professionally at just 15 years old, joining local groups such as Stingers before rising to prominence with Obsessions Music Group in 2006.

That exposure sparked the beginning of her music career, which would later transform her into one of Africa’s most admired stars.

Sheebah is 35 years old, standing at 5 feet 3 inches (1.59 m). She has never married and has openly stated she has no desire for marriage, preferring to focus on her independence and career.

Though her father reportedly cursed her to remain childless, she defied that claim by welcoming her first child, a son named Amir, on November 24, 2024, in Canada. The identity of Amir’s father remains undisclosed, reflecting Sheebah’s commitment to keeping her private life away from public speculation.

Ahamada Kimali Musoke

Ahamada Kimali Musoke, a Rwandese Muslim from Buikwe District, was Sheebah’s biological father, but their bond was marked by distance and discord.

Passing away in February 2018 at 76, Musoke fathered over 30 children and lived a life rooted in traditional values, complicated by sibling rivalries.

His relationship with Sheebah’s mother began as a vengeful affair against his brother Lutwama Musoke, who had reportedly been involved with one of Musoke’s wives. This betrayal gave rise to Sheebah, but it also led to lifelong estrangement.

Musoke offered no support during Sheebah’s childhood, leaving her education and care to others. Sheebah dropped out in Senior 2 at Midland High School due to financial struggles. As her music career soared—starting with the Obsessions dance group in 2006 and going solo in 2010—Musoke disapproved, calling her provocative style “satanic” and clashing with his Islamic beliefs.

He reportedly cursed her, predicting she would remain barren, and his will barred her from his funeral. Sheebah, in turn, dismissed him as irrelevant to her success, stating, “I do not even know his name because it does not matter to me.”

Despite family efforts to reconcile them, the rift endured, with some siblings urging Sheebah to drop the Karungi surname, accusing her of shaming the family. Musoke’s absence taught Sheebah resilience, fueling her independent spirit.

Edith Kabazungu

Edith Kabazungu, from Uganda’s Ankole region, is the cornerstone of Sheebah’s strength.

A single mother in Kawempe, she raised Sheebah amidst poverty after her marriage to Lutwama, Musoke’s brother, who forgave her affair and supported Sheebah as a father figure, even paying her school fees.

Kabazungu’s unwavering dedication shaped Sheebah’s fierce independence. Sheebah calls her “my first fan” and “my father,” a bond celebrated in a 2019 birthday photoshoot together.

Kabazungu fiercely defended Sheebah during the 2018 family disputes, stating, “He [Musoke] hadn’t contributed anything during my daughter’s growth… It’s my husband Lutwama who cared for her.”

She shielded Sheebah from clan pressures over her “nude” performances, standing firm against traditionalist criticism.

This support echoes in Sheebah’s feminist advocacy, from speaking out against industry harassment to challenging parental blame for youth morality in 2022: “I’m not responsible for your children’s morality… They are your responsibility.” Kabazungu’s love and sacrifice remain the bedrock of Sheebah’s success.