Ugandan sensation Kyle Simbwa featured on Apple Music’s Up Next East Africa

What the report says

Ugandan artist Kyle Simbwa has been named to Apple Music’s Up Next artist development programme for East Africa, according to Sqoop Uganda. The Kasangati-born vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist is being highlighted by the streaming platform as he builds a profile that blends Ugandan roots with a wider international sound.

Sqoop Uganda reports that Simbwa’s style draws from a mix of influences, including R&B, soul, synth-pop, AOR, Disney soundtrack nostalgia, Afrobeats and hip-hop. The publication says he has shaped these elements into an Afrobeat/Alté fusion and has taken a hands-on role in his work by writing, producing, engineering and mixing his own music.

The feature comes after Simbwa’s 2025 debut project, Person, and singles such as “Mwana Gwe,” “Love Me or Don’t,” and “East African Girl.” Sqoop Uganda also notes that he has performed headline shows in Kampala venues such as Xpressions and appeared alongside other Ugandan acts on the Afro Urban stage.

Simbwa said in comments quoted by Sqoop Uganda that the Apple Music selection matters to him as part of a generation of African artists shaping something new. He also pointed to plans for 2026 that include more releases and bigger creative ambitions. The Up Next platform has previously showcased artists who later reached broader international audiences, which helps explain why the selection is seen as a notable step for a rising East African musician.