Wycliff Tugume (born 11 November 1991), professionally known as Ykee Benda, is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, and music executive. He is the founder and CEO of the record label Mpaka Records and served as the president of the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA).
He rose to prominence in 2016 with hit songs like "Muna Kampala" and the remix of "Farmer," and is known for his versatile style that blends Afrobeats with pop, R&B, and dancehall influences.
Early life and education
Wycliff Tugume was born in Kireka, a suburb of Kampala, to Alex and Ruth Mpakanyi. He attended primary and secondary school in Uganda before moving to Algeria to pursue higher education. He enrolled at the University of Annaba, where he graduated with a first-class degree in Chemical Engineering.
During his time in Algeria, he began honing his musical skills by writing songs and performing for fellow university students. Despite graduating as an engineer, he chose to pursue a professional music career upon his return to Uganda in 2015.
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^ a b "Ykee Benda's journey from Algeria to topping the charts". Sqoop. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2025.dead link
