On any given Sunday at 11 am, long before the first hymn rises at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church in Mbuya, you can already hear it, the soft tuning of adungus, the quick chatter of shakers, and the warm hum of voices easing into harmony. This is the unmistakable signature of St Paul Choir, one of the most culturally vibrant and spiritually rooted church choirs in Kampala.
With members young and old, drawn from nearly every corner of Uganda, St Paul Choir is more than a liturgical group. It is a living archive of tradition, a family built on song, and a choir that has grown from a humble merger of two language groups into a musical force known across the city as ‘the Adungu Choir.’
Choir born from two languages
Few people know this story better than Camillus Okenyi, one of the choir’s longest-serving members. He arrived in Kampala in 1977, fresh from school, searching for a place to belong.
‘I was attracted to the 11 O’clock Mass because most of the songs sang during the mass were of Luo dialect,’ he recalls.
At the time, the Alur and Luo choirs sat opposite each other in church, taking turns to animate the Mass. But in 1979, a teacher and musician, Polycarp Ochola (RIP), joined the Luo choir and suggested something bold: merge the two groups.
The idea took root. And by 1980, St Paul Choir was born with Ochola as its choir master. As Kampala’s population shifted and new families settled in Mbuya, choristers from western and eastern Uganda joined, bringing with them songs, rhythms and languages that expanded the choir’s identity.
Since the parish’s 11am Mass is celebrated in English, the choir blended English hymns with indigenous compositions, a fusion that became its trademark.
Traditional feel
From inception, St Paul Choir embraced the soul of traditional Catholic music. But what truly set it apart was its early use of indigenous instruments, especially the adungu, a harp native to northern Uganda.
‘It is the first to adopt use of harps (adungu) in Kampala Archdiocese,’ Okenyi says proudly. ‘To date, it is known across the greater Kampala as the Adungu Choir.’
Alongside adungus, the choir uses drums, bells, shakers, guitars and piano to create a warm, earthy sound that fills the church in a way few choirs can match. Their dedication paid off. When Kampala Diocese still organised choir competitions, St Paul Choir became a regular winner, celebrated for its mastery of local-language hymns and disciplined performance.
Growing young again
Like all long-standing communities, the choir has evolved. Today, its leadership is youthful, energetic and deeply committed to honouring the choir’s roots while embracing modern expression.
Chairperson Ronald Ojilong joined the choir in 2006, immediately after A-Level at St Kizito SS, Bugolobi.
‘Being a choir member is a calling because it is voluntary, meaning one must be committed,’ Ojilong says.
Back then, choir practice was a non-negotiable.
‘The commitment level was so high,’ he recalls. Members showed up, learnt new music and even attended sponsored music lessons. The choir was large, full of students, working professionals and families.
Today, the group is smaller, reflecting the mobility and pressures of modern urban life, but far more equipped. It now stages polished carol concerts using advanced sound equipment and often hires city hotels as performance venues, attracting believers willing to pay to watch. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the choir travelled widely, evangelising in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, a testament to its growing influence.
More than a choir
The choir calendar is rich with events and traditions. Every June 29, members mark the Feast of St Peter and St Paul, their patron saints, with a special carol presentation. Recently, they hosted St Paul Youth Choir from St Michael Cathedral Parish in Kigali, with hopes for more cross-border collaborations.
Beyond music, the choir invests in its members’ wellbeing. With support from former vice president Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, an alto in the choir, St Paul Choir is setting up a Sacco to help members save and grow their finances. Patron Herbert Ariko, MP for Soroti East, has also pledged support.
The choir’s heart for community extends further: each year, they reach out to a selected community with alms, keeping charity at the centre of their ministry.
St Paul Choir also nurtures future choristers through the St Paul Sunday school, a children’s programme offering catechism, storytelling, games and singing during part of the Mass.
The quiet calling of a chorister
Behind the harmonies and the carefully choreographed performances lies a deeper spiritual duty. According to Catholic doctrine, a chorister is both minister and witness, someone who leads worship, encourages participation, and uses music to draw the community towards God.
Choristers are expected to live with reverence, be mindful of their conduct and dress, and allow the Holy Spirit to shape their service. Their songs, the Church teaches, can stir the soul, bring healing, and open space for prayer.
For St Paul Choir, this calling has defined four decades of ministry.