Ugandan music sensation Ykee Benda has opened up about the amusing and unconventional way his relationship with his fiancée, Emily Nyawira, began, revealing that she negged him the very first time they spoke.
Speaking candidly, Benda—real name Wycliff Tugume—shared that the couple first crossed paths at Vision Group, where he was scheduled for an interview.
But unbeknownst to him at the time, Emily had already seen him years earlier when he performed at Seeta High School, where she was a student.
“I tried to chat her up at Vision Group,” Benda recalled with a laugh. “She just hit me with this one line—‘When I first saw you, you looked ashy.’ I was triggered a bit… but also intrigued.”
Despite the bold comment, the conversation didn’t end there. The two continued to talk over the phone, gradually building a connection. It wasn’t until four months later that the relationship turned romantic.
Just as their bond was taking shape, the COVID-19 lockdown hit Uganda, complicating things for everyone—but not for Benda.
Determined to see Emily, the Mpaka Records boss found a way to bypass the restrictions and met her in Naalya.
“I told her clearly what I wanted that day,” he said. “And she said yes.”
Benda credits two key things that made him fall deeply in love with Emily: her spiritual devotion and her rare absence from social media.
“She’s not about clout, and she loves God—that stood out to me,” he said.
Emily’s background is just as grounded. She attended Kampala Parents School, Seeta High School, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University.
She is of Munyakore and Itesot descent and, according to Benda, is under 27 years old. Benda himself is 32.
Their love story reached a magical milestone this month when Ykee Benda proposed in an intimate yet visually stunning ceremony at Divine Resort.
The “Farmer” hitmaker dropped to one knee beneath a heart-shaped floral arch adorned with radiant white blooms. Behind him, a glowing neon sign asked the big question: “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
Emily said yes.
Photos and videos from the moment have since gone viral, capturing the hearts of fans nationwide.
Celebrities and followers alike showered the couple with congratulatory messages, praising Benda’s heartfelt romantic gesture.
