Ugandan singer and songwriter Winnie Nwagi has spoken about her role as a mother, making it clear that she considers herself the central parent in her daughter’s life.

Nwagi, whose real name is Winnifred Nakanwagi, is a Ugandan musician who has been active in the country’s entertainment industry for years. She is signed to Swangz Avenue and is known for songs including “Musawo,” “Fire Dancer” and “Bunsonso Mola.”

The singer has one daughter, and motherhood has remained an important part of her personal life away from the stage. Her comments about raising her child have also attracted public attention because of questions that have previously surrounded the child’s paternity.

Nwagi has now emphasised that, regardless of what other people may say about her family, her daughter understands the role she has played in raising her.

“My daughter knows that I’m both her father and mother; no one can tell her otherwise,” Nwagi said.

The statement reflects the singer’s position that her relationship with her daughter is built on the care, responsibility and presence she has provided throughout the child’s upbringing.

Nwagi’s comments come after years of public discussion about her daughter’s biological father. In 2024, a man identified as musician Bizzy Nateete publicly claimed that he was the biological father of Nwagi’s daughter, a claim that generated considerable attention in Ugandan entertainment circles.

The paternity discussion became a public matter after Nateete spoke about his alleged relationship with Nwagi and his connection to the child. Nwagi subsequently took legal action over what she described as paternity-related accusations, according to reports published at the time.

The singer has generally kept many details of her daughter’s private life away from the public, despite being one of Uganda’s most recognisable female musicians.

Her approach to motherhood has also been shaped by her own experiences growing up. Biographical accounts say Nwagi was raised by her father and experienced difficult periods during her teenage years before pursuing music professionally.

Winnie Nwagi began singing while she was still at school and later continued pursuing music after leaving school. She eventually participated in the Coca-Cola Rated Next talent competition, where she finished as the second runner-up.

Her performance in the competition helped attract the attention of music producer Benon Mugumbya, who later signed her to Swangz Avenue. She released her debut single “Embela” in 2016 before gaining wider recognition with “Musawo.”

Since then, Nwagi has built a successful career as a performer and has become known for her energetic stage performances. Her music career has also included several popular releases and brand ambassador roles.

However, behind the public image of the performer is a mother who has repeatedly spoken about the importance of her daughter in her life.

Her latest statement therefore focuses less on the entertainment industry and more on the relationship between a mother and her child.

By saying that her daughter knows her as both father and mother, Nwagi appears to be emphasising the practical role she has played in the child’s upbringing rather than allowing outside discussions about parenthood to define their family relationship.

The statement also comes at a time when social media continues to expose private family matters to public discussion. For celebrities such as Nwagi, questions about relationships, children and family can quickly become subjects of widespread public debate.

Despite that attention, Nwagi has continued with her music career while raising her daughter. Her journey from school performances and talent competitions to becoming an established Ugandan recording artist has taken place alongside her experience as a parent.

For her daughter, Nwagi says the most important thing is not what people discuss publicly but what the child herself understands about the person who has been present in her life.

The singer’s words have consequently renewed public interest in her family story, particularly the long-running discussions surrounding her daughter’s father.

At the centre of Nwagi’s message, however, is her own description of her relationship with her daughter: she believes her child knows who has been there for her and recognises the role her mother has played in raising her.

Winnie Nwagi continues to balance motherhood with a music career that began more than a decade ago, while her latest remarks show that, regardless of public speculation, she remains determined to protect the bond she shares with her daughter.