Kampala, Uganda: Legendary Ugandan media personality and pioneer deejay Michael Benjamin Owor, popularly known as DJ Bush Baby, passed away Thursday at the age of 50, marking the end of a transformative chapter in Uganda’s entertainment history.
Bush Baby was discovered dead in his studio in Entebbe on the morning of June 5, 2025, with the news of his passing sending shockwaves across the region. By Thursday afternoon, tributes were pouring in from artists, broadcasters, and fans who grew up on his voice, his vision, and his relentless passion for African music.
But long before the silence of that Entebbe studio, Bush Baby had made enough noise to shape a generation.
From Green Channel to EATVV Stardom
Born in 1975, DJ Bush Baby began his media career in the late 1990s at Radio Uganda’s Green Channel, later rebranded as Magic FM. His passion for music, deep-toned voice, and magnetic presence quickly made him a standout figure on the airwaves.
He didn’t just play music, he curated soundscapes that defined urban youth culture. In Tanzania, he was instrumental in setting up Kiss FM, before joining East African Radio and East African Television (EATV), then broadcasting on Channel 5.
There, his programs like Friday Night Live and 5 Live, co-hosted with Bobby Mongi, became regional staples. His iconic Uganda Central show on EATV focused exclusively on Ugandan music, championing artists back home long before local radio gave them serious airplay.
Yet Bush Baby was not just spinning records, he was shaping cultural diplomacy through entertainment.
Championing Ugandan, East African Music
From Bebe Cool to Chameleone and Juliana Kanyomozi, many artistes credit DJ Bush Baby for giving them a crucial East African platform. During his time on air, especially on EATV, he ensured Uganda’s voice was heard in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, and beyond, years before YouTube or Spotify.
Bush Baby would later return to Uganda to work with Sanyu FM, XFM, and Urban TV, where he hosted music shows and developed creative content. At NXT Radio and Urban TV, he rose to become head of the creative department at Next Media Services.
In 2024, DJ Bush Baby joined XRadio in Dar es Salaam while continuing to broadcast his beloved weekly Thursday show from Kampala, bridging audiences across the region with his encyclopedic knowledge of African sound and showbiz history.
Health Struggles, Surgery, and Public Support
In 2021, DJ Bush Baby survived a near-fatal fall into a manhole at his home that left him with a fractured pelvic bone and internal injuries. He underwent a complicated surgery at URO Care Hospital, after which he publicly appealed for financial support to aid in his recovery.
The accident became a turning point, a rare moment when fans, fellow entertainers, and media houses rallied around him. “I now live closer to God,” he once told friends during his recovery, reflecting on the fragility of life.
Even after the trauma, Bush Baby remained active, not only returning to broadcasting but also mentoring a new generation of DJs, presenters, and content creators.
Accolades, Influence, and Final Chapter
Though Bush Baby was rarely in the business of chasing awards, his influence earned him several recognitions across the region, including lifetime achievement honours from deejaying associations and music platforms.
In 2019, he was honoured by Salute the DJ, a Pan-African initiative celebrating African disk jockeys and tastemakers. He also received numerous accolades from the Buzz Teeniez Awards for media excellence and industry mentorship.
In his final years, the veteran Deejay focused more on media training and consultancies while remaining active in radio, proving that his relevance transcended decades.
DJ Bush Baby leaves behind not just fans, but a media fraternity that owes much of its evolution to his pioneering spirit. Ugandans will forever remember him as an inspiring deejay, a broadcaster, a talent developer, and most of all, a cultural architect who connected East Africa through sound.
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