Grace Nakimera is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, composer, dancer, and music producer known for her blend of Afro-pop, R&B, and soul. She first rose to fame in the mid-2000s with the hit “Ani Akumanyi,” a song that became so popular many people began calling her “Grace Ani Akumanyi.” Over more than two decades, she has built a reputation as one of Uganda’s most successful female artists, combining a steady stream of hits with smart business ventures in beauty, real estate, and production.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Grace Nakimera |
| Date of birth | 2 February 1985 |
| Place of birth | Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| State of origin | Uganda; ethnically Muganda (Baganda people, Central Uganda) |
| Partner | Former husband: Andre Ringen (Norwegian photographer); remarried in 2026 |
| Children | One daughter (with Andre Ringen) |
| Occupations | Musician, gospel singer, Afro-pop artist, dancer, composer, songwriter, music producer, entrepreneur (beauty and real estate), brand ambassador |
| Net worth | Estimated $320,000 (about UGX 1.13 billion) |
Early Life and Education
Grace Nakimera was born on 2 February 1985 in Uganda to David Kalema and Rose Nabulya. Her father died when she was three, leaving her mother to raise five children in difficult circumstances.
She attended Bat Valley Primary School and Old Kampala Senior Secondary School, but financial challenges forced her to stop formal education. She then trained in beauty and hairdressing, later studying at Revlon Beauty School in Nairobi, Kenya.
At 18, she moved to Rwanda, where she spent about two years performing with the resident band at Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali. After returning to Uganda around 2000, she joined the Christ the King church choir, sharpening her vocal skills and stage presence before her music career took off.
Career
Grace’s big break came in 2004–2005 when she teamed up with singers Gatimo and Paragon to record “Ani Akumanyi,” a song that became a massive hit across Uganda and East Africa. Overnight, she went from an upcoming talent to a star, with many people referring to her as “Grace Ani Akumanyi.”
Her music blends Afro-pop with R&B and soul, and she is known for writing her own songs and co-producing much of her work. Over the years, she has released numerous hits, stayed relevant for more than two decades, and built a reputation as one of Uganda’s most successful female artists.
Beyond performing, Grace is an entrepreneur with interests in beauty services, real estate, and music production. She has spoken about investing in land, running beauty-related businesses, and working as a brand ambassador.
She has also been vocal about the need for better support for musicians through bodies like the Uganda National Musicians Federation, using her platform to advocate for change in the industry.
Personal Life
Grace is a proud Muganda woman and has often spoken about her cultural identity. She was married for more than ten years to Norwegian photographer Andre Ringen, with whom she has one daughter.
The marriage eventually ended, and she later explained that differing visions for the future contributed to the breakup.
In 2026, she announced on social media that she had remarried, describing her new partner as her “home” and “peace,” though details about him remain largely private.
Controversy
The most talked-about controversy in Grace’s career happened in 2019, when she told the media that she had been “bewitched” and suffered a spiritual attack that left her unable to move, talk, or even lift a finger for some time. She said this experience forced her to step away from the music industry temporarily.
Net Worth
Grace Nakimera’s net worth is estimated at around $320,000 (roughly UGX 1.13 billion). This makes her one of the wealthier female musicians in Uganda. Her wealth comes from multiple sources: music sales and performances, royalties, producing songs for other artists, and her business ventures in beauty and real estate.
Discography
Grace has released a large body of work over the years, mostly in the form of singles and EPs, with some projects packaged as albums on streaming platforms. While she does not have a single, neatly cataloged studio album series like some international artists, her songs are well known across Uganda and the wider region.
Key tracks and projects in her discography include:
- “Ani Akumanyi”
- “Welaga Ki” / “Welagaki”
- “Digi” (with Ngoni)
- “Kiva Kuki”
- “Sukuma”
- “Nvawo Nawe”
- “Kawonawo”
- “Anfukuula”
- “Onyambanga Mukama”
- “Nkwagala Kufa”
- “Sexy”
- “Mpola Mpola”
- “Bumper ku Bumper”
- “Nalo”
- “Twala Byange”
- “Seesa”
- “Baagala Kiki”
- “Riziki Yo”
- “Tuseyeya”
- “Osanyusiza” (2024)
- “Bumper Ku Bumper” (album/project)
- “Twalibaddewa”
- “Nakusiima”
- “Ssekabaka”
- “God of Fire”
Recent albums listed on major streaming services include “Kawonawo” (2026), “Everything” (2026), “This Is Love” (2026), and “Osanyusiza” (2024), confirming that she remains an active recording artist.
Awards and Recognition
Although a complete, detailed list of her awards is not widely published, Grace has received notable recognition over the years:
- She won Song of the Year at the Vine Gospel Awards in 2020 for one of her gospel tracks.
- She is consistently mentioned among the most successful female artists in Uganda, especially for her dominance in the late 2000s and 2010s.
- She frequently appears in rankings of Uganda’s richest musicians and is often highlighted as one of the wealthiest female artists in the country.
Her longevity, hit-making ability, and business acumen have secured her place as a major figure in Ugandan gospel and Afro-pop.
