By any measure, Nakiyingi Veronica Lugya—known to millions as Vinka—has carved out one of the most distinctive careers in Ugandan music over the past decade.
Born on 27 June 1994, Vinka’s journey from a Kampala schoolgirl to a Sony Music–signed recording artist has been anything but accidental. A performer with unmistakable energy and a catalogue of hit singles to her name, she has become a household name and a youth icon in East Africa’s growing pop scene.
Vinka was raised in Kampala by her parents, Mr and Mrs Luggya, and began her education at Hormisdallen Primary School in Kamwokya. She later attended Rubaga Girls’ School for her O’ and A’ Levels before enrolling at Makerere University, where she graduated in 2017 with a degree in Tourism and Hospitality. But her real calling lay elsewhere.
“I’ve always loved music and dance,” she once said in an interview—an interest that led her to the stage as a dancer supporting big names such as Maurice Kirya, Cindy Sanyu and Jackie Chandiru.
That early experience gave her an entry point into Swangz Avenue, one of Uganda’s leading music labels, where she began as an intern while still at university. Within a short time, she was managing some of the label’s top talent, including Irene Ntale and Winnie Nwagi, between 2013 and 2016.
But it was in 2017 that Veronica made a surprising pivot—from manager to artist. Encouraged by Swangz Avenue to take a shot at performing, she adopted the name Vinka and signed a formal recording deal. Her debut single Level marked her arrival, followed by Stylo, a collaboration with Ntale.
From that point, the charts spoke for themselves. Malaika became a breakout hit, followed by Love Doctor and the infectious Chips Na Ketchup in 2018, a song that resonated widely with younger fans. Other successful singles include Overdose with Voltage Music and a pair of collaborations with rapper Fik Fameica—Tubikole and Nyam Nyam.
Her energetic stage presence and relatable lyrics have helped cement her place among Uganda’s musical elite. In 2018, she was recognised as Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Buzz Teenz Awards. A year later, she expanded her reach beyond East Africa, teaming up with Romanian pop star Inna on Bebe, a track released internationally under Global Records.
Off stage, Vinka hasn’t shied away from controversy. In 2019, during a performance in South Sudan, she made headlines after kicking a fan who reportedly attempted to inappropriately touch her while she was performing. The incident divided opinion but also sparked conversations around respect for female performers in live settings.
In her personal life, Vinka became a mother in January 2021, giving birth to a baby girl with her fiancé, Witta Nelson—a businessman and local politician from Isingiro District.
Now signed to Sony Music Entertainment in addition to her home label Swangz Avenue, Vinka continues to release new music and maintain a strong presence in Uganda’s pop culture. Her story—from dancer to manager to star—offers a portrait of reinvention, grit and talent in equal measure.
Vinka Songs
- Stylo ft Irene Ntale
- Level
- Chips and ketchup
- Malaika
- Overdose ft voltage music
- Love panic
- Mapozi
- By the way
- Omukwano gwo
- Bigambo
- My baibe
- Sure
- Nja kusitula
- Oluyyimba lwo mwaka
- Only love you
- Nkubika
- Your body
- Sweet love
- Goodie goodie
- Yo body
- Tubikole ft Fik Famaica
- Koona
- Amaaso
