Rachel K on Leaving Secular Music and Finding Purpose in Gospel
Rachel Kiwanuka, widely known as Rachel K, is living out a new chapter anchored in faith and purpose.
Born to veteran Ugandan singer Halima Namakula, Rachel grew up around music, but her career did not begin in gospel.
She first made her mark in the secular scene, earning continental attention with songs like “Captivating,” “Every Time,” and “Love Pains.”
At the peak of that run, Rachel stepped away to study Fine Arts in the United States, and when she resurfaced, her direction had shifted to gospel.
In 2024, she made her gospel commitment public with the release of “He Will Make A Way,” signaling a full shift in both life and music.
Speaking on Sanyuka Bigenda Bitya, Rachel described the move from secular music to gospel as a radical transformation that reshaped her values and identity.
When you walk in this new journey, I call it a radical change. What does that mean? The way you dress, the way you talk, the way you interact with people. There are certain things you cannot do anymore. Luckily for me, I was never a club person. I never drank. I have never been drunk. Also, out of respect for my mum, because she is a very devoted, deeply Muslim woman, I grew up with those morals of not drinking and not going out too much. So when I transitioned fully, I was already in practice.
She also reflected on how her view of her past lifestyle has shifted since embracing her faith.
It is not easy. I used to dress a certain way. I used to wear bikinis, take pictures, and post them on social media, and now I go back and I am like, “Oh, what was I doing?”
For Rachel, the transformation means reflecting God in her lifestyle and setting an example for young people.
It becomes a temple of God. You become a reflection, and I want to be a great example, even to young people, that you can be cool and still be godly.
VIDEO: I never drank or clubbed growing up, which made my shift from secular to gospel seamless.- Rachel K #SanyukaBigendaBitya #SanyukaUpdates pic.twitter.com/Lif1P69eGk
— Sanyuka TV (@sanyukatv) January 6, 2026
