From Chance Meetings to Chart-Topping Sets: How DJ Roja and Slick Stuart Became Uganda’s Ultimate DJ Duo

Renowned DJ DJ Roja has opened up about the origins of his iconic partnership with Slick Stuart, a collaboration that has grown into one of the most influential DJ duos in Uganda’s entertainment industry.

The duo officially teamed up in 2014, a time when the local music scene was still grappling with the loss of the late, celebrated DJ Mo. According to Roja, the industry was searching for DJs capable of filling that void—but he initially doubted whether he was ready for such a massive responsibility.

“I was still upcoming and unsure if I could handle that level,” Roja recalls. “But MC Kats kept pushing me, telling me the space needed someone brave enough to step up.”

Although DJ Roja and Slick Stuart had crossed paths several times at concerts and music events across the country, their defining moment came during preparations for Dr Jose Chameleone’s concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval. Roja had been invited to DJ at the show by Sam Mukasa, Chameleone’s manager at the time.

On the way to the concert, Roja linked up with Slick Stuart—whose extended play mixes were already dominating playlists nationwide.

“I was a big fan of his work,” Roja said. “His mixes were everywhere.”

Their chemistry behind the decks that night proved undeniable. After the concert, Slick Stuart invited Roja to his office at Mutasa Café, Rooftop Plaza, where the two sat down, shared ideas, and made a career-defining decision: to officially form a DJ duo.

From that moment, their rise was rapid. DJ Roja and Slick Stuart went on to collaborate with top Ugandan artists, secure major national and regional gigs, and build a brand that has now remained relevant for over a decade. Today, they are widely regarded as Uganda’s most successful DJ duo, setting the standard for collaborative DJing in the country.

Reflecting on his personal journey, DJ Roja says longevity in the industry has little to do with talent alone.

“I’ve seen DJs who are more talented than me fall off,” he noted. “What kept us going was pure hustle—multiple gigs, day and night, countrywide. Consistency is everything.”

As the new generation of DJs continues to emerge, Roja believes his story with Slick Stuart stands as proof that hard work, sacrifice, and persistence remain the true foundations of lasting success in Uganda’s entertainment industry.

— Kelele UG