Batsirai Muskwe

Jjuuko (Hoods) was born in 1980 and is a graduate with a first class degree from Kampala University, currently the Director of IVUKA arts Uganda, President of the Society of Uganda contemporary art (SOUCA), Director and founder of GECKO art Gallery, in Uganda.

Jjuuko has tried to transform contemporary African art out of the craft and artifact classification by integrating both modernity and traditional concept. His work in the past involved working with different unique techniques and materials like Bark cloth painting. He still does a lot of experimentation with materials like recycled polyurethane bags, wood and metal fabrication and copper wire used on canvas.

Jjuuko has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in East Africa as well as in Europe, over the past few years.

His work done on canvas with acrylic and oil painting depicts Kampala’s busy urban life.

Jjuuko is acting as a witness, at a time when the now established Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is also in the business of trying to create a new look to a city densely populated, not only with people but also vehicles, especially the matatus. It is therefore not surprising at all that his recent works attempt to document the urban-scape scenes of Kampala, knowing full well that the hybrid minibus/taxis (popularly called Matatus) that are synonymous with Kampala will soon be no more.