Gender: Male
Talent Areas: Traditional Dance, Musical Instruments

Family Background

Born and raised in Kyani Village, Bumanyi Subcounty, Kaliro District in Eastern Uganda, Wilson Ikoona is the fifth of six children. His father was a small-scale trader dealing in agricultural produce, while his mother worked as a seamstress. Despite their determination and hard work, the family's income remained low, making it difficult to consistently meet the basic needs of the household, particularly school fees.

As a result, Wilson’s education was often interrupted, and he lived with the constant fear of dropping out of school. Still, his childhood was defined by more than hardship; it was filled with a deep love for music and dance.

Recognizing Wilson’s growing interest in the performing arts, his father enrolled him in a school with an active Music, Dance, and Drama (MDD) Club. In Primary Four, Wilson took part in his first public performance during a school speech day, This experience ignited his passion even more. Around the same time, he joined a local cultural troupe led by his uncle, where he further honed his skills in traditional dances and musical instruments.

How Rockies Organization Stepped In

In late 2021, after the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted in Uganda, Wilson moved to Kampala and joined a cultural troupe in search of better opportunities to grow his talent. Unfortunately, the troupe collapsed within six months due to a lack of resources.  The members, majority of whom were children below 18 years, were left stranded after the founder of the Troupe abandoned them in a rented house.

In a moment of desperation, Wilson reached out to his uncle - the one who had mentored him in his early performing years. His uncle traveled from the village to rescue him. He later introduced Wilson to Rockies Organization, having known its mission to empower talented but disadvantaged children and youth. Moved by Wilson’s story and impressed by his talent, the Rockies team enrolled him into the program in 2022 after a thorough appraisal process.

Since then, Rockies Organization has taken full responsibility for Wilson’s education and wellbeing. He is currently in Senior Four at St. Andrew’s College, Ssanda. In addition to school fees, Rockies provides him with accommodation, meals, healthcare, and mentorship—ensuring a stable environment where he can thrive both academically and artistically.

Talent, Uniqueness & Achievements

Wilson is a gifted performer, both as a dancer and instrumentalist. He has mastered a range of Cultural dances including Ekitaguriro, Runyege-Ntogoro, Ekizino, and Kinyarwanda (Western Uganda); Kadodi (Eastern Uganda); and Larakaraka (Northern Uganda). He also plays several musical instruments with ease, including xylophones and the bass bow harp, making him a versatile contributor to our performances.

Aspirations

Wilson dreams of becoming a businessman specializing in auto accessories. He hopes to one day uplift his family and support young people from similar disadvantaged backgrounds, just as he was supported when he needed it most.