“A True Pride of Entebbe”: Dancehall Star Peter Miles Mourns Mother Elizabeth Kanyike

ENTEBBE, Uganda – A sombre mood has enveloped the music industry and the Entebbe community following the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Kanyike, mother of prominent Dancehall artist Peter Miles.

Miles, whose real name is Peter Kanyike, announced the untimely passing of his mother on Saturday, 23rd May 2026. Mrs. Kanyike passed away at Nakasero Hospital, though the family has not disclosed the exact cause of death.

“With deep sorrow this is to announce the untimely death of my mother Mrs Elizabeth Kanyike which has happened today 23 May 2026 at Nakasero hospital. Rest in peace mummy,” the artist posted on his Instagram page.

According to the official burial program shared by Miles, a funeral service will be held at St. Mark’s Church Namate, Entebbe on Tuesday at 10:00am. An overnight vigil will follow at the deceased’s home in Baita Ababiri-Kabale. Mrs. Kanyike will be laid to rest on Wednesday in Entebbe Muduuma – Walukunyu.

Tributes have poured in for the Miles family. A Facebook post from the community group Entebbe’s Fynest Bae described Mrs. Kanyike as a woman whose “kindness, love, and warm spirit touched many lives,” adding that her memory will forever remain in their hearts.

A Legacy of Excellence

The loss also brings renewed attention to the family’s remarkable legacy. Elizabeth Kanyike was the wife of the late Hon. Emmanuel Sempiira Kanyike, a retired Commissioner of Animal Industry and Fisheries and a renowned fisheries expert.

The late Kanyike, celebrated as a “True Pride of Entebbe,” was a brilliant scientist credited with creating the Nile Perch (Mputa) by cross-breeding snapper and tilapia fish eggs—an experiment his peers at the University of Michigan in the early 1960s thought impossible. He later introduced the species to the River Nile source of Lake Victoria (Lake Nalubaale), where it thrives to this day.

Despite offers to remain in the United States and develop his career, Kanyike chose to return to Uganda, citing his love for his homeland. Beyond his scientific achievements, the elder Kanyike was best known in Entebbe as the father of two Ugandan music superstars: John Miles Kanyike (a.k.a. Coco Banton, now branded Boomlocks Miles) and Peter Miles Kanyike.

As the community gathers to bid farewell to Elizabeth Kanyike, they also honor a family whose contributions—from science to music—have left an indelible mark on Uganda.