Arsenal Mikebe is a Ugandan percussion ensemble pushing acoustic rhythm into radical new territory. Based on the outskirts of Kampala and part of the Nyege Nyege collective, the trio reshapes traditional rhythmic practices into raw, hypnotic soundscapes with an intensity often associated with electronic music. At the core of their identity is a custom-built steel percussion system inspired by the Roland TR-808 and conceived by sculptor Henry Segamwenge, played with extreme physicality. Their debut album, “Drum Machine”, released in 2024 by Nyege Nyege Tapes and produced by Jonathan Uliel Saldanha (HHY), plunges into deep rhythmic trance, dissonant chants, and industrial textures, cementing Arsenal Mikebe’s reputation as one of Uganda’s most compelling contemporary live acts.