The Ugandan Knuckles meme began in VRChat in early 2018, when players using a squat, distorted Knuckles avatar from Sonic the Hedgehog gathered in groups and repeated the catchphrase while asking strangers if they knew da wae. Clips of the encounters spread quickly on YouTube and Twitch, turning the accent, the clicking sound and the group behaviour into a recognisable internet joke. Although the trend faded later that year, the short voice line survives as a nostalgic shorthand for that chaotic VRChat moment.