‘HE GRABBED AND SQUEEZED MY BUTTOCKS’ — Stella Nyanzi Recalls Her Awkward Encounter With Chameleone, Then Cheers Him For Turning Matovu’s Vigil Into A Rare Musical Reunion

Dr Stella Nyanzi’s tribute to fallen Afrigo Band maestro Moses Matovu has produced one of the more unusual funeral footnotes of the week — a mixture of grief, musical nostalgia, admiration and an old personal grievance involving singer Jose Chameleone.

The outspoken academic and activist says she does not like Chameleone for a very personal reason: she alleges that he once grabbed and painfully squeezed her left buttock in a public place.

Yet, despite that unforgettable encounter, Nyanzi found herself applauding the singer during Matovu’s vigil for doing something that many Ugandan musicians have struggled to accomplish — bringing them together.

‘I Do Not Like Dr Jose Chameleone’

Nyanzi did not begin her tribute by hiding her feelings.

She openly declared that she does not like Chameleone, immediately giving her followers the reason.

According to Nyanzi, the singer once grabbed and painfully squeezed her left-side buttocks in a public space.

That experience, she suggested, was enough to earn the celebrated singer a permanent place on her personal list of people she would rather keep at arm’s length.

But Matovu’s farewell apparently created an exception.

For one night, at least, the musical doctor was allowed back into Nyanzi’s good books — not for what he allegedly did to her, but for what he did for Uganda’s musicians.

From ‘Basiima Ogenze’ To Musical Unity

Nyanzi said she was deeply moved when Chameleone took to the stage at Matovu’s vigil and performed “Basiima Ogenze”, inserting lyrics that celebrated the fallen musician’s legendary saxophone playing.

But Chameleone was not content with simply singing his own song.

He asked the instrumentalists to introduce one of Matovu’s favourite songs, “Teri Mukazi Mubi.”

The band responded with a few bars, led by two saxophone players and a conga percussionist.

Chameleone then began singing.

What followed, according to Nyanzi, was an extraordinary musical chain reaction.

One By One, The Stars Joined

Chameleone invited Uncle P onto the stage.

His younger brother, Pallaso, followed.

Catherine Kusasira joined and provided backing vocals.

Then came Bebe Cool.

Mesach Ssemakula was invited.

Younger singers, including Jasmine, also joined.

The stage was quickly transformed from a performance platform into something resembling a musical parliament where every faction had been given a microphone.

Nyanzi said the voices and harmonies were deeply moving.

Then Chameleone went even further.

He called Uganda’s musicians’ president, Eddy Kenzo, and Eddy Yawe.

Both responded.

The stage became packed with singers from different generations, backgrounds and musical camps.

The Musical Enemies Forgot Their Differences

Nyanzi marvelled at what she saw.

Dr Hilderman and Ronald Mayinja were singing alongside Hajjat Stecia Mayanja and Sophie Nantongo.

Men and women.

Young and old.

Different musical styles.

Different personalities.

Different histories.

For that moment, they were simply musicians mourning another musician.

Nyanzi said the artists forgot their many differences and joined together in what she described as bold music.

It was perhaps one of those rare Ugandan moments when musical rivalry gave way to musical brotherhood.

Nyanzi Cries From Exile

Watching the spectacle from far away in exile, Nyanzi said she was moved to tears.

She said she was proud to be Ugandan when she saw the country’s leading artists putting aside their differences to honour a creative-industry giant.

She not only watched. She said she sang along.

For someone who had opened her tribute by explaining why she dislikes the man leading the musical reunion, the emotional turnaround was remarkable.

The Man She Doesn’t Like Becomes The Hero

And then came Nyanzi’s biggest compliment. She credited Chameleone’s courage, daring and flair for making the musical unity possible.

In other words, the same man she says once gave her a painful reason to dislike him had now given her a beautiful reason to applaud him.

It was a rather unusual reconciliation — although apparently only musically.

Nyanzi did not say that Chameleone had been forgiven for the alleged buttock incident.

Instead, she effectively separated the alleged personal misconduct from his musical achievement. She could dislike the man for one reason and admire the musician for another.

‘Cheer To Kamiliyoooni!’

Her tribute ended with an unexpected salute. “So, cheer to Kamiliyoooni!”

It was perhaps the most unlikely endorsement Chameleone could have received.

The message was simple: whatever personal disagreement existed between Nyanzi and the singer, she could not deny what she had witnessed at Matovu’s vigil.

For one evening, Chameleone had brought together musicians who rarely appeared together in such spontaneous harmony.

Moses Matovu’s Final Musical Gift

There was also a deeper irony to the moment. Matovu spent decades building Uganda’s live-band tradition, becoming one of the country’s most respected saxophonists and a central figure in Afrigo Band.

In death, his music appeared to achieve what personalities and rivalries could not.

It brought musicians together. At his vigil, different generations gathered around his songs.

The old guard sang with the new generation. Rivals shared microphones.

Different musical camps occupied the same stage. And Chameleone, despite Nyanzi’s personal reservations, became the unlikely conductor of that spontaneous reunion.

The Buttocks May Never Forget

But there is one important caveat. Nyanzi’s appreciation of Chameleone’s musical leadership does not erase the reason she says she dislikes him.

The alleged painful squeeze remains part of her personal Chameleone history. So perhaps the final verdict from Nyanzi’s tribute is this: She may not like Jose Chameleone the man, according to her account.

But she certainly appreciated Dr Jose Chameleone the musician when he turned Moses Matovu’s vigil into one of Uganda’s most remarkable displays of musical unity.

And that, in the strange and sometimes comic world of Ugandan entertainment, may be the closest thing to a musical ceasefire.

Cheer to Kamiliyoooni — but hands off the buttocks!

Author Profile

Stephen Kasozi Muwambi: Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]