Rwenzori FM Eiraka Radio in Western Uganda has threatened legal action against Ugandan music star Jose Chameleone after accusing him of failing to honour a performance agreement at the station’s annual Ekitaguriro event in Ibanda.
The radio management claims the singer, whose real name is Joseph Mayanja, had been contracted as one of the headline performers for Ekitaguriro Ruhigura Nshozi 2026, an event designed to bring together the station’s listeners for entertainment and community engagement.
According to the organisers, Chameleone had confirmed his appearance and received 70 per cent of his agreed performance fee before the event.
The station further alleges that the singer promoted the event on social media, encouraging his fans and Rwenzori FM listeners to attend, only for management to later discover that he had travelled to Nairobi, Kenya, for another performance.
The development reportedly left organisers scrambling for a replacement.
Management says it was forced to bring in singer David Lutalo at short notice to fill the slot that had been reserved for Chameleone, resulting in additional costs.
The radio station is now demanding that Chameleone refund the money already paid to him, arguing that his failure to appear constituted a breach of their agreement.
It has warned that failure to refund the money could see the matter taken to court.
The dispute comes after weeks of promotion surrounding Rwenzori FM’s annual Ekitaguriro programme. The station had announced in June that the 2026 edition, dubbed Ruhigura Nshozi, would feature a series of community activities before the main celebrations.
The wider Ekitaguriro programme was scheduled to culminate in a major gathering at Saaza Playground in Ibanda on September 5, under the theme “Giving Back to the Community.” Reports ahead of the event said the programme would combine entertainment, community engagement and a raffle featuring prizes including a car, television sets, smartphones, a plot of land and a motorcycle.
Chameleone’s name had featured prominently in publicity for the event, raising expectations among fans who had anticipated seeing the veteran performer take the stage.
The latest allegations, however, have shifted attention from the planned entertainment to the contractual dispute.
For now, the claims remain allegations from the radio management, and it is unclear whether Chameleone or his representatives have formally responded to the demand for a refund or the threat of legal proceedings.
Chameleone remains one of Uganda’s most established music stars, having built a career that spans more than two decades. His emergence in the early 2000s helped shape Uganda’s modern popular music scene, with his music drawing from dancehall, soukous and other regional influences.
The singer has also maintained a strong connection with audiences beyond Kampala, making appearances across Uganda and the wider East African region.
If the dispute proceeds to court, the key issue is likely to be the terms of the performance agreement between the artiste and the organisers, including the conditions attached to the advance payment and what the contract provides in the event of a missed performance.
Until then, Rwenzori FM’s demand for a refund remains a claim by the organisers rather than a finding that Chameleone has legally breached the contract.
