Jail conditions relaxed for embattled Iryn

By Josephat Sseguya and Martin Ndijjo

Singer Iryn Namubiru's stringent jail terms have been relaxed as she is now able to receive visitors.

The songbird's first visitor was a Uganda embassy official who gave her US$280 (about sh720,000) as upkeep.

Iryn's lawyer, Yuko Matsumoto, however said the official declined to have his identity revealed since he visited the singer as a personal friend and not an emissary of the embassy.

Iryn, who is being held at Chiba Prefectural prison (below, right), also requested to have books in Japanese delivered to her so she can try and learn basic communication with inmates.

“I cannot even request to have more salt added to my food yet an inmate cannot be given special treatment. Many Japanese don't know English or pretend not to know so often I use sign language and at times we don't understand each other,” Iryn lamented to her lawyer.

Also the singer has directed her manager, Thaddeus Mubiru, to release her two new songs.

These are ‘Only you’ and ‘Anyereketa’. Another of her news songs, ‘Tebiba Bingi’  that was slated for release in October, is already playing on air.

Meanwhile, the promoter who contracted Iryn for the Japan gig before her arrest, Hakim Tumwesigye, has threatened to demand sh64m he lost in the deal from her manager, Thaddeus Mubiri.

Hakim  says he had chosen to cut his losses and forgive Iryn because of her tribulations but he is thinking twice about it following persistent accusations from Mubiru that he is responsible for the singer's troubles.

Hakim had instructed a bodaboda man to purchase peanut butter, ghee and maize flour which Iryn was to deliver to him.

On arrival however, Iryn was arrested last week at the airport when it was discovered that drugs were concealed in the peanut butter. Mubiru accuses Hakim (right) of having set up the singer.

“I lost sh64m but I decided to forego the loss because of the singer's troubles. I sympathise with her family and friends and I am still struggling to secure her bail. But I am hurt by Mubiru's accusations that have tainted my name,” he said.

He said he and Mubiru signed an agreement in which Iryn would get a down payment of US$1500 before her concert in Japan and the balance of US$500 would be cleared after.

“When I add what I spent for booking the venue and machines and other expenses it is not less than sh64m,” he said.

He says even though Iryn was caught with drugs Mubiru has no evidence that he was responsible because the bodaboda man he sent handed his supplies to Mubiru.

Mubiru however says the promoter can do as he wishes but he should first explain to Ugandans how Iryn was arrested with drugs that were concealed in his supplies.