Eddie Muwonge is a young businessman and a musician. He spoke to Dan Muhenda about his relationship with city socialite,Straka Mwezi.
Tell us about yourself
I am 28 years old. I am a Muslim and I deal in real estate. I was born in Uganda, but live in South Africa, where I have worked for over ten years.
How far has music taken you?
Apart from many friends, I have made money and a name. I promote other local musicians for shows abroad. I have travelled to countries like Canada and US and shared a stage with international stars like R. Kelly.
At 28, you have made a fortune already. How have you managed to do all this?
I am a hustler. I do not believe in having so much fun and living a pompous life. I know where I came from that is why you will not find me in night clubs or bars. Whatever I get, I make sure I invest it.
That means you don’t party at all. So when do you stage shows?
No, it is not that I do not have fun. It is just that if I must have it, I am either doing business during a show or I have taken my family out. By the way, I am a practicing Muslim.
Speaking of Islam, tell us why your dreadlocks were forcefully shaved off?
Some people think you do not qualify to enter the mosque if you have dreadlocks. That is why people roughed me up and cut off my dreads. It was a Friday, when I went to Wandegeya Mosque for prayers. I finished praying and as soon as I stepped out of the mosque, a group of men roughed me up and shaved off my dreadlocks. When I reached home, the news was all over the media.
What did you do to those people?
Nothing. I suspect my uncle was behind it. It is not right to start battles with your own family, so I let go.
Were you with your kids and wife when this happened?
Luckily, I was not with them. However, it was not long before they watched everything on TV. It was the most embarrassing moment in my life. I am even composing a song about it. May be it will save someone the embarrassment. I think being a rastaman does not mean you have booked a ticket to hell. There are so many bad-hearted people who have clean shaven heads.
Apart from singing, what else do you do for a living?
I am building apartments in Munyonyo and hotels in Jinja. I also have businesses in South Africa.
How long have you been with your lover?
We have been together for three years. God has blessed us with a son. We named Mr. President Junior Muwonge. He is two years old now.
How and where did you meet her?
I was doing construction work at one of my apartments in Jinja. From a distance, she was the most stunning person I had ever seen. We started dating. Then, she was in Senior Six and currently, she is pursuing a bachelors degree course.
You are dating a campus girl! Are you not worried that someone will snatch her away from you?
She is not a campus girl. She is a grown up woman, who knows what she wants. Besides, I trust her.
What special qualities attracted you to her?
She is well-behaved. She has the body to die for and all the other good qualities any man would crave for in a woman.
Speaking of serious love, tell us about you and Straka?
Oh my God! That was a long time ago. Straka and I used to be close friends, but things did not work out.
What do you mean by things did not work out?
I almost dated Straka, but then I quit. The truth is, I was not as much interested in her as she was in me.
Tell us more...
She would insist we hangout all night long or perform together despite the fact that she was not singing. She would then call me and demand that I call her all the time, yet sometimes I would be busy. Sometimes, we would have serious arguments over why I did not go out with her. You know she is not an everyday girl, but I would take my stand and tell her my mind.
How long did your relationship with Straka last?
I think it lasted for just three months because I met her when I was about to go back to South Africa for the World Cup. Even then, our relationship started in a funny way. She started it!
Tell us about some of the good qualities you truly admired in Straka
I believe Straka is a great promoter, once she is at your show, you are sure she will have many fans. I believe young talented men like Sizzaman know what I am talking about. As a wife, I did not see anything really outstanding in her because we spent most of our time arguing.
Tell us about the child you are said to have fathered with her
Honestly, I do not know the father of Straka’s kid. I think if that child was mine, she would have told me.
Thereafter, did you meet to talk about the kid’s father?
Yes, of course we did meet, but she did not say anything about the kid. However, I remember her saying it on air that Sizzaman was responsible.
When all this was going on, where you with your wife?
Oh yes, but we were not living together. My wife is an understanding woman and despite all that, she stood by me.
If given chance what would you change about yourself?
The attention I give my dreadlocks. People here have a wrong interpretion about dreads. They think everyone who has dreads is a gangster.
