Chameleone fined Sh16m over a no-show in Cananda
On the day Chameleone was expected to perform, the organisers say they had everything ready but waited for him in vain. He neither showed up nor answered phone calls. To make matters worse, it was reported that while he failed to attend their event, he was performing at another show in Canada known as Afrofest in Toronto.
The Grade One Magistrate at Mengo, Yunusu Ndiwalana, ruled in favour of the complainants and ordered Chameleone to refund all the money paid to him, along with interest.
KAMPALA - Jose Chameleone is in trouble after failing to honor a performance agreement, leading to a court order requiring him to compensate event organisers.
The court recently ruled that Chameleone must pay a substantial amount of money to a group of Ugandans in the diaspora after he breached a contract under which he had been paid to perform but failed to show up.
The complainants, members of the Uganda Diaspora Network, an association of Ugandans living abroad, won the case in the Mengo court after suing Jose Chameleone (real name Joseph Mayanja).
According to evidence presented in court, Chameleone entered into an agreement with the Uganda Diaspora Network and requested a payment of $5,000 to perform at their event.
The organisers also agreed to cover his travel expenses, accommodation, and those of his daughter. The diaspora group fulfilled all their obligations as agreed.
However, when the time came for Chameleone to perform, he failed to appear.
The Grade One Magistrate at Mengo, Yunusu Ndiwalana, ruled in favour of the complainants and ordered Chameleone to refund all the money paid to him, along with interest.
The magistrate emphasised that the ruling should serve as a lesson to other artists who take payment but fail to honour their bookings.
How it started
According to testimony from Shadrack Olinga, a coordinator with the Uganda Diaspora Network, the agreement was signed on December 17, 2022. Chameleone had committed to perform at the Uganda Canada Business Expo, an annual event.
The expo and related activities were scheduled to take place between June 30 and July 2, 2023, in Ottawa, Canada.
It was agreed that Chameleone would be paid $5,000 for the performances, with an upfront payment of $2,000 as a sign of commitment. This amount was duly paid to him.
The organisers also purchased his air ticket at a cost of $1,129 and booked accommodation for three days at a cost of $1,156.
On the day he was expected to perform, the organisers say they had everything ready but waited for him in vain. He neither showed up nor answered phone calls.
To make matters worse, it was reported that while he failed to attend their event, he was performing at another show in Canada known as Afrofest in Toronto.
In his ruling, the magistrate noted that Chameleone not only failed to attend the event after receiving payment, but also ignored multiple court summons to defend himself.
The court therefore ordered him to refund $4,285 (approximately Sh16,174,319) to the complainants.
In addition, he was ordered to pay sh5,000,000 in general damages for the inconvenience caused, after failing to perform as agreed. The amount will also accrue interest until it is fully paid.
He is further required to cover all legal costs incurred by the complainants in pursuing the case.