Nina Roz defends decision to meet UCC's Nyombi Thembo

Singer Nina Roz, real name Nina Kankunda, has found herself in hot water with some fans after a visit to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), proving that in Uganda, even booking a concert can accidentally become a political campaign.

Nina sparked a social media storm after visiting UCC executive director Nyombi Thembo to discuss her upcoming concert. The photos from the meeting quickly turned into a political headache, with netizens questioning why the singer, who is associated with the National Unity Platform (NUP), was hobnobbing with a government official known for supporting the ruling party.

Apparently, some fans expected her to sing for the people, not sit down with the other side of the political divide.

But Nina has come out to clear the air, insisting that her visit was strictly professional. She explained that she needed clearance to hold her concert and that visiting the UCC offices was part of the process.

“There is no artist who holds a concert minus stepping into that office. The only difference with me was that he asked for a photo. He posted the video, and I had no control over that,” she said.

In other words, Nina went looking for concert clearance and walked out with a photo that needed its own political clearance from her fans.

The singer also apologised to those who interpreted the meeting as a betrayal, insisting that she had not abandoned her supporters or switched political camps.

“Sorry to those that perceived it wrongly, but this is to clear the air to my fans that I didn’t betray them. That is the right office I had to go through because I’m not above the law or the government,” she said.

Nina added that Thembo had agreed to buy a table at her concert because he enjoys her music, and she could hardly tell a paying fan to stay away simply because of his political leanings.

“He agreed to buy a table as someone who loves my music, and I cannot stop him. This is a musical show and not a political show. There was music before politics, and without music, they wouldn’t have known me,” she said.

On Monday, in an exclusive interview with New Vision, the singer faulted Swangz Avenue for scheduling a concert featuring Koshens and Maphorisa, a few yards from her venue at Lugogo Hockey Grounds on the same date.