Local artistes riding on musical bucks
Apr 28, 2005
The Tukwegomba Bangi star had bought his first car, a Mark 11 UAB
Mesach Semakula
The Tukwegomba Bangi star had bought his first car, a Mark 11 UAB 017L in 2001 after his first big hit Wampangula.
His latest acquisition is a Toyota Landcruiser Prado RZ SWB model 1996 at sh33m after one of the biggest album launches this city has seen (Abakazi Abaguma) at Hotel Africana earlier this year. The show could have made him sh60m richer.
He commands sh2m per city show and sh2.5m for upcountry shows. Apart from his sh60m Kiwatule bungalow, Mesach is constructing a sh200m-worth bungalow in Namasuba.
Jose Chameleone
The 27-year-old is also arguably the most moneyed among the lot. That reflects in the number of assets he owns at his youthful age. Chameleone drives two posh vehicles. One is a 1998 Long Wheel Base Land Cruiser VX UAF 555V.
The car is huge, glossy and luxurious. It has electrically operated air conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated leather seats, sunroof and cruise control. A new one is said to be about 20,000 pounds (sh68m!) but Chameleone probably bought his at about sh45m.
Chameleone also has a Z3 Roadster, a sky blue type registration number UAE 043A only last week.
This 1996 model is said to have been so popular that by the time it was introduced, more than 15,000 cars had been sold out. Now, listen to this, Pierce Brosnan, starring as James Bond in the 1995 movie Golden Eye drove one of this. Now, a brand new one goes for about sh72m, but from my own calculation, he could have splashed about sh67m for this one.
Besides, sh50m per album deal for the last two albums 2004’s Mambo Bado and 2005’s Kipepeo, Chamelone just signed a promotional deal with MTN.
Chemeleone makes more foreign tours than any other local artiste and commands sh1.5m per show locally and about $2,500 per show in East Africa. Last December alone, he made close to sh30m in live performances alone. The singer recently moved into his double-storied mansion atop the panoramic Seguku Hill on Entebbe Road. The house estimated at over sh300m is still under construction but has an in-house music studio, jacuzi and two terraces with sliding doors. His launch of Kipepeo is estimated to cost sh132m.
Sohia Nantongo
The Nyongera Ekisanja singer who quit Eagles Production to pursue a solo career has not shown any signs of slowing down either musically or in personal development.
Nantogo drove a Toyota Corona ST-190. Last October, she acquired a Toyota Carib at sh15m. Why the change? “I have always liked these new caribs. That’s my kind of car,†she enthuses.
Photos by
Richard Ssemakula
and Ronald Kabuubi
Paul Kafeero
One of the longest serving working artistes on the scene now, this Kadongo Kamu maestro started making money way before his younger counterparts dreamed of making a dime off their talent. For long he cruised about in Toyota Land Cruiser 1992 UAB 028H.
He also once bought a Mitsubishi Pajero Short Chasis. He recently bought a maroon Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX in the UAG series. It costs over sh40m. Kafeero also owns several homes but the main house is in Lweza.
Sam and Sophie Gombya
The couple have a Toyota Caldina? which costs between sh11 and sh13m.
Abdul Mulaasi
To moderate fans, he has been known more his Faamu Y’abyala, a controversial song about him herding women together in a farmhouse than cars. Abdul Muraasi, the notorious Kadongo Kamu singer drives a Toyota Landcruiser Prado RZ SWB model 1996 UAG 021H, only without the protective gear but thicker rims. He has been teased by fans and colleagues alike about his UK tour but if anything positive came out of it, this might be it.
Harriet Kisakye
The Kandahar singer, whose music was banned from CBS FM early last year recently bought a new Toyota Corona AE 100 (kikumi) after a recent UK tour. The car costs between sh7.8m and sh8.7m.
Bebe Cool
Cool had hastily discarded his Golf 11, the first car he had actually bought for the more comfy Pajero. But after his USA sojourn, it was back to scratch and in came the Mark 11. Recently he acquired a minuscule yellow Honda convertible model 2001 at sh18m.
Just this week, he added a white BMW in the 318 series model 1995 UAF 363H at sh20m. The car boasts of a fully loaded sh7m security system and has apparently bought for his live-in girlfriend and baby mama, model Zuena Kirema.
Way to go Cool! Apart from knowing he made sh60m from his recent album launch, not much is known about his wealth. What we know however is that he has no house but has land and will be constructing a house in two years’ time.
Fred Sebatta
One of the oldest artistes in the game, Sebatta, like Kafeero was minting big bucks long before some of his younger colleagues were born!
Together with his Matendo Guitar Singers, they own a couple of vehicles but Sebatta personally drives a Mercedes Benz 190. He also owns several houses. We could not put a price to his assets but he is undisputedly one of the richest Ugandan singers.
Joe Tabula
He won a Pam Award for best producer last year but he is still remembered more for his mammoth Onsuza Mungatto hit a few years back.
This is ironical because he did not really make that much off that album. But then he disappeared off the stage and went into production and that’s when the big bucks started rolling in. He has moved from a beaten Toyota Corolla through a Totota Corona ST-190 (Kiswa) to a Nissan Terrano (1992), UAB 852A. This one could set one back by a little over sh15m.
Takuba who charges about sh1m per album (six tracks) and sh150,000 per single is currently constructing a double-storied house in Najjanakumbi. It will house his BK Studio.
Kato Lubwama
He owns Music Powerhouse, a record label; a multi-million Cooperhouse Theatre and is the director of Diamond Production, a music/theatre group. They own Image Africa, a video/audio agency at Suncity Hotel. The agency charges sh1.5m per music video and sh1m per audio album. It also shots feature films. This famed comic is also a presenter on CBS FM popular for his Kalisoliso programme.
But most of all Lubwama is a singer/songwriter and damn good one at that! After 20 years in the industry, Kato Lubwama rides in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado worth about 33m and lives in a sh150m bungalow in Kisugula Zone, Mutundwe.
Kayibanda
It is hard to take seriously a man whose essence in life is comedy. The CBS FM comedian and burgeoning singer owns a sh430,000 beat up corona liftback. He bought the car, which he calls “Lubaluse Wa†about three months ago.
This DMC, registration number UPW 155 probably dates back to the very early 1980s. Yet Kayibanda fiercely defends his choice of a first car: “When counting, one always starts from number one.
This is my number one,†he says without butting an eyelid. He says he bought the car to facilitate his 2006 parliamentary bid. “I am standing for MP in Rubaga North,†he announces. But there is more to this actor/singer than meets the eye. He owns a self-contained bungalow in Nansana and had a massive wedding in Namboole Stadium but he won’t talk about that. To him his car and impregnating his wife are the biggest achievements in his life so far.
Bobi wine
The proprietor of XYZ recently said he made sh120m off his album Taata Wabana Yani? His cut off for his latest album, Wendi was sh43m but he received sh64m. Wine performs for sh2m in Kampala and surrounding areas and sh2.5m upcountry if alone.
Together with his Fire Base Crew, he performs for sh4m while he charges sh12m per show in the UK. With Julianna and the Fire Base, he charges sh12m because Julianna takes 60% cut off what the pair is paid.
Wine who drives a Nissan Datsun 4WD double cabin pickup worth about sh15m is rumoured to have ordered another 4WD wagon worth sh67m. Sources say it will have a kitchen, refrigerator, microwave and four screens. Meanwhile, Wine is constructing a double-storied residential house on an 8-acre piece of land in Magere.
At sh12m per acre, Wine could have used sh96m for the land only. After roofing, he will have spent about sh300m on the mansion, while he estimates it will cost sh700m when complete. He plans an Olympic-size swimming pool, 4-acre garden, 2.5-acre forest, 3-acre banana plantation, a one-acre vanilla farm and 1/2 acre ganja farm.
Ronald Mayinja
This singer/writer is one of the front men of Eagles Production Band. Like Mesach Semakula, he gets a lion’s share of the proceeds and his music is popular.
Today, Mayinja drives a Corona ST-190 worth about sh10m and owns a sh80m bungalow in Lukuli, Kkonge, Makindye Division.
Steve Jean
Long before substantial money came into his trade, this award-winning producer/ singer/ song writer would rather rent a self-drive vehicle than hop on to a taxi.
Well, he can now afford two of his own. He also owns a red Toyota Celica GT 2dr Coupe. His, however, is an earlier model (1995). He also has a Mitsubishi GTO. He has built his own Fenon Studios in industrial Area worth about sh200m.
The Tukwegomba Bangi star had bought his first car, a Mark 11 UAB 017L in 2001 after his first big hit Wampangula.
His latest acquisition is a Toyota Landcruiser Prado RZ SWB model 1996 at sh33m after one of the biggest album launches this city has seen (Abakazi Abaguma) at Hotel Africana earlier this year. The show could have made him sh60m richer.
He commands sh2m per city show and sh2.5m for upcountry shows. Apart from his sh60m Kiwatule bungalow, Mesach is constructing a sh200m-worth bungalow in Namasuba.
Jose Chameleone
The 27-year-old is also arguably the most moneyed among the lot. That reflects in the number of assets he owns at his youthful age. Chameleone drives two posh vehicles. One is a 1998 Long Wheel Base Land Cruiser VX UAF 555V.
The car is huge, glossy and luxurious. It has electrically operated air conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated leather seats, sunroof and cruise control. A new one is said to be about 20,000 pounds (sh68m!) but Chameleone probably bought his at about sh45m.
Chameleone also has a Z3 Roadster, a sky blue type registration number UAE 043A only last week.
This 1996 model is said to have been so popular that by the time it was introduced, more than 15,000 cars had been sold out. Now, listen to this, Pierce Brosnan, starring as James Bond in the 1995 movie Golden Eye drove one of this. Now, a brand new one goes for about sh72m, but from my own calculation, he could have splashed about sh67m for this one.
Besides, sh50m per album deal for the last two albums 2004’s Mambo Bado and 2005’s Kipepeo, Chamelone just signed a promotional deal with MTN.
Chemeleone makes more foreign tours than any other local artiste and commands sh1.5m per show locally and about $2,500 per show in East Africa. Last December alone, he made close to sh30m in live performances alone. The singer recently moved into his double-storied mansion atop the panoramic Seguku Hill on Entebbe Road. The house estimated at over sh300m is still under construction but has an in-house music studio, jacuzi and two terraces with sliding doors. His launch of Kipepeo is estimated to cost sh132m.
Sohia Nantongo
The Nyongera Ekisanja singer who quit Eagles Production to pursue a solo career has not shown any signs of slowing down either musically or in personal development.
Nantogo drove a Toyota Corona ST-190. Last October, she acquired a Toyota Carib at sh15m. Why the change? “I have always liked these new caribs. That’s my kind of car,†she enthuses.
Photos by
Richard Ssemakula
and Ronald Kabuubi
Paul Kafeero
One of the longest serving working artistes on the scene now, this Kadongo Kamu maestro started making money way before his younger counterparts dreamed of making a dime off their talent. For long he cruised about in Toyota Land Cruiser 1992 UAB 028H.
He also once bought a Mitsubishi Pajero Short Chasis. He recently bought a maroon Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX in the UAG series. It costs over sh40m. Kafeero also owns several homes but the main house is in Lweza.
Sam and Sophie Gombya
The couple have a Toyota Caldina? which costs between sh11 and sh13m.
Abdul Mulaasi
To moderate fans, he has been known more his Faamu Y’abyala, a controversial song about him herding women together in a farmhouse than cars. Abdul Muraasi, the notorious Kadongo Kamu singer drives a Toyota Landcruiser Prado RZ SWB model 1996 UAG 021H, only without the protective gear but thicker rims. He has been teased by fans and colleagues alike about his UK tour but if anything positive came out of it, this might be it.
Harriet Kisakye
The Kandahar singer, whose music was banned from CBS FM early last year recently bought a new Toyota Corona AE 100 (kikumi) after a recent UK tour. The car costs between sh7.8m and sh8.7m.
Bebe Cool
Cool had hastily discarded his Golf 11, the first car he had actually bought for the more comfy Pajero. But after his USA sojourn, it was back to scratch and in came the Mark 11. Recently he acquired a minuscule yellow Honda convertible model 2001 at sh18m.
Just this week, he added a white BMW in the 318 series model 1995 UAF 363H at sh20m. The car boasts of a fully loaded sh7m security system and has apparently bought for his live-in girlfriend and baby mama, model Zuena Kirema.
Way to go Cool! Apart from knowing he made sh60m from his recent album launch, not much is known about his wealth. What we know however is that he has no house but has land and will be constructing a house in two years’ time.
Fred Sebatta
One of the oldest artistes in the game, Sebatta, like Kafeero was minting big bucks long before some of his younger colleagues were born!
Together with his Matendo Guitar Singers, they own a couple of vehicles but Sebatta personally drives a Mercedes Benz 190. He also owns several houses. We could not put a price to his assets but he is undisputedly one of the richest Ugandan singers.
Joe Tabula
He won a Pam Award for best producer last year but he is still remembered more for his mammoth Onsuza Mungatto hit a few years back.
This is ironical because he did not really make that much off that album. But then he disappeared off the stage and went into production and that’s when the big bucks started rolling in. He has moved from a beaten Toyota Corolla through a Totota Corona ST-190 (Kiswa) to a Nissan Terrano (1992), UAB 852A. This one could set one back by a little over sh15m.
Takuba who charges about sh1m per album (six tracks) and sh150,000 per single is currently constructing a double-storied house in Najjanakumbi. It will house his BK Studio.
Kato Lubwama
He owns Music Powerhouse, a record label; a multi-million Cooperhouse Theatre and is the director of Diamond Production, a music/theatre group. They own Image Africa, a video/audio agency at Suncity Hotel. The agency charges sh1.5m per music video and sh1m per audio album. It also shots feature films. This famed comic is also a presenter on CBS FM popular for his Kalisoliso programme.
But most of all Lubwama is a singer/songwriter and damn good one at that! After 20 years in the industry, Kato Lubwama rides in Toyota Land Cruiser Prado worth about 33m and lives in a sh150m bungalow in Kisugula Zone, Mutundwe.
Kayibanda
It is hard to take seriously a man whose essence in life is comedy. The CBS FM comedian and burgeoning singer owns a sh430,000 beat up corona liftback. He bought the car, which he calls “Lubaluse Wa†about three months ago.
This DMC, registration number UPW 155 probably dates back to the very early 1980s. Yet Kayibanda fiercely defends his choice of a first car: “When counting, one always starts from number one.
This is my number one,†he says without butting an eyelid. He says he bought the car to facilitate his 2006 parliamentary bid. “I am standing for MP in Rubaga North,†he announces. But there is more to this actor/singer than meets the eye. He owns a self-contained bungalow in Nansana and had a massive wedding in Namboole Stadium but he won’t talk about that. To him his car and impregnating his wife are the biggest achievements in his life so far.
Bobi wine
The proprietor of XYZ recently said he made sh120m off his album Taata Wabana Yani? His cut off for his latest album, Wendi was sh43m but he received sh64m. Wine performs for sh2m in Kampala and surrounding areas and sh2.5m upcountry if alone.
Together with his Fire Base Crew, he performs for sh4m while he charges sh12m per show in the UK. With Julianna and the Fire Base, he charges sh12m because Julianna takes 60% cut off what the pair is paid.
Wine who drives a Nissan Datsun 4WD double cabin pickup worth about sh15m is rumoured to have ordered another 4WD wagon worth sh67m. Sources say it will have a kitchen, refrigerator, microwave and four screens. Meanwhile, Wine is constructing a double-storied residential house on an 8-acre piece of land in Magere.
At sh12m per acre, Wine could have used sh96m for the land only. After roofing, he will have spent about sh300m on the mansion, while he estimates it will cost sh700m when complete. He plans an Olympic-size swimming pool, 4-acre garden, 2.5-acre forest, 3-acre banana plantation, a one-acre vanilla farm and 1/2 acre ganja farm.
Ronald Mayinja
This singer/writer is one of the front men of Eagles Production Band. Like Mesach Semakula, he gets a lion’s share of the proceeds and his music is popular.
Today, Mayinja drives a Corona ST-190 worth about sh10m and owns a sh80m bungalow in Lukuli, Kkonge, Makindye Division.
Steve Jean
Long before substantial money came into his trade, this award-winning producer/ singer/ song writer would rather rent a self-drive vehicle than hop on to a taxi.
Well, he can now afford two of his own. He also owns a red Toyota Celica GT 2dr Coupe. His, however, is an earlier model (1995). He also has a Mitsubishi GTO. He has built his own Fenon Studios in industrial Area worth about sh200m.