Chameleone attacked as Daniella cheats death

By Martin Ndijjo, Deborah Nanfuka & Hafswa Nankanja

Singer Jose Chameleone lived to see another day following a mission that was meant to harm him went wrong after an assailant who raided his home instead burnt himself with petrol.

The horrifying incident took place on the morning of Boxing Day after the assailant identified as Robert Kalamagi, 27, gained access to the singer’s home whose gate at the time was unmanned.

Daniella narrates ordeal

Daniella told Bukedde newspaper that she had just woken up and was in their bedroom when she heard movements in the sitting room. She said at first she thought pets they keep at home were the ones playing around but realized they were human movements.

She said at the time Chameleone was asleep as he had come in late after a hectic festive season schedule. She said she went to the sitting room and found a man whom she asked what he wanted. The man just turned and walked towards the door unbothered.

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Chameleone (2nd-left) talks to the Police as his crew looks on.

She said she then called Chameleon to come to the sitting room. As she waited for him she started grilling the man on what he was doing in their home. She said he then proceeded to collect a 5-litre jerrycan he had placed somewhere and tried to douse her in what turned out to be petrol.

However as fate would have it, the petrol instead spilled on him as Daniella stood transfixed. The man then retrieved a lighter which he had meant to torch her with, and proceeded to light it up.

The man instantly became a ball of fire and started writhing in pain and screaming for help. The Police were then called in and arrested the man who was later whisked to Mulago national referral hospital where he is admitted.

Kajjansi District Police Commander Ibrahim Saiga said while at Chameleone’s home said though the assailant was visibly in pain, he attempted to disarm a policeman.

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Detectives at the crime scene

Saiga said they are investigating several possibilities of his motive. He said among the leads they are following is that he was sent by someone to harm Chameleone. He sais there was also a possibility that the man was at the home to steal.

Kalamagi, a resident of Seguku, however shocked cops when he said he is a big fan of the singer but failed to explain his actions.

There were also reports that he was in the company of a gang of thieves who stayed outside the gate keeping watch.