Jose Chameleone faces arrest over tax evasion
Jul 30, 2020
The singer faces two accounts of being in possession of unaccustomed goods and failure to produce documents when required
The Anti-Corruption Court has extended criminal summons against musician Joseph Mayanja popularly known as Jose Chameleone.
Chameleone is wanted in court to answer charges related to sh137m tax evasion.
He was on Thursday slated to appear in court to plead to the charges but in vain. This is the second time he is skipping court.
This prompted state prosecutor Hilda Bakanansa to request the presiding Chief Magistrate Pamela Lamunu to extend criminal summons against him.
Lamunu extended the criminal summons against him until October 2 when he is required to appear in court to plead to the charges.
"You are hereby commanded by the Government of Uganda to appear in the Anti-Corruption Court at Kololo on October 2, 2020, at 9 am or so soon thereafter as the case can be heard," the magistrate ordered.
The singer faces two accounts of being in possession of unaccustomed goods and failure to produce documents when required to in line with the East African Community Customs Management Act of 2004.
The prosecution alleges that on April 12, this year, URA custom officials found Chameleone in possession of a vehicle Toyota Land Cruiser V8, model GRJ 200 registration number SSD499B along Wakaliga-Bulange Mengo.
It is further alleged that Chameleone was requested to avail the team with documentation regarding the legal status of the vehicle in Uganda which he promised to avail but failed.
URA says that Chameleone has never paid the import tax duty for the vehicle valued at sh137m.
Chameleone has expressed intention to run for the Kampala lord mayor seat in the 2021 general election.
Who is Chameleon?
Born on April 30, 1979, Chameleone is a celebrated Uganda's Afro-beat artist. Chameleon's career began at a young age in 1996 as a DJ at the Missouri night club in Kampala.
He was later signed to the Kenyan record label Ogopa DJs where he broke through with his first single, Bageya that featured Kenyan artist Redsan. Chameleone's musical style is a combination of Ugandan music, central African rumba zouk, and reggae.
Chameleone is married to Daniella Atim Mayanja. The couple has five children. They are Abba Marcus Mayanja, Alfa Joseph Mayanja, Alba Shyne Mayanja, Amma Christian Mayanja, and Xara Amani Mayanja.
Abba Marcus is a swimming medalist on the Uganda junior's national team and also released his first single "Game Over" under the name T-REX, Alfa Joseph is a swimmer too.