By Aggrey Buluba
In what has been described as the most dramatic twist in Uganda’s entertainment scene this year, Balaam Barugahara, the businessman known for his humorous jabs, had the last laugh after Gravity Omutujju’s much-anticipated “Embaga ya Isma N’ Amina” concert flopped spectacularly. The event, which took place on Saturday, turned out to be a disaster of epic proportions, and the blame game has begun in full force.
Gravity, who had expected a sold-out show, was quick to point fingers at the sound system provided by none other than Balam. “The sound was terrible,” he fumed, suggesting that the poor quality of the music equipment was the main reason for the embarrassingly low turnout. But Balaam wasn’t having any of it. In his characteristic style, he hit back with a zinger that left the entire city chuckling.
“He shouldn’t blame me for the poor turnout for his concert,” Balaam quipped in a statement that went viral within minutes. “My only role was to offer him a music sound system, not to bring the people. If I knew the number that would turn up, I would have given him a woofer instead of the speakers I provided. That would have been enough for the people who came!”
Balaam’s comment, dripping with irony, spread like wildfire across social media, earning him the title of “Shade King of Kampala.” Memes of Gravity standing alone in a vast, empty venue holding a single woofer began to flood timelines. Even local radio stations couldn’t resist playing audio clips of Balaam’s savage remark on repeat.
But wait, the plot thickens! Earlier this year, Gravity Omutujju found himself in hot water with fans of Bobi Wine, the man many call the “People’s Darling.” Gravity, in what some called a bold and others a reckless move, had publicly challenged Bobi Wine to build a hospital in Busabala instead of criticizing the government’s poor service delivery. This didn’t sit well with Bobi Wine’s passionate supporters, who, in a flash of ‘People Power,’ vowed to boycott all of Gravity’s shows.
As if fate were determined to humble Gravity further, yesterday’s disaster came on the heels of another interview where he downplayed Mickie Wine, Bobi Wine’s younger brother, who also had a show the same night at Jahaz Piar in Munyonyo. Gravity had confidently scoffed, “Mickie Wine can’t get people; he doesn’t have the music.”
Oh, how the tables turned! While Gravity’s concert venue echoed with crickets and the sound of Balam’s laughter, Mickie Wine’s show was buzzing with energy, packed to the brim with jubilant fans. It’s as if the universe conspired to give Gravity a front-row lesson on the real meaning of “people power.”
In an industry where every artist fights tooth and nail for a loyal fan base, Gravity’s hubris appears to have backfired in a spectacular fashion. As Gravity licks his wounds and contemplates his next move, the rest of Uganda can’t help but wonder: Will he dare throw shade at the People’s Darling and his crew again, or has he learned the hard way that sometimes gravity is the least of your problems?
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