Male Ugandan artistes who have struggled after firing their managers

By Allen Kisakye

A manager is defined as the person who handles all business aspects of the artistes’ career. This music industry is littered with many of such people, claiming to try and further the careers of local musicians. Others, such as Jeff Kiwa, Emma Carlos, Julius Kyazze have managed to transform upcoming musicians into genuine superstars.

However, since we are all humans, artistes and their managers usually part ways on grounds of money, discipline, relationships. Here is a list of some of the male artistes who did backslide musically after firing their managers.

Ziza Bafana. Back then, you couldn’t talk about Dancehall music and fail to mention Ziza Bafana. Most people preferred to call him the king of dancehall given the way he played with lyrics of his songs such as ‘Pomini’, ‘Tulimajje’ among others. But after Ziza Bafana fired his manager Roger Lubega and and hired a one Suleiman Kisuule in 2017, he has failed to make any sort of progress. It is alleged that the two had a terrible breakup caused by money issues. Ziza Bafana also claimed then that Lubega, who also manages Spice Diana failed to account for money made during the Tulimajje concert and that he also stole Bafana’s equipment.

Bafana has previously defended his silence saying its by choice and that he needed to take his music to a new direction.

“I have been rethinking and cooking new stuff and will return with real music,” he says.

Ceaserous. Under the management of Kandy Entertainment, Ceaserous was one of the few talented young talents that used to produce quality work – both audios and videos. Caesarous came onto the music scene with songs such as ‘Dangerous’, ‘Kilila’, ‘Million Girls’ among others. These songs were always on point because his managers had all the finances required to boost his music career. But in 2017, Ceaserous dumped his management for reasons he choose not to talk about and started working with Kim XP. That was the beginning of his musical death. Currently, the former musician left the entertainment industry and went back to study.

Pallaso. This one felt ‘so big’ and always referred to himself as the ‘King of East.’ That was when he was still working with Jeff Kiwa in 2013. Pallaso then released many good songs and collaborations with artistes such as ‘Twatoba’ with Nigerian Davido, ‘Go Down Low’ with Sheeba among others.

Then he ‘Team No Sleep’ after the death of this brother AK47, and has struggled to make any sensible music even after creating ‘Team Big Music.’

Khalifa Aganaga. At least we can still sing along to songs such as ‘Oyitangayo’, ‘Ndabirawa’, ‘Minakonda’ that he produced while still under the management of Emma Carlos in 2012.

But ever since Khalifa fired his manager on grounds of money, Aganaga’s career musically has never been the same.

He sometimes tries to jump on the trending gossip around town to make himself relevant but zero work musically. In 2017 he tried to replace Emma with Nash Wonder but he could not do much to revive his career. Currently his collaboration with Chameleon ‘Kiboko’ and Eddy Kenzo ‘Katono’ have somehow revived his struggling career but he is yet to make a proper comeback. His concert scheduled for November 23 may help him remain relevant.

Henry Tigan. The best reggae artiste after Maddox Sematimba, Henry Tigan aka aka Henry Kirumaganyireleased hit after hit.  Abogezi, Lwakyi Onumya, Out of Control Muzudde, among others were all club bangers. He disappeared off the radar for close to a decade after breaking up with Suudiman who had aided him to work with some of the best producers such as Steve Jean, Geoffrey Lwanga and Henry Kiwuuwa. Ever since Tigan parted ways with Suudiman, he has struggled to make a comeback although he still fills up a few bars whenever he gets gigs.

Coco Finger. His Electricity dance moves and songs like ‘My Miss’, ‘Emikono Wagulu’, ‘Break my heart’, worked magic to bring him onto the limelight in 2010. He even named himself the ‘Arua Ambassador’. Coco real nameMoses Okori was managed by Emma Carlos of Twinkle Star but fired him after he had signed another artiste, Khalifa to the label. Coco finger allegedly took it personal, causing a serious misunderstanding and breakup in 2012.

In a bid to make news, Coco Finger alleged that Emma Carlos be-witched him, and that’s the reason his fame faded out.

Yung Mulo. 2012 was Yung Mulo’s year of peak when he produced a song dubbed ‘Tebakusobola.’ Then he was working with Leone Island. But his music fame started to fade when he got into a fight with Jose Chameleon, the CEO of Leone Island and was shown the exit.’ Mulo said that Chameleon demanded a lot from him but he always never played his role as a good boss. Requirements to sustain his music career became almost impossible and decided to start a new life in South Africa. Currently he is back in the country and signed under Bond Empire but still struggling to produce a hit song.

Papa Cidy. He was Chameleon’s right hand man and a big star back then when he was still under Leone Island. He did a couple of collaborations with Jose Chameleon like ‘Daniela’, ‘Joselina’, ‘Tolina Kisa.’ After these two parted ways Papa Cidy’s music career hit the dead end. Cidy claimed that he is a reason why Chameleon is a star because he has written almost all Chameleon’s hit songs. He also complained about receiving very little money from the boss yet he works a lot. This is what apparently angered Chameleon and ended their work relationship.