I have learnt my lesson – Balaam vows never to help ailing musicians 

Events promoter Balaam Barugahara has vowed to never help any artiste battling with a drug addiction following his recent clash with Jackie Chandiru’s family over money.

Basing on Chandiru’s reported health condition, Balaam saw the need of starting a fundraising campaign to help this former Blu*3 singer raise money for her treatment.

Balaam reported that Chandiru needed between Shs1.8 million to Shs2.5 million each month, and called on every well-wisher to come to the singer’s rescue.

However on Wednesday, Chandiru’s family trashed Balaam’s intentions, claiming that they can and have always taken care of their relative.

Chandiru’s young sister, Cynthia Dezu noted on social media that her sister has always been under the family medical and rehabilitation care, citing that a fundraising campaign was uncalled for.

Possibly, Balaam and Pastor Wilson Bugembe who have been behind this campaign felt offended by the statement made by Chandiru’s family, and decided to return the collected money back to the people who had already contributed.

During a presser on Thursday, Balaam also noted that he was informed that a well-wisher through Chandiru’s family had taken up the singer’s medial and recovery bills 100 percent, and he sees no need to continue with this campaign.

“I have learnt a lesson and with this current situation I don’t want anyone to call my phone asking me to help an artiste battling drug addiction, Jackie Chandiru was my last,” he said.

Balaam noted that they had raised Shs550,000 from Ugandans, and through their Uganda Musician Association (UMA), artistes had also raised Shs950,000. However, they chose to return this money to the senders.

He noted that Chandiru had a pending hospital bill of Shs2.4 million at the Recovery Solution Treatment and Counseling Centre, Zana where she was receiving treatment, but he (Balaam) and Pastor Bugembe had cleared it.

 

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