By Gad Masereka
Kampala: As Uganda prepares for the 2021 general elections, singer Joseph Mayanja aka Dr Jose Chameleone has confirmed that he will be part of the battle for the Kampala Lord mayor seat.
Chameleone says he has come to serve the interests of the public, not those of any political party in Uganda. He argues that Uganda’s development should not be based on political parties whether NRM, FDC DP, UPC, People Power among others. Chameleone said that “The street vendors also have to trade in order to survive, but let us show them where to go. Don’t kick them off the streets and back to the village. And you cannot take a man away from his kiosk in Kamwokya and relocate him to Namanve.” He added that “Such solutions will take time, because those problems also grew with time. But I can’t tackle those problems before embarking on the journey that enables me to find the solutions. So, let us start with the simple, obvious things and work upwards.
Dr. Chameleone revealed that he had a dream of becoming a youngest Kampala mayor and therefore this must be the time for him to fulfill his dream. While commenting about his relationship with fellow singer Bebe Cool, Chameleone said they will remain friends and nothing like politics will separate them. He said some people associate him with NRM after being part of the ‘Tubonga Nawe’ song that was used during President Yoweri Museveni’s campaigns in 2016 and others say he is Ragga Dee’s replacement following the latter’s failure in the last general elections.
He added that “When a leader visits a mosque, it doesn’t make him Muslim because he is playing the roles of a leader. You have to harmonize and be available in all avenues. But going back to Tubonga Naawe, that was a job, just like someone would hire me to sing at their wedding or a daughter’s party. For example, when I stage my shows at Lugogo I don’t segregate that I am singing for FDC, or NRM; it is a job. Just like other companies hire me for gigs, that is how that thing happened. Just because I provided a service does not mean I belong there or not.”
