Veteran Ugandan musician Jose Chameleone has said he will retire from recording new music when President Yoweri Museveni leaves office.
Chameleone, born Joseph Mayanja, made the remarks during a recent interview. He explained that he has built his entire music career during Museveni’s leadership and feels his journey as an active recording artiste should end when the President’s time in power comes to a close.
“I want to put it on record that the day President Museveni stops being the President of Uganda is the day I will also stop going to the studio,” he said. “I am from his regime. I will remain with my old music, and that is where I will stop.”
The Leone Island boss has been a known supporter of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
He said he believes he has done enough in the music industry, having spent more than two decades releasing songs and performing across Africa.
According to him, stepping away from recording would not mean leaving the stage entirely.
Chameleone clarified that he would continue performing his old hits for fans but would not produce any new songs.
“I have served my era long enough,” he said. “When his leadership ends, that will also be my time to say goodbye to the studio. I will keep performing my old songs and grow older in peace.”
Chameleone began his career as a DJ in the mid-1990s before breaking through with his early hit single “Bageya” around 1999–2000. Over the years, he has become one of East Africa’s most recognised music stars.
