Written By | Peter Luzinda
Papa Cidy has pleaded with Chameleone for a share of the music royalties
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Kampala
Veteran singer Papa Cidy has publicly called out his former boss, Dr. Jose Chameleone, demanding payment for royalties from several hit songs they worked on together over a decade ago.
In a respectful but firm open letter shared on social media, Papa Cidy expressed disappointment over unpaid earnings from tracks uploaded on Chameleone’s YouTube and other music streaming channels.
“Dear Dr. Jose Chameleone, I have always known you as a good person, and that’s why I am reaching out to you respectfully,” Papa Cidy wrote. “You have recently shared concert dates with King Saha, but I would like you to also look into the songs we recorded together, such as Daniela and others. You know how much I invested in those projects. I believe I deserve a paycheck from royalties collection.”
Papa Cidy has pleaded with Chameleone for a share of the music royalties
Papa Cidy further revealed that he was not paid for their last joint performance in London and questioned how upcoming artistes are expected to survive without fair compensation.
“Ffe tunaapatikanira nga bwerere? How are we supposed to survive if we keep working for free?” he asked.
The singer highlighted several collaborations where Chameleone is featured, including:
All these songs were uploaded on Chameleone’s platforms more than 10 years ago, a time when many artistes were not fully aware of digital monetization opportunities. As a result, Chameleone has reportedly been collecting all the proceeds. Papa Cidy ended his letter on a poignant note, urging for amicable resolution:
“I am only asking for fairness... Please let’s address this matter respectfully and find a solution. I hope it doesn’t take a situation where someone passes away before appreciation is shown.”
As of now, Jose Chameleone is yet to respond to the claims.
The story has ignited heated debates online, with many fans calling for better contracts and transparency in Uganda’s music industry, especially regarding older collaborations and digital royalties.
Torch Media Africa
