On Saturday night, August 24th, Rema and other musicians who were meant to sing for revellers in Mbale were reduced to convicts by Mbale residents. Local musicians Rema Namakula, AK47, King Saha, Ray, Gravity Omutuju Sheebah Karungi and her queen dancers survived an angry mob at Thatch Gardens in Mbale.
Chaos first started when Gravity Omutujju was arrested by one promoter for not showing up in a previous concert where he had been fully paid. But that did not last long as he was quickly sorted to allow the ongoing concert to carry on.
Chaos broke out again when the highly anticipated musicians deliberately refused to perform demanding they are paid fully before they step on stage fuelling anger among the crowd. It all started at around 1:30am in the night when Afande Kelekele who was the emcee of the night called King Saha to start the show. King Saha remained back stage saying he still demanded 200,000 of the 800,000 he was supposed to be paid.
It is said all musicians from Kampala spearheaded by AK47 agreed not to perform unless they are paid their balance. Revelers started shouting on top of their voices as they expressed their disappointment because the artists were taking forever to get on stage. Sooner than later the crowd ran rowdy as bullets were fired, chairs broken and empty bottles thrown on stage. The whole situation turned chaotic and ran out of control.
Rema and Sheebah were seen fleeing the scene in an effort to save their dear lives. They fled to the nearby lodge. The Mbale District DPC was called in to restore calm at the gardens.
It is believed that the musicians escaped from the hotel gardens through a small opening at fence of the gardens. It should be remembered that in 2010 Jose Chameleone went through the same at the same place when he refused to perform.
