New Vision Admin 
Veteran musician Mesach Semakula has opened up about the profound impact Jose Chameleone had on Uganda’s music scene, motivating a new generation of band artists to modernize and energize their sound.
In a recent conversation, Semakula shared that prior to Chameleone’s breakthrough, many band musicians focused on songs with meaningful lyrics but lacked the lively rhythms that could get audiences moving.
“The music back then had depth, yes, but it didn’t make people dance. Then Chameleone dropped Mama Mia, and everything changed,” Mesach recalled.
He reminisced about a performance alongside legendary singer Geoffrey Lutaaya. “It was pouring rain, but the stage energy was electric. Lutaaya turned to me and said, ‘This guy is going to transform the industry.’ He brought a style no one had seen before,” Semakula added.
Mesach highlighted that Chameleone’s brilliance lay in mixing catchy, relatable lyrics with infectious rhythms and a sprinkle of Kiswahili, making his music popular not just locally but across the region.
This innovative approach inspired many established artists to rethink their sound, pushing them to experiment and align with the evolving tastes of their audiences.
Semakula also praised producer Eddy Yawe for modernizing studio techniques during the same era, enabling band musicians to produce more polished and contemporary tracks.
He put these techniques into practice, creating hits like Haruna Mubiru’s Ekitooke Kiffa Nsalira, which became iconic and helped define the new wave of Ugandan band music.
According to Semakula, Chameleone’s influence encouraged creativity and experimentation, urging musicians to fuse rhythm and melody in ways that captivated younger listeners.
Looking back, Mesach says he admires that transformative period, recognizing that Chameleone’s contributions reshaped the industry and inspired countless artists to merge tradition with modern sounds.
