In many African cultures, there is a strong belief in the spiritual realm and the idea that the dead can return to haunt their killers or those who wronged them in life. This belief is often rooted in traditional African religions and spiritual practices.
With corrupted and fixated mindsets that Singer Joseph Mayanja aka Jose Chameleon is solely responsible for the death of Robert Karamagi over 12 years ago, many Ugandans have come to conclusion that the self proclaimed music heavyweight is being haunted and tormented by the spirit of the dead until he confesses or makes amends, same way Mr Mathew Kanyamunyu did to “cleanse a bad spirit” after murdering Mr Akena.
Kanyamunyu in 2020 went for a traditional ritual known as Mato Oput prior to the court hearing.
In this ceremony held at the Ker Kwaro Acholi (Acholi Chiefdom) Kanyamunyu reportedly admitted to killing the deceased and was asked to pay ten cows and three goats by the elders in Acholi. He was eventually freed after serving 3 years and 5 months in prison.
In the same vein Maj Benedict Kyamanywa, the father of the deceased will stop at nothing in a quest to pin the man that he thinks prematurely ended his son’s life. This stance, even though preliminary investigations said otherwise. To him, Mr Joseph Mayanja aka Dr Chameleone has continuously evaded justice through alleged usage of his influential stardom to run away from justice.
He once vowed that “Karamagi’s ghost will not give Chameleone chance to live in peace as it will keep haunting him forever”. He made this remarks at the time Chameleon expressed interest in Kampala mayoral seat.
Basing on different escapades that have unfolded in Chameleon’s life thereafter the ‘Karamagi murder incident’ I will convincingly to some extent believe that the dead are not dead, the ghost is now seeking revenge.
It’s evident that Dr Chameleon’s life changed drastically as he allegedly resorted to Binge drinking and drug abuse an act that has greatly stained his music career as well as ripping his marriage into tatters. Once East Africa’s finest Dr Jose Chameleon is now more popular for petty bar brawls and stunts than good music.
Montage Photos of Mr Matthew Kanyamunyu, Chameleon and late Karamagi inset ( courtesy photos)
The Preamble
The case has it alleged that Robert Karamagi, 27, on Boxing Day of 2012, was undressed, had his hands tied with a rope, and doused with aviation fuel before being set ablaze at Chameleon’s’ home in Sseguku, a Kampala suburb along Entebbe Road. This development, under suspicion of Karamagi being a thief. However, neighbors privy with Chameleon`s compound told reporters that the said Karamagi, was not an alien at the home, owing to allegations that he was a frequent ‘visitor’ who physically vended second hand clothing to his clients at their residences.
It is alleged that the singer’s wife, Daniella Atim Mayanja, was one of Karamagi`s ardent customers. There was also an assertion that the same Karamagi, was a casual laborer who often plied his shamba boy duties at the residence and that the singer was comfortable with his closeness to his wife. In the heat of the moment of the inquest, the unsettled family, moved out of the haunted Residence and moved to a new home in the Akright estate.
Daniella would later, also eventually relocate with their children to the United States of America, where they have since lived and even filed a restraining order against the singer.
Chameleon, in the recent past seemed to have beaten the odds to the Karamagi murder issue and had now resolved to revamp his rich musical career. He subsequently held a sold-out concert at the Lugogo Cricket Oval grounds billed as ‘Gwanga Mujje’ last year followed by another successful one at Serena Hotel dubbed Legend in Gold concert this year. However there’s more to this than meets the eye.
The writer is a socio-political analyst and cyber security expert
mabranick@gmail.com
