After decades in the limelight – and a lifestyle that often mirrored his fame – Ugandan music veteran Jose Chameleone has revealed he has quit smoking and drinking alcohol.
Speaking to the press upon his arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the 44-year-old artist appeared noticeably thinner, but resolute.
“God has given me another chance,” he told reporters. “I am reborn.”
Chameleone, best known for hits like Kipepeo, Badilisha and Wale Wale, said the decision follows what he described as a moment of reckoning after a prolonged health battle. In a recent candid interview, he admitted to long-standing struggles with substance use.
“I’ve been flipping bottles and drinking myself – that’s the truth,” he said.
“I’ve been a smoker all my life. But for the sake of my health, I put that aside. I don’t smoke anymore. I don’t drink anymore. That’s it.”
The comments mark a significant shift for an artist whose career has spanned more than two decades and helped shape the modern sound of East African pop music.
Describing the change as a “second round” at life, Chameleone reflected on his age and the urgency behind his transformation. “I’m just three years away from 50, so I have to slow down.”
The musician recently returned to Uganda on 12 April after undergoing four months of medical treatment in the United States, including surgery related to pancreatic complications. The condition, he said, was linked to years of alcohol use.
Days after his return, he hosted a thanksgiving mass, publicly committing to a new chapter grounded in faith and health. “People must know I’m a God-fearing person,” he said. “Before the doctors did their job, God did His.”
The reception at Entebbe International Airport was anything but subdued. Hundreds of fans turned out to welcome him home – a testament to the enduring love many Ugandans hold for the singer, whose real name is Joseph Mayanja.
Now in Kenya for routine medical check-ups, Chameleone says he’s focused on his well-being – and on living a life that no longer depends on the vices that once defined him.
