Bebe Cool Denies Involvement in Tems and Omah Lay’s Arrest in Uganda
Ugandan musician Bebe Cool has dismissed claims that he was behind the 2020 arrest of Nigerian singers Tems and Omah Lay in Uganda.
The two artists were arrested on December 12, 2020, after performing at a concert at Speke Resort, Kampala, despite COVID-19 restrictions. Tems later alleged that Bebe Cool had played a role in their arrest.
However, in a recent interview on the Afrobeats Podcast, Bebe Cool denied the allegations, stating that he was unaware of the situation until a friend called him around 3 a.m. to inform him about the arrests.
He explained that he immediately began making calls and visited the police station at 6 a.m., where he questioned the decision to detain the artists. According to him, the District Police Commander (DPC) told him to escalate the matter to a superior.
Bebe Cool further clarified that Ugandan artists, including himself, were frustrated at the time because they had been unable to perform for over a year and a half due to COVID-19 restrictions. When news of Tems and Omah Lay’s concert emerged, many local artists took to social media to protest, demanding equal treatment.
He noted that because of his pro-government stance, his tweets gained significant attention, leading some to believe he was involved in the arrests. However, he insisted that he only intervened to secure the Nigerian artists’ release.
Bebe Cool also revealed that the event promoter was arrested alongside Tems and Omah Lay, but he did not appeal for her release, which may have caused further misunderstandings.
Contrary to reports crediting Nigeria’s ambassador for securing the artists’ freedom, Bebe Cool claimed he was the one who worked behind the scenes to ensure their release.
