That, among other things…

OK. Right now Bajjo Events [Andrew Mukasa] and I have launched a campaign, Bail Me Out, a concept aimed at bailing people out of prison. [Eh. Dude has taken charge of Quick Talk’s interview…]

OK…

It will be for bailing people who are not capital offenders, but who need bail fees ranging from Shs 50,000 to Shs 300,000.

These people who committed petty crimes such as hawking, being ‘idle and disorderly’, among others. We are going to have a run on October 9; people will buy T-shits at Shs 10,000 to promote the cause.

We shall not congregate, but people are free to wear the T-shirts and jog wherever they want.

That is a new way of running… [Someone on social media recently wondered why Ugandans are these days running, running and running for things their government should ordinarily do.] By the way, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago will buy a ticket at Shs 1m; Bobi Wine at Shs 100,000…

Yiiii! Bobi Wine will pay only that?

[Laughs] He is broke; government stopped his concerts… [Shaaa, he is still a member of parliament]. Museveni tatawana [President Museveni shouldn’t even bother] if he wants a ticket, he will need to pay Shs 10bn.

Eh! But I thought you were his friend? I’ve heard that you take artistes to quietly meet Gen Salim Saleh and President Museveni for money…

[Now looking irritated:] Museveni?! We have never met and I have never got any money from him. I don’t even want his compensation [for losses from the Kyarenga concert].

It’s another promoter [taking artistes to the president for cash]. I don’t even have Museveni or Saleh’s contacts.

I see.

We went to court and our case is before Justice Lydia Mugambe and our lawyer is Erias Lukwago. Others were compensated with Shs 1.8bn, but me and Bajjo Events did not want the money. Some promoters are building houses!

So, what exactly happened with Kyarenga concert? [Organizers have previously alleged that Abtex took money from President Museveni on their behalf.]

We wrote to police [for permission], but by Easter Monday they had not replied. As people who had been in the business for long, we went ahead with our organization. The rest you saw on TV. [The crowds were dispersed as police said organisers had no permission].

Enough of Kyarenga! Tell me about your first concert.

[Excitedly:] Aaah, that was back in 1998, in Masaka. I had organized something called Ani Asinga, where I invited Paul Kafeero, Mulindwa Muwonge and Sarah Birungi, among others. It was the bomb!

OK… Sad that all those guys are now dead.

Yes. [But] it was a good show, people were many and I got money because I was personally collecting it at the gates. [He laughs at the memory].

Talking about Kafeero, your dress style is very much like his!

I knew that question was coming; anyway, he was my favourite musician.

Favourite, down to the way he dressed?

No! I used to dress like this; I didn’t copy him. He found me dressing like this but people say I copied him. Maybe I do it to keep his legacy.

Maybe you are copying the president who also loves those hats…

Waaa! I don’t support him; he is the one who copied me. He was in the village and when he came from the bush, he was not wearing the kikofira [hat]. I played for him soccer at Nakivubo stadium in 2001 and I think that is when he copied me.

Meanwhile, you look so skinny. Don’t you eat?

[Laughs:] I don’t like eating; I like my black tea and groundnuts. This has been my size always; those who say it’s not my size know nothing about me.

Maybe it is down to too much whiskey…What is your favourite drink?

I don’t drink anything alcoholic. I just like dry tea and groundnuts.

So, how many hats do you own?

[Tries to count them off cuff and gives up] I have many of different colours. I will start importing them because I have exhausted the local market.

Are you ‘city-born’?

No, I was born in Kabwohe (now Sheema district) on July 7, 1970, but by the time I started understanding, we were living in Masaka.

Ah…Munnabuddu! What are your memories about your first trip to Kampala?

I don’t remember much, but I remember coming when Yvonne Chaka Chaka was in town at Nakivubo stadium. I had come for the show, then the following day I went back. I remember I went back with a bus called Gaso. I later came back in 1998 to advertise my concert, make posters and get in touch with Kafeero and Sarah Birungi.

By the way, who is the most professional musician you have worked with?

Hmmm. Sheebah Karungi and her promoter Jeff Kiwa. You give them money and they turn up and do their work professionally.

And the worst?

Most of them are unprofessional. Fred Sebatta and Jose Chameleone are the worst…they are bad! [Abtex’s words, people, not Quick Talk’s!]
They turn up late and you are always worried if they will turn up [at all].

You are a man of money, but your wardrobe is wanting…

[Laughs, then speaks sternly:] I don’t like pretending; yes I have the money, but I like being omuntu wa wansi [common man]. If I go to Serena, I want to dress like Serena and if I go to Owino, I want to look like them. I have my money and I can get what I want anytime.

What is the item you buy on impulse?

Shoes, shoes, shoes. They take the largest share of my wardrobe, but I also have suits and trousers.

Where do you shop?

Anywhere, so long as something is good. I don’t have a definite place.

Now let’s talk about family.

Ok I had [thinks and counts] 10 kids including twins, but now I have four certified ones.

What do you mean?

I had 10; four were not mine because I did DNA tests. I have not tested the twins yet, so I can authoritatively tell you I have four children.

Wow. Any wife or baby-mama at home?

No. I don’t have a wife, but I take care of my children who stay with their mothers. By the way, you asked me what I like; apart from tea, I like women, but I don’t love them. I’m a jealous man; once I sleep with you, I don’t want to see you… don’t call me, I will call you.

Eh! Should I even ask who your ideal woman is?

[Throwing hands in the air in despair] There are no ideal women; all women are unfaithful. [What! Whoever broke Abtex’s heart, woman, you did a thorough job!] I want a woman who respects my people, can cook…but they are few.

Hmm, did you go to school?

I stopped in P3 [he laughs about it]. I don’t know how to pretend.

If you met President Museveni…

I would tell him ‘there is nothing you can do to be appreciated and liked by the people, because you have refused to go’.

Aya! And if you were in his shoes for a day?

I would have the people who stole taxpayers’ money arrested. I would confiscate their money and give it back to the people through service delivery. [Hahaha. Then we would stop all this running, running and running!]

Those are People Power thoughts.

I support anyone who can bring change, though peacefully. I was FDC, but now I’m People Power.

About Abtex

He was born in 1970 and dropped out of school in P.3.

He started off as a DJ in Masaka and later turned into music promotion, becoming one of the best-known and respected people in the business.