DJ Omutuuze’s Claim About Pastor Bugembe’s Concert Tables Sparks Debate
A comment made by former radio host and politician DJ Jacob Omutuuze regarding Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s recent sold-out concert has ignited controversy among listeners and industry figures.
Omutuuze asserted that Pastor Bugembe’s success in selling tables for his 20th-anniversary celebration at Kampala Serena Hotel was solely due to the efforts of event promoters Bajjo and Dianah Nabatanzi. He reportedly stated that without their intervention, the tables would not have sold out.
This claim has been met with significant pushback. Many listeners expressed strong disagreement, arguing that Pastor Bugembe, a highly popular gospel artist and pastor, possesses immense personal star power and a dedicated fanbase capable of filling venues like Serena independently.
Adding weight to this counter-argument, renowned music critic Eddy Ssendi publicly challenged Omutuuze’s view. Ssendi contended that the overwhelming crowd at Pastor Bugembe’s milestone event was primarily drawn by the artist himself. While acknowledging that promotional help (like that potentially provided by Bajjo and Nabatanzi) is often necessary for large-scale events, Ssendi emphasized that the core audience was undeniably there for Pastor Bugembe.
“Pastor Bugembe’s crowd came directly because of him and not because of help,” Ssendi stated, reflecting the sentiment of many who believe Omutuuze’s remarks undervalued the pastor’s individual appeal and longstanding influence in the Ugandan gospel and entertainment scene.
The disagreement highlights the ongoing discussion about artist popularity versus promoter influence in Uganda’s event industry. While promoters play a crucial role, Omutuuze’s specific claim attributing the entire table sales success to Bajjo and Nabatanzi, rather than Pastor Bugembe’s own draw, has clearly failed to resonate with a significant portion of the audience and critics. Pastor Bugembe himself has not publicly commented on Omutuuze’s specific statement.
