It is difficult to talk of evolution and development of Uganda’s music industry without mentioning the great role played by Jose Chameleon. The hoarse voiced music star started his music career with a brief stint with the Ogopa DJs in Kenya where he recorded his first song Bageya before he returned to Uganda to launch into an illustrious career that set Uganda’s music industry we are proud of today into motion.

The story of Jose Chameleon (Born Joseph Mayanja) and his protracted stay at the top of Uganda’s music industry in the first decade of the twenty-first century is a story of splendid hard work and remarkable versatility.

Jose Chameleone aka Joseph Mayanja

The Uganda music industry is such a vast industry and is always changing in amazing ways but like a Chameleon, Jose always managed to adapt to the changes that the industry underwent and his change of style from one to another kept him in the top league.

Just a look at his earlier hits like Bageya, Mama Mia and Nekolera Mali vis a vis his later releases as the years rolled on like Bomboclat, Sivyo Ndivyo, Going On, Bayuda and Nkwagala nyo among others. One cannot help but notice a difference in style. The later songs do not particularly reflect that old-style and traditional Chameleon that crept into people’s hearts with Afro Beat hits that were done in a style akin to Uganda’s own traditional Kidandali style of music.

Yet that alone cannot summarily explain why the Basiima Ogenze singer always stayed at the top of the game in the highly competitive industry. That is just half-the-story of the musician, most of whose songs are laden with strong and positive messages albeit being of great music quality.

No wonder that most of his music that has been churned out over the years and whose volume is over 10 albums largely contributed to the rejuvenation of Uganda music at the turn of the century.

The singer that came into the limelight with the success of Mama Mia has over the years scooped a number of music awards both local and international that are an evident attestation to the musical prowess of Jose Chameleon. Some of these awards include two accolades as Artiste of the Year at the Pearl of Africa Awards, A Kora Award, Kisiima Award and An MTV International Award. Is it right to say Chameleon is Uganda’s greatest new generation musicians?

By Zakaria Tiberindwa