Chaka Chaka home ‘after deportation’

YVONNE Chaka Chaka is back in South Africa following her alleged deportation from Uganda, which the singer has denied.

Chaka Chaka was scheduled to perform at an event in Uganda on New Year’s Eve. However, reports from Uganda suggest she angered authorities when she appeared to endorse opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a musician popularly known as Bobi Wine.

At an appearance honouring Wine, Chaka Chaka encouraged him to continue his fight for political freedom in the country.

“It is time for young people to take over,” she said.

She told Wine she and her son “looked up to him”, and that he was a hero to young people. “We’ve got our hope in you,” Chaka Chaka said.

Pop star Wine has become the leading opposition figure to veteran President Yoweri Museveni ahead of the 2021 elections.

Wine has endured a string of arrests, seen as a bid to silence him.

While the Ugandan government insists that Chaka Chaka was deported for not having proper travel documents, she claims she left the country voluntarily.

“I took a decision not to appear at the concert because there were too many things I couldn’t understand and explain. Everything is fine and in order,” she said.

Yesterday afternoon, Chaka Chaka was allegedly escorted to Entebbe International Airport by the police and a team from the immigration department after she was detained at Kampala’s Pearl of Africa Hotel. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga tweeted that she was deported for not having the necessary visa to perform.

He said he was hopeful Chaka Chaka would apply for the required visa, and again perform in the country.