John Blaq
Ugandan artistes John Kasadha alias John Blaq, together with George Williams Kigozi aka Geo Steady, Naira Ali, Kenneth Magabi and Fille Mutoni have been denied travel visas to the United States of America, where they were to perform in September.
The group was supposed to be performing at a convention in Chicago organized by Ugandans in North America under their umbrella body UNAA. According to our sources, the artistes were denied visas because they lacked the required permits to perform in the USA.
The latest we have gathered is that the association is trying all possible means to ensure the artistes appeal the visa rejection in time for the convention scheduled in Chicago from 30th August to September 3 or come up with replacements if everything fails.
Kenneth Mugabi
According to Kenneth Mugabi, he was contacted by UNAA organisers but they didn’t come to an understanding to go and perform in Chicago. “I wouldn’t want to tell you about what we disagreed about but what you have to know is that I backed off and I didn’t bother to go look for a Visa to Chicago, I will not talk for other artistes because I don’t know about them” Mugabi said. Our efforts to get in touch with John Blaq on the same matter were in vain as the singer didn’t answer his phone calls after several attempts.
After failing to get in touch with Singer Geosteady, his manager known as Denis Blackman said that the organisers of UNAA told them to wait as the situation is still being handled and so they are waiting for UNAA to get back to them.
Geosteady
The five artistes were part of a seven-star lineup that includes; Janzi band’s proprietor and director Ssewakiryanga alias Sewa Sewa, as well as a self-proclaimed Music Doctor and Kampala Lord Mayor hopeful Joseph Mayanja, commonly referred to as Jose Chameleone.
This is not the first time that the association is suffering such setbacks, last year, Eddie Yawe who had been invited for their convention in Seattle was denied a visa citing a previous case of overstay.
In 2017, the same group had singers; Radio and Weasel pull out of their convention in Miami on the last day citing conflicting programs.