Afrobeats superstar Tems has opened up about why she has consistently turned down invitations to perform in Uganda since 2020, saying the country remains emotionally triggering due to her past arrest.
During an online fan engagement session, Tems addressed questions from Ugandan supporters who wondered why she has never returned, despite growing demand for her live performances.
Tems said her hesitation stems from a traumatic and unexpected experience in December 2020, when she and fellow Nigerian singer Omah Lay were arrested and detained while in Kampala.
The 2020 Arrest That Changed Everything
The two artists were arrested on December 13, 2020, after performing at a concert authorities later claimed violated COVID-19 public health rules. They were accused of “negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious disease,” despite insisting that the show’s organizers had secured all necessary permits.
Tems and her team were picked up from their hotel and taken to Kigo Prison, where she spent two nights behind bars before the charges were dropped on December 15.
The Grammy-winning artist has often described the ordeal as terrifying. She has recounted breaking down when handed a prison uniform and feeling confused and helpless as the situation escalated without warning.
Why Tems Still Declines Uganda Shows
Tems told fans that the emotional impact of that experience still lingers, influencing her reluctance to return.
She said the issue is not resentment toward Ugandans but the traumatic memory attached to the incident. Promoters have approached her several times over the past five years, but Tems says she needs time, healing, and stronger assurances of safety before she can consider performing in Uganda again.
