Veteran actor and director John Segawa is not happy with the way many Ugandan concerts are being organized lately. He says most of them are “half-baked” and don’t give fans value for their money.
Speaking out strongly, Segawa said some musicians are now putting on shows just to make money but give very poor performances.
“We want real music. Where can we report artists who bring shoddy shows? Many fans are being scammed with half-cooked performances,” he said.
Segawa also pointed fingers at Halima Namakula, who recently held a concert at Serena Hotel on July 26, 2025, celebrating 50 years in the arts and 25 years as a philanthropist.
But according to Segawa, Halima’s background is more in acting than music, and he thinks she should have celebrated her journey in acting instead of calling it a music celebration.
“What was Mama Halima really celebrating? She’s not a musician. She started in Black Pearls as an actress, then went abroad. If anything, she should be celebrating her acting journey, not music,” Segawa added.
He didn’t stop there. Segawa said Halima’s music is more like nursery rhymes for kids and called her a “studio artist” – someone who only sounds good in the studio but can’t perform well live on stage.
“She’s not a real stage performer. She depends on studio recordings. That’s not the kind of music we need,” he said.
Segawa’s comments have sparked mixed reactions. Some people agree with him and believe Ugandan concerts need to improve, while others say he was too harsh.
