TAKEAWAYS

• Media mogul Joel Isabirye slammed singer Dr Jose Chameleone’s claim that he was swindled out of Shs250 million for Leone Island TV.
• Isabirye denied receiving millions, stating the project stalled because Chameleone failed to provide proof of seed capital to regulators.
• The guru insisted the singer actually spent only Shs70 million on various startup costs like licensing, equipment, and rent.

Renowned media guru Joel Isabirye has come out to respond to singer Dr Jose Chameleone following allegations that he was conned out of Shs250 million in a deal to establish his television station, Leone Island TV.

It should be noted that earlier this week, the Leone Island boss, while appearing on Bruno K’s Ekibozi Bozi show on TikTok, revealed how he allegedly lost Shs250 million to a man he identified as Issa Abidye, who had promised to help him get his television station on air.

According to Chameleone, he was given a test signal from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), but when the test period elapsed, the station went off air. He further claimed that he pursued the matter through the Commercial Court, where the individual reportedly offered to compensate him with only Shs10 million.

However, in a statement dated November 10, 2026, Isabirye has disputed the allegations, insisting that no Shs250 million was received by any consultant and that the two never appeared before the Commercial Court over the matter.

Isabirye explained that Chameleone approached his team in 2020 to help establish a television station, and they handled the preparatory work until the process reached UCC. He said the project stalled because the singer failed to meet the regulator’s requirements, particularly providing proof of sufficient seed capital to start and operate a television station.

“The real reason Chameleone’s TV did not come on air is because he did not meet the requirements UCC asked him for, particularly the proof of seed capital,” Isabirye stated.

He further maintained that Chameleone spent no more than Shs70 million throughout the different stages of the project. These included Shs10 million for control room computers, Shs23 million in application and licensing fees to UCC, Shs12 million in consultancy fees, Shs17 million for rented encoder and decoder equipment, and Shs4 million for studio and office rent in Makindye.

Isabirye added that they have receipts and deposit slips documenting the payments, which were reportedly shared with Chameleone’s representative, Daniela Atim, through weekly reports.

He also challenged the singer to account for the Shs250 million, suggesting that if the money came from a government donation, he would need to demonstrate how it was spent.

Isabirye cited Justin Nameere’s television project, which he said his team also handled successfully, arguing that Chameleone’s project could similarly have taken off had the requirements been fulfilled.

The response now introduces a different account of what happened to the much-anticipated Leone Island TV project, with the two sides presenting conflicting versions of the financial arrangements and why the station never went on air.