MC Kats regrets steering Fille Mutoni into secular music

• MC Kats regrets influencing Fille Mutoni to leave gospel music for secular music.

• He says her struggle with substance abuse has lasted over seven years despite multiple interventions.

• Kats criticizes UNMF and Eddy Kenzo, saying addiction recovery cannot be solved through short-term rehab.

Renowned television presenter and events host Edwin Katamba, popularly known as MC Kats, has publicly expressed deep regret over influencing singer Fille Mutoni to transition from gospel to secular music, saying he believes her life would have turned out better had she remained in gospel.

Speaking during an appearance on Kasuku’s Podcast, MC Kats revealed that he feels responsible for some of the struggles Fille has faced over the years, particularly her long and painful battle with substance abuse.

MC Kats explained that he first met Fille at Pastor Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Centre Cathedral, where she was actively involved in gospel music. He later encouraged her to cross over into secular music, a move that propelled her into stardom and made her one of Uganda’s most celebrated female musicians at the peak of her career.

He recalled that during her early days in the music industry, Fille was disciplined and lived a clean lifestyle.

 “She was a very pure soul. She didn’t drink alcohol, she didn’t use drugs. But after joining secular music, substance abuse slowly became a big part of her life, and that is something I regret deeply,” MC Kats said.

The media personality went on to share his understanding of drug addiction, noting that substance abuse alters the brain’s ability to experience happiness naturally. According to MC Kats, many people who abuse drugs feel temporary satisfaction from them because the substances suppress the body’s natural dopamine production.

He also spoke about the dangers associated with relapse after rehabilitation, explaining that some drugs used during treatment suppress addictive substances in the body. When a recovering addict relapses, the sudden intake can overwhelm the heart, which he says explains why many artists globally die shortly after leaving rehab.

MC Kats revealed that Fille Mutoni has been battling addiction for over seven years, describing it as a persistent problem that she has struggled to overcome despite numerous interventions.

He added that while secular music enabled him to improve the life of Fille’s family — including securing a house for her mother — he believes none of it compares to the value of living a stable, healthy life.

MC Kats also expressed disappointment with Eddy Kenzo and the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), who previously criticized him and claimed they had placed Fille in rehabilitation for three months. According to MC Kats, the issue is far deeper and cannot be resolved within such a short period.

He disclosed that at times he personally flew Fille out of Uganda in an effort to remove her from toxic environments and negative influences. He further explained that he once took her to the UNMF offices so she could interact with fellow musicians such as Sheebah, Lilian Mbabazi, Nina Roz, and others, believing that peer support could play a role in her healing.

MC Kats stressed that the situation is especially complicated because he shares a daughter with Fille, making the matter both personal and painful.

He concluded by acknowledging the harsh reality of addiction, saying that once someone is old enough to make their own choices, it becomes extremely difficult to force them into rehabilitation.