Media personality and socialite Sheilah Gashumba has sparked debate within Uganda’s entertainment industry after claiming that Ugandan musicians may never secure a music collaboration with Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz due to poor branding and stage performance.
In a statement shared on her social media platforms, Gashumba praised Diamond Platnumz’s artistry, suggesting that no Ugandan artist currently matches his level of showmanship and branding.
“Looks like we will never get a Diamond Platnumz collaboration with a Ugandan artist!!! But it all goes back to BRANDING. I love Ugandan artists but none of them can put up a show like Diamond; from performance, style etc,”Gashumba stated.
She added that instead of competing with internationally successful acts, Ugandan musicians should focus on learning from them.
“Sometimes we have to accept some people are better than us and instead of fighting them, we can learn from them!!” she emphasized.
Her comments have since stirred a mix of reactions online, with some netizens agreeing with her sentiments, while others criticized her for allegedly undermining local talent.
The statement comes amid ongoing efforts by Ugandan musicians to penetrate regional and global music markets, often facing stiff competition from better-established East African counterparts, especially from Tanzania and Kenya.
Prominent Ugandan artists such as Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, and Eddy Kenzo have made regional strides, but none have officially released a collaborative track with Diamond Platnumz despite past public interactions.
