Ykee Benda has pulled back the curtain on one of the darkest chapters of his life, an emotional spiral triggered by a bitter custody battle that left him battling chronic stress, depression, and near collapse.
Behind the hit songs and confident persona, the Mpaka Records boss was quietly falling apart.
Ykee’s relationship with his ex-partner, Julie Batenga, once carried the promise of forever. The two shared several years together and welcomed their son, Tugume Dante. Firm in his belief in building a family with one woman, the singer even took the culturally significant step of a kukyala, formally visiting Julie’s parents as a sign of commitment.
But what began as a love story slowly unraveled. Their split was far from amicable, and two years later, unresolved tensions boiled over into a custody battle that would push Ykee into what he now describes as “the saddest moments” of his life.
The situation worsened when Julie allegedly left the country with their son without informing him, a move that shattered him emotionally.
Once full of life, Ykee found himself consumed by grief. He cried for months, unable to process the sudden absence of his son. His physical health mirrored his emotional turmoil; rapid weight gain, chronic exhaustion, and severe insomnia became his new normal. For nearly a year, restful sleep was a stranger.
Faced with the stark warning that his stress levels could cost him his life, reality hit hard. Acceptance, something he had resisted, became the first step toward healing. It wasn’t immediate, and it wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
By January 2025, Ykee began the slow, deliberate journey of reclaiming himself. Fifteen months later, he says he finally feels alive again.
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