Jose Chameleone has opened up about one of the biggest financial setbacks of his career, saying a failed attempt to launch his own television station left him more than UGX 200 million out of pocket.
Speaking on NBS After 5, the music legend recalled investing in Leone Island TV, only to discover that the television license he had paid for was not genuine.
I started Leone Island TV, but I was conned. Someone sold me what turned out to be only a test signal instead of an actual TV license, and I lost over UGX 200 million. I chose to walk away because I still value my life.
Leone Island TV was not the only business venture that failed to go as planned.
Chameleone said he also ventured into the mobile phone business through Chameleone Mobile, but mounting challenges eventually forced him to walk away.
I started Chameleone Mobile, but some people never wanted to see me succeed. I eventually had to sell off the phones to markets in South Sudan and other places and step away from the business.
Even with those setbacks, Chameleone insists he has no plans to stop investing outside music.
He says Chameleone Radio continues to operate in Burundi as his way of giving back to a country he credits with helping launch his music career.
He is also preparing to introduce Chameleone Moto (motorbikes) and the first edition of Chameleone Magazine, signalling that his entrepreneurial journey is far from over.
I started Chameleone Mobile, but some people never wanted to see me succeed. I eventually had to sell off the phones to markets in South Sudan and other places and step away from the business.
I started Leone Island TV, but I was conned. Someone sold me what turned out to be… pic.twitter.com/RV5goGcCow
— Douglas Lwanga (@DouglasLwangaUg) July 1, 2026