• Uganda’s socialite culture has birthed big spenders like Mike Ezra, SK Mbuga, and Bryan White.
  • Most vanished amid scandals, fraud, and jail time.
  • Their tales show how fast fortune fades in Kampala’s glittery nightlife.

Uganda has, over the years, seen a parade of socialites take over the streets of Kampala — splashing cash like it was nothing. Many of these figures had undocumented sources of wealth and rose to fame almost overnight. But as the saying goes, easy come, easy go. Their stories often start with glamour and end in scandal, jail, or complete disappearance.

Below are some of the most memorable faces who once painted Kampala with money — only to vanish without a trace.

1. Mike Ezra


Mike Ezra was among the pioneers of Kampala’s money-splashing culture in the early 2000s. Reports claimed he arrived in Uganda with over $300 million (about UGX 10 billion). He spent lavishly, terrorizing the city’s nightlife with his endless cash flow. However, after a brief reign, Ezra disappeared from the public eye. It’s said he now lives quietly in Kenya.

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2. Sipapa (Charles Olimu)


Sipapa became notorious for his flashy lifestyle and controversial reputation. Though he claimed to be a gold dealer, he was frequently linked to robberies and violent incidents. Known for changing cars like clothes, Sipapa’s glory days ended abruptly when he was imprisoned over theft-related charges.

3. SK Mbuga (Sulaiman Kabangala Mbuga)


SK Mbuga was another Kampala money magnet who enjoyed a meteoric rise. He even founded STV, a television station that later collapsed. His troubles began when he was arrested in Dubai over allegations of defrauding UGX 23 billion in a deal involving his wife, Angella Vivian Chebet, and her Swedish ex-boyfriend. Since his release, Mbuga has largely disappeared from the limelight.

4. Jack Pemba


Jack Pemba had Kampala on its knees during his glory days. He famously threw a grand birthday bash for his wife, Sheebah Kasami, flying in Congolese legend Koffi Olomide to perform. But the good days didn’t last — in 2021, Pemba was jailed over a UGX 2 billion debt, marking the fall of yet another flamboyant figure.

5. Bad Black (Shanitah Namuyimbwa)


The only woman on this list, Bad Black’s story is both infamous and iconic. She embezzled UGX 11 billion from her then-lover, British pensioner David Greenhalgh, and splurged it on luxury and nightlife. Unlike others who express regret, Bad Black remains unapologetic, once boasting that she “studied the art of stealing.”

6. Bryan White (Brian Kirumira)


Bryan White, a Ugandan-Italian socialite, rose to fame for handing out wads of cash to musicians and the public. His “Bryan White Foundation” became a sensation, but his empire crumbled amid accusations of sexual assault and illegal possession of vehicles. He later fled to Dubai, briefly resurfacing in Uganda — most recently in the news after a woman reportedly linked to him died under unclear circumstances at his Makindye home.

Kampala’s social scene has seen many such names rise, reign, and fall — some jailed, others vanished, and a few, like Ivan Ssemwanga, gone too soon. One thing remains certain: in Uganda’s socialite world, no king reigns forever.