Nigerian singer Tems Baby reveals why she avoids Uganda at all costs

• Tems responded to a fan by posting a courtroom photo from her 2020 arrest in Uganda.

• She and Omah Lay were detained for performing during COVID-19 restrictions, sparking international controversy.

• Tems has since avoided Uganda completely, despite performing in other East African countries.

Famous Nigerian singer Tems Baby has come out to reveal why she has never performed in Uganda since her dramatic arrest in 2020.

A fan on X (formerly Twitter) asked the Love Me Jeje star why she has avoided performing in the East African country for years. Tems responded without a single word—posting a photo of herself in handcuffs inside a Ugandan courtroom.

The picture needed no explanation. In December 2020, Tems and fellow Nigerian singer Omah Lay were arrested in Kampala after performing at an event during a period when Uganda had strict COVID-19 restrictions and a ban on concerts. Despite being booked legitimately, the show violated pandemic directives, leading to their detention and eventual remand to Kitalya Prison.

The incident sparked a heated online clash between Ugandans and Nigerians, with musicians, fans, and even politicians weighing in. Tems later described the experience as humiliating, and since then she has maintained a clear distance from Uganda.

While she has performed in Kenya, Rwanda, and several other countries across the region, Tems has never returned to Uganda or hinted at any plans to do so.

Since the ordeal, Tems has risen to global superstardom, becoming one of Africa’s most influential musical exports—winning a Grammy, securing Oscar nominations, and collaborating with the world’s biggest artists.

Her subtle response on X signals that the 2020 incident still leaves a sour memory. Whether she will ever reconsider performing in Uganda remains uncertain.