Veteran Ugandan singer Jamal Wasswa, popularly known as Omusomesa, has come out to explain why he rarely shows up to support fellow artists at their concerts.

Speaking during an interview with Sanyuka TV, the Abakyala Bazira hitmaker clarified that he doesn’t attend shows unless he’s been formally invited. His reason? To avoid the embarrassment of being turned away at the entrance.

“I don’t go if I haven’t been invited. I don’t want to be bounced. Sometimes, someone has to personally reach out to you. I can’t just show up on my own,” Jamal said.

He added that while he has received invitations from some artists, he couldn’t always honor them due to personal commitments—especially when the shows coincided with his other gigs outside Kampala. However, he made it clear that when available, he does attend. For example, he has previously honored invites from singer Aziz Azion.

“I can’t name all the artists who invited me but I didn’t show up—that would be disrespectful. But the truth is, I had shows elsewhere and couldn’t make it. I always go where I’m invited,” he emphasized.

Jamal’s Musical Hiatus: A Result of Bad Management

Once a household name in the early 2000s, Jamal Wasswa was known for soulful ballads that helped mend many broken hearts. However, he gradually faded from the limelight. In earlier interviews, Jamal attributed his absence from the scene to poor management.

Despite consistently releasing quality music, he revealed that he wasn’t earning what he deserved, leading him to take a break from the industry to focus on more sustainable ventures.