Shs750 Million Pay for Diamond Platnumz? Not Possible in Uganda, Says Eddy Sendi

Several musicians have expressed their disappointment over how Ugandan artistes were treated during the Coffee Marathon and concert in Ntungamo, especially in comparison to Tanzanian star Diamond Platnumz.

The controversy started after reports alleged that Diamond was paid a staggering Shs750 million (approximately USD 205,827) for his performance.

In addition to the huge payout, the Tanzanian singer was flown into Uganda on a private jet and used helicopters for his movements around the country.

Meanwhile, Ugandan musicians reportedly received minimal pay and had to travel by road, a stark contrast that has sparked widespread outrage in the local entertainment industry.

As a result, many artistes and industry insiders feel that local talent is being unfairly undervalued.

However, not everyone is convinced by the figures being circulated.

Entertainment critic Eddy Sendi has dismissed the claim that Diamond was paid Shs750 million, arguing that such an amount would not make economic sense.

According to Sendi, no event organizer in Uganda can realistically afford to pay such a large sum for a single performance.

To support his argument, he referenced Diamond’s past appearance at the Kampala City Festival in 2017, stating that the artiste was paid $40,000 at the time.

Based on this, Sendi believes the amount Diamond received for his Ntungamo performance was likely within a similar range, perhaps slightly higher or lower.

Also read: Eddy Sendi Recommends Men Marry Women Who Are a Decade or Two Younger

He further explained that one reason Uganda has not hosted many international acts in recent years is due to the high booking fees involved.

Since revenue from gate collections is often limited, Sendi pointed out that organizers struggle to recover their costs or make any profit from such events.