Spice Diana vs Abtex: “I Don’t Owe Her Money” Drama
A heated moment at the HipHop Ku Ntiko press conference has now escalated into a full-blown public dispute after promoter Abtex responded to Spice Diana’s on-stage demand for payment.
What started as a brief exchange in front of cameras has quickly turned into one of the most talked-about entertainment disagreements of the week.
And both sides are now digging in.
During yesterday’s high-profile press conference, Spice Diana unexpectedly shifted attention from the upcoming Feffe Bussi concert to her own business grievances.
In a moment that immediately caught the crowd off guard, the singer directly called out Abtex, demanding that he clears what she claimed was an outstanding payment.
“Pay me,” she repeatedly stated, drawing mixed reactions from attendees.
But Abtex is now firmly rejecting those claims.
Speaking after the event, the promoter insisted that he does not owe Spice Diana any money and that all financial matters linked to her performances were previously handled through her former manager, Manager Roger.
According to Abtex, he rarely dealt directly with artists, preferring instead to work through management structures to avoid misunderstandings.
“Since back then I have been working with Manager Roger, I don’t have personal contacts of some musicians like Spice Diana, Winnie Nwagi, Rema Namakula, Sheebah Karungi, Joshua Baraka,” he explained.
That statement alone has added a new layer to the dispute.
Because it suggests any financial misunderstanding, if it exists at all, would have occurred at management level rather than directly with the artist.
Abtex further stated that even when disagreements arose with Manager Roger, they were always resolved internally — implying there is no pending balance owed to Spice Diana.
But that’s not where his response ended.
Abtex has long been one of Uganda’s active music promoters, working with a wide range of artists across different genres and event platforms.
Spice Diana, on the other hand, remains one of the country’s most commercially successful female artists, regularly commanding large crowds and high-profile bookings.
Industry relationships between promoters and artists in Uganda are often complex, involving multiple layers of management, agents, and contractual agreements.
This structure frequently leads to misunderstandings, especially when communication breaks down between artists and intermediaries.
In this case, Abtex maintains that any financial concerns should be traced back to past management arrangements rather than current dealings.
However, Spice Diana’s public call-out suggests she believes otherwise — and that tension is what turned a press conference into a viral moment.
The moment Spice Diana told Abtex to “pay me” quickly became one of the standout clips from the HipHop Ku Ntiko press conference.
Videos of the exchange spread rapidly across TikTok, Facebook, and entertainment pages, with fans replaying the moment from multiple angles.
Within hours, the conversation had shifted from Feffe Bussi’s concert launch to the unexpected confrontation.
And yes — social media had a field day.
Some users praised Spice Diana for being bold enough to address financial concerns publicly, while others criticized the timing and setting of the complaint.
Meanwhile, Abtex’s response only fueled further debate as fans began dissecting who might be right based on past industry experiences.
Online reactions have been sharply divided.
A section of fans supported Spice Diana, arguing that artists often struggle with delayed or unclear payments and deserve transparency from promoters.
Others sided with Abtex, suggesting that public confrontations at press events are not the appropriate channel for resolving financial disputes.
Some industry observers also pointed out that disagreements between promoters and artists are not uncommon in Uganda’s entertainment ecosystem, where informal agreements can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
Meanwhile, speculation continues about whether Manager Roger may be central to resolving or clarifying the matter behind the scenes.
Still, neither side has provided detailed financial documentation publicly, leaving fans to interpret the situation based on statements alone.
Beyond the public back-and-forth, the situation highlights the pressure and complexity of Uganda’s live music economy.
For artists, performances are not just about exposure — they are a primary source of income.
For promoters, balancing budgets, sponsorships, and logistics often involves high financial risk and tight margins.
When communication breaks down between artists, managers, and promoters, misunderstandings can quickly escalate into public disputes.
And in today’s digital entertainment landscape, those disputes rarely stay private for long.
The biggest twist in this situation?
A concert press conference meant to celebrate Feffe Bussi’s upcoming show unexpectedly became the stage for a major industry financial dispute.
One thing’s certain — in Uganda’s entertainment scene, even a concert launch can turn into breaking news before the music even starts.