DJ Nimrod has revisited one of the most talked-about incidents involving Ugandan entertainers during the COVID-19 lockdown, recalling the humiliating treatment he says he experienced while detained at Kitalya Prison in 2020.
The Galaxy FM presenter, whose full name is Nimrod Nabeeta, was arrested alongside singer Maddox Sematimba after authorities reportedly found them and other people partying at 911 Lounge along Salaama Road beyond curfew hours. Their arrest came during a period when Uganda had strict COVID-19 restrictions intended to limit the spread of the virus.
The two entertainers were accused of violating the restrictions and were subsequently arraigned in court before being remanded to Kitalya Prison. The incident attracted widespread attention because it involved recognisable figures from Uganda’s entertainment industry at a time when nightlife and public gatherings were heavily restricted.
Recalling his time behind bars, Nimrod described a prison procedure that involved stripping and performing frog jumps over a considerable distance.
“There is a part where you strip naked. You strip naked and do frog jumps, the distance of half a football pitch and back,” he recounted.
The presenter added that his celebrity status appeared to offer him some consideration during the search.
“The advantage of being a celebrity is that I was left in a boxer after being searched,” he said.
Nimrod’s account offers a glimpse into his experience of detention, although the details of the procedure are based on his recollection.
The detention did not last long. According to the supplied account, Nimrod, Maddox and the others spent approximately a week in prison before being released and ordered to perform community service for two weeks.
The incident also reportedly affected fellow Galaxy FM presenter Detacha Sakalaman, who lost his signature dreadlocks after they were cut off while he was in custody.
The arrests took place during a particularly disruptive period for Uganda’s entertainment sector, as curfews and restrictions on gatherings affected musicians, DJs, nightlife businesses and other industry workers.
For Nimrod and Maddox, the incident became an unusual chapter in their public lives, linking their names to the enforcement of pandemic-era rules. Years later, Nimrod’s account of the prison experience continues to draw attention to the consequences entertainers faced when authorities enforced the restrictions.