Former Radio & Weasel talent manager Chagga Geoffrey has claimed that late Ugandan music star Mowzey Radio was Burundian, citing what he described as his close knowledge of the singer’s family and a dispute over cultural burial rituals following his death.
Chagga made the allegation during a YouTube podcast, reflecting on his relationship with the late Goodlyfe singer and his role in helping develop Radio’s music career. However, he did not provide independent evidence to substantiate his claim about the singer’s nationality.
According to Chagga, his familiarity with Radio’s family extended beyond their professional relationship. He said disagreements emerged after the singer’s death because some relatives allegedly did not know how to perform the cultural rituals he associated with the family’s Burundian heritage.
“I was Radio’s manager, and I am the one who introduced him to you in showbiz. I trained him myself. I know his family in detail, and I know the dispute they had after his death because they didn’t know how to perform the Burundian cultural rituals,” Chagga said.
He also alleged that Radio’s sister, whom he described as Burundian, was involved in disagreements over how the singer’s body should be handled according to their cultural traditions.
Chagga further claimed that relatives from Jinja, where Radio grew up, had their own expectations about the burial arrangements and associated customs. His account points to a reported disagreement over cultural practices, although the podcast remarks provided no independent confirmation of the dispute or the family’s background.
The nationality claim is therefore Chagga’s allegation, rather than an independently established fact. Further evidence or a response from Radio’s relatives would be needed to clarify the matter.
Beyond the claims about Radio’s family, Chagga also reflected on how his relationship with the singer changed over time. While expressing pride in his contribution to Radio’s rise in the music industry, he acknowledged that their relationship eventually became difficult.
“I’m glad I made him a star, but it reached a time when Mowzey had become a problem to me. He became a weapon against me,” Chagga said.
Mowzey Radio, whose real name was Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo, rose to prominence as one half of Radio & Weasel, one of Uganda’s best-known music duos. His partnership with Weasel produced a string of popular songs that helped establish the pair as major figures in Ugandan music.
Radio died on February 1, 2018, after sustaining head injuries during an altercation at a bar in Entebbe.
Years after his death, Chagga’s comments have brought fresh attention to the singer’s family background and the reported disagreements surrounding his burial. However, his assertion that Radio was Burundian remains unverified by the information presented in the podcast account.