Jose Chameleone has denied allegations that he faked a bank transaction receipt showing a reported $800,000 payment, insisting that the money was sent by his longtime friend Fred Zink in connection with a Trace TV sponsorship.
The Leone Island singer addressed the controversy during a live broadcast after a screenshot he shared on WhatsApp sparked debate over the authenticity of the transaction.
The screenshot showed a conversation between Chameleone and Zink, who reportedly sent an image of a bank transaction through JPMorgan Bank and asked the singer to confirm whether the money had reached his account.
Chameleone responded by acknowledging receipt of the funds and thanking his friend. However, the screenshot quickly attracted scrutiny, with some social media users questioning whether the transaction document was genuine.
Some critics reportedly examined details of the image, arguing that certain elements appeared to have been altered. The allegations prompted Chameleone to publicly defend himself.
During his live broadcast, the singer expressed anger over the accusations and maintained that he had received the money.
“People saying I faked the receipt of the money I received, just give me your name so I give you money. Fred sent me that money from Trace Sponsorship. I do not fake life. If you fake your lives from looks to everything, I do not,” Chameleone said.
His explanation identifies Zink as the person who sent the money and Trace TV sponsorship as the stated source of the funds. However, the transaction’s authenticity and the precise terms of the reported sponsorship have not been independently established by the information available.
The controversy has also drawn criticism over Chameleone’s response to those questioning the screenshot.
On October 27, 2026, Patrick Ssentongo criticised the singer’s increasingly confrontational public outbursts in a post on X, arguing that he could express disagreement without resorting to vulgar language.
“Uganda’s arguably No. 1 music artiste needs to stop the vulgarity in his increasingly rant-filled outbursts! He can express his disagreements with anyone without resorting to vulgar language. It reflects very badly on him. Very badly!” Ssentongo wrote.
The debate has therefore extended beyond the reported $800,000 payment, with attention also turning to how the singer has handled the criticism.
For now, Chameleone stands by his account, attributing the reported funds to a Trace TV sponsorship facilitated by Fred Zink. The questions raised about the screenshot, however, remain unresolved based on the information provided.