Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho, popularly known as Salim Saleh, has challenged singer King Saha over the message in his song Ekimala, disputing the lyrics about coffee allegedly stolen from their people.
Speaking during the launch of the coffee industry at Kapeka Industrial Park, Saleh said the situation had changed and insisted that the coffee had returned in larger quantities than before.
“When you listen to his song, he complains that there are individuals who stole their coffee. But I want to assure you that their coffee has returned in big amounts compared to before,” Saleh said.
“I want to assure him today that the coffee is back,” he added.
King Saha’s Ekimala laments the alleged theft of coffee, presenting the issue through music. Saleh, however, used the public event to dispute the song’s central message and offer a different account of the situation.
The general went a step further by encouraging those attending the launch to listen to the track, even asking the DJ to play it during the event.
He also called on the audience to support his group, bringing the song into a discussion that extended beyond entertainment to the coffee industry.
The exchange has drawn attention because King Saha is Saleh’s son-in-law, adding a family connection to their differing public positions on the issue raised in the song.
Saleh’s remarks put Ekimala back in the spotlight, with the disagreement highlighting how Ugandan music can intersect with public debates about ownership, resources and economic activity.
However, Saleh’s comments alone do not establish the full circumstances behind the alleged coffee theft referenced in the song. The available account does not provide further details about the specific incident or the quantities of coffee he says have returned.
King Saha’s response to his father-in-law’s remarks was not included in the source material.
For now, the debate centres on two contrasting messages: King Saha’s lament over alleged theft in Ekimala and Saleh’s insistence that the coffee has returned in even greater quantities.