Police to crackdown on violent musician-led gangs

Police yesterday announced a massive crackdown on the rising violent gangs created and run by music artistes that have left innocent bystanders caught in the crosshairs.

Police were moved to start a thorough investigation, which they say will result in numerous arrests after two Kampala-based musicians—Pius Mayanja, alias Pallaso, and Patrick Mulwana, alias Alien Skin, —got embroiled in a scuffle that occupied two straight days.

“There is a trend we have observed among musicians where they have developed gangs commonly known as Bigaali where they move in large gangs in entertainment shows and public events. They have turned almost into roving bands, beating each other, damaging property, disrupting public order,” police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke told Monitor last evening.

He added: “As police we wish to send a warning that we are going to round up all these groups and call them to account for their actions. Actually, as we speak, we have already commenced an investigation into their action and shall start picking one by one.”

The two artistes, for whom there has always been no love lost, resurrected their war on December 31 in two different locations as the country was ringing in the new year. At this year's famous annual Enkuuka festival hosted by the king of Buganda at the Lubiri Palace in Mengo on December 31, Alien Skin reportedly came with his Fangone Forest Gang. It is alleged that the rogue elements caused havoc, beating up revellers who were enjoying performances from different artistes.

NTV Uganda, our sister TV station, reported that Alien Skin’s gang members upon arrival reportedly wanted their artiste to head to the stage straightaway. When the festival organisers declined, this prompted the gang to reportedly start a scuffle.

A yet-to-be unspecified number of people were injured while others lost their properties like phones.

Standoff with Pallaso

After performing at the Enkuuka festival, Alien Skin headed to the Empele festival that had been organised by fellow artiste Herbert Kityamuwesi, alias Crysto Panda, at Buloba Forest Park.

It is here that Alien Skin reportedly found Pallaso performing. “I think Pallaso learnt about it and started performing freestyle where he used words which attacked Alien Skin, which annoyed the latter’s friends, who attacked him on stage,” Mr Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, said yesterday.

He added: “I think this annoyed Pallaso, who today at 3am, attacked the home of Alien Skin in Makindye and he beat up people there and went away.

Today (yesterday) morning again, they attacked people and managed to access the compound and destroyed two vehicles parked at the compound and the windows of the house. Police in Katwe were notified and when they saw it, they took off and Allen Skin was advised to open up a case in which he did register a case of malicious damage and aggravated robbery there are certain things of theirs that was robbed.”

Upon attacking his colleague, Pallaso reportedly flew out of the country to a yet-to-be identified destination.

Repercussions

Mr Kituuma said none of the violence causers will go unpunished and declared a war that will end the rising gangs once and for all. “We want to send a standing warning that you cannot turn public life upside down and deny other people an opportunity and a right to peacefully enjoy entertainment spaces. So it’s a warning.

As we were entering January 1, we registered similar tendencies in a number of entertainment places where these fellows were moving with gangs and created a very tumultuous situation that as police we shall not tolerate,” he said. Mr Balaam Barugahara, the Youth and Children Affairs minister, described the incidents as “unfortunate” and asked security forces to leave no stone unturned and arrest everyone involved.

“Why should we promote or associate with gangs? The end to gang violence is the Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Director of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) swinging in action and cracking down on them. They should dismantle these gangs,” he said.

Mr Barugahara, a popular events organiser, said his Balaam agency will not book any of the two artistes for the next six months because of their indiscipline. “After receiving calls from five victims who were affected by the Lubiri fracas, including one whose eye was damaged, lost a phone, has chest pain, we have asked police to investigate and put these people to book,” he said.

Genesis of clash

Bad blood between the two artistes developed last May 2024 when Pallaso beat up Alien Skin. The incident took place ahead of the former’s highly advertised Neyanziza concert at Lugogo Cricket Oval. Upon receiving public sympathy following this incident, Alien Skin also announced his first mega show at Freedom City that happened the same day as that of Pallaso. Alien Skin stole a march on Pallaso by pulling a bigger crowd. Since then, the two have been sworn enemies.

Mr Barugahara yesterday said it would be fine to have such gangs if the artistes only use them at their homes and respect the public. The youth minister said it was disheartening that the two archrivals and a few others are engaging in wars that have left innocent bystanders licking their wounds.

The minister also denied claims that Alien Skin is being backed by the government to cause havoc, especially against the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party led by legendary artiste Robert Kyagulanyi ahead of 2026 polls. “The government does not sponsor criminality because the same government arrested him a few days ago. We cannot support a criminal […] Alien skin signed the pact with [former Leader of Opposition Mathias] Mpuuga so he belongs to Democratic Alliance not NRM. Nobody should pretend under NRM that he supports the government in power, everyone should answer because nobody is above the law,” he said.

A few days after signing a pact with Mathias Mpuuga’s Democratic Alliance last month, Alien Skin reportedly led a gang to the NUP headquarters in Kavule. Cameras captured the gang members creating havoc. Mr Kituuma said police will not sit down and see the country go into the hands of rowdy gangs, terrorising residents in the name of music.

On the duo’s fight, Mr Onyango said, “We are going to investigate and look for the culprits, arrest them and charge them with the offence of malicious damage and aggravated robbery. But at the moment, there is no suspect in our custody. We appeal to the artistes that no one is above the law, so when your friend annoys you, come and report them, otherwise if you act in anger and attack them, we shall come for you without fear or favour,” he said.