In a recent interview, Ugandan musician Bebe Cool has denied claims that he was responsible for the arrest of Nigerian singers Tems and Omah Lay in 2020.

The artists were detained after attending a concert at Speke Resort in Kampala on December 12, despite COVID-19 regulations that limited large gatherings.

At the time, Tems accused Bebe Cool of being behind their arrest, a claim she made on social media after they were granted bail and released from prison.

However, Bebe Cool explained the situation on the Afrobeats podcast, stating he had no part in their arrest.

According to Bebe Cool, he was informed about the arrest by a friend early in the morning and immediately went to the police station.

There, he spoke to the police chief, questioning why the artists were arrested, as they were not responsible for the number of people attending the show.

Despite his concerns, the promoter of the event accused him of being involved in the arrests because of a previous dispute between Ugandan artists and the government over performance restrictions due to COVID-19.

Bebe Cool clarified that he worked hard to secure the release of Tems and Omah Lay, contrary to reports suggesting that Nigeria’s ambassador was involved in their release.

He explained that while the promoter of the concert was also arrested, he did not appeal for her release, which led to further tension.

Bebe Cool emphasized that his involvement was solely to ensure the artists’ freedom, not to cause any harm to them.