Ugandan prison was amazing for me – Omah Lay

On January 25, 2024, 12:11 PM

Afrobeats sensation Omah Lay has reflected on his time in Ugandan prison, labelling it an “amazing time”.

Omah Lay, along with Tems, faced legal consequences for performing at a concert in Speke Resort, Kampala, violating COVID-19 social distancing regulations at the height of the pandemic.

In the interview, Omah Lay shared that despite the initial rough appearance of the situation, he now sees it as a crucial experience that propelled him to the next level in his musical career.

He reveals, “my ordeal in Ugandan prison was an amazing time for me. Although it was rough at the moment, looking back at the whole thing, it had to happen.”

Omah Lay emphasises the positive outcome, stating that the incident fostered the strong bond he shares with Tems and her manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, who happened to be in the same cell.

Recalling the events leading to their arrest, he explains, “we were in Uganda for a show during the pandemic. We had paperwork to perform, but for some reason, we got arrested after performing. And we were sent to jail. We were in jail for two days.”

Describing the ordeal as “a very horrible experience,” Omah Lay expresses gratitude to a prison official who was a fan of his music.

This connection led to them receiving special treatment in jail, sparing him from having his hair cut and providing a more comfortable stay.

Omah Lay concludes, “they were going to cut my hair, I wore a prison uniform. They were so close to cutting my hair, but the person who was in charge of the prison was a fan of my music. He got us a nice spot in jail and took care of us.”