If anyone thinks I’m a robber, go to court- socialite Sipapa

Kampala music promoter and socialite Charles Olim is popularly known to many as Sipapa has advised those accusing him of being a criminal to go to court and provide evidence against him if they have any.

Shortly after President Museveni on October 31 met Sipapa at State House, Entebbe, social media has been awash with photos of him handcuffed on a hospital bed with allegations that he’s a former robber.

Photos of a beat-up Sipapa seen handcuffed by his hospital bed first emerged on social media in April 2017

Events promoter Andrew Mukasa alias Bajjo and Abbey Musinguzi alias Abitex have also accused Sipapa of orchestrating attacks on them by hooligans armed with machetes.

Bajjo told journalists in Kampala last Wednesday that he survived an attack by armed hooligans orchestrated by Sipapa at Makindye, a Kampala suburb.

However, Sipapa refuted all their allegations and reports on social media that he was a criminal.

Sipapa (C) at Kampala Central Police Station after his arrest. COURTESY PHOTO/FILE

“I came to Kampala look for money and God blessed me with it. Some of my haters have accused me of breaking into people’s homes to steal TV sets which I find absurd and ironical. How can I be involved in pet theft yet I drive Shs400 million Range rover! I don’t owe anyone money. If there’s anyone who says I owe them money, he should come forward. I know the people trying to fight me. It is true I was sick when those pictures were taken. Someone told an officer to handcuff me on the hospital as they took pictures. I know the person although I won’t mention his name. It happened long ago,” he told Spark TV.

However, a trail of criminal allegations follows Sipapa who started out as a casual labourer in Makindye, a Kampala suburb after leaving Mbale, eastern Uganda as a young man.

Sipapa was arrested for domestic violence in May 2018 after he allegedly beat one of his girlfriends, Brown Sugar, a local musician. His other girlfriend is local musician Serena Bata.

Brown Shuga showing her bruised body in May 2018. Right is Sipapa

In September, the same year, he was detained at Kira Police Station over assaulting a journalist who was recording him as he was being evicted from his house over failure to pay rent.

It is also alleged that Sipapa was shot trying to break into a home in Kololo. It is claimed that the burglary incident was not the first time he was involved in the act as musician Jose Chameleon accused him of terrorizing Prince Charles Avenue in Kololo.

In 2016, he was reportedly on Interpol’s wanted list for allegedly stealing cars from the UK and reselling them around East Africa.

Sipapa is just one the many socialites president Museveni has met recently as he strategizes for 2021 presidential elections which some analysts attribute to pressure from his biggest critic Kyando East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

Charles Sipapa (L) of Sipapa Global Entertainments-and his colleague Trevor Ssentongo (R) share a light moment with President Museveni at State House Entebbe on Wednesday Oct 30, 2019. PPU Photo

The others include Jennifer Nakanguubi a.k.a Full Figure, musicians Edirisa Musuza alias Eddie Kenzo, Catherine Kusasira who was appointed presidential advisor on Kampala affairs and Mark Bugembe alias Buchaman who was appointed presidential envoy on ghetto affairs, among others.