I have quit alcohol and smoking, says Chameleone

_________________

After years of living life in the fast lane, legendary Ugandan singer Jose Chameleone has announced that he has quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

On his arrival at Kenyatta Airport, the pencil-thin singer was accosted by a group of journalists. Speaking to them, the Forever hitmaker revealed that he is embracing a fresh start.

“God has given me another chance, and so I am reborn,” he said, his tone firm and reflective. “Whatever I was doing is now in the past, and I have started a new life in this second round.”

“I’ve been flipping bottles and drinking myself that’s the truth,” Jose Chameleone admitted in a raw and emotional moment during a recent interview. “I’ve been a smoker all my life. But for the sake and the goodness of myself and my health, I put that aside. I don’t smoke anymore. I don’t drink anymore. That’s it.”

The celebrated artist, whose career has spanned over two decades, described this as a turning point in his life a moment of rebirth.

“This is the second round (second attempt at quitting),” he said. “And you must remember, I’m just three years away from 50, so I have to slow down.”

Chameleone also opened up about the motivation behind the thanksgiving service he held shortly after returning to Uganda. “People must know that I’m a God-fearing person. I’m a believer. I put God ahead of everything. Before the doctors did their job, God did His job.”

The singer recently returned home on April 12, 2025, following four months of intensive medical treatment in the United States. His health scare, which led to pancreatic surgery, was a sobering turning point.

The condition, linked to years of alcohol use, forced the music icon to confront the lifestyle choices that had once seemed inseparable from his stardom. Upon his arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Chameleone was greeted by fans in a jubilant welcome proof that his impact on Ugandan music and hearts remains untouched.

Just days after his return, he held a thanksgiving mass where he publicly committed to leaving behind the habits that nearly cost him his life.

Chameleone is in Kenya for routine medical check-ups.