Producer Didi collapses, seven-year-old daughter rings Coco Finger for help

On Monday evening, May 27, veteran singer Coco Finger's phone rang. The number was that of his buddy, Producer Didi, real name Abdul Karim Muchwa, the once famed music producer who thrust him into the limelight with the hit, My Miss.

However, when Coco expected to hear the familiar voice of his friend, it was the distress call of his seven-year-old daughter on the other end. Her father had collapsed and she had been able to recognise Coco's name from his phone book, which she called.

Coco quickly rushed to Producer Didi's home in Nateete, a city suburb, on May 27, and took him to St. Andrew's Hospital, a private hospital in the area.

At the hospital, it was discovered that the producer's blood pressure had spiked.

By Tuesday, May 28,  Producer Didi was in better form and could talk.  

In an interview with Bukedde TV’s Vibe Mix show, which airs Monday to Friday from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, Didi revealed that he has had hypertension for a year coupled with stomach ulcers. 

“I often don’t complete treatment due to lack of funds. I have also been overworking while sick, but still, I have no money. I do not know how I will manage the hospital bills. I have not been working for quite long time due to sickness," he said.

Didi revealed that he always self-medicates, against doctor's orders, to ease the pain since he cannot afford the expensive treatment.

A few of his colleagues collected money among themselves and cleared the hospital bill.

However, by 3:00pm on Tuesday, May 28, he had been transferred to Saidina Hospital in Bakuli, a city suburb, for further management of his condition. 

Didi is in need of financial assistance to foot the medical bills and also feed himself while he undergoes treatment.

What Coco Finger says
"I appreciate Didi for what he has contributed to my career. My life was changed from the day I worked with him because he produced for me a breakthrough song, which made me a lot of money. I will always support him any time he needs me. I have also always stood with him and supported him wherever possible. I plan to give him more projects when gets better so that he can make money. I will not get tired of helping Didi," Coco Finger said.

Apart from Coco Finger, Didi made breakthrough songs for big artistes such as Eddy Kenzo (Stamina).

However, since 2013, Producer Didi has suffered with mental health challenges after a sharp decline in business, where the artistes now prefer to use other producers.

On his part, Kenzo, also the president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), noted that he has tried his level best to help Didi financially or otherwise and he had reached his wits end, instead now calling for collective efforts.

"I have tried my best to raise what I can manage to help with  Producer Didi’s situation in which he was seen struggling to make ends meet. Producer Didi recently appeared in an interview requesting to be helped. Didi’s challenge is beyond monetary terms. I have helped Didi on several occasions and I seem to have run out of ideas about how to help him.  I call upon concerned stakeholders and Ugandan music lovers to help Didi collectively in order for him to find his footing and return to his normal self because he is a big asset in our industry who we cannot afford to lose," Kenzo said.

What Producer Washington, assistant chairperson of Uganda Producers Association, says 
“I also sufferd mental health stress at some point, but overcame it. Didi is going through something similar, caused by poor financial challenges," he said.

Washington pledged to stand by Didi until he gets better.

He also advised producers who are battling mental health challenges to come forth and be helped.

"If you are going through mental stress, come out and we help you. Do not pretend to be well because we shall lose you. Under our association, we shall get medical  insurance which will be of great importance in such situations where a such producer does not have the financial means to seek help," Washington said.