“I Cried When They Gave Me Prison Uniform” – Tems Recount Being Jailed In Uganda [Video]

Nigerian singer, Tems has shared her harrowing experience that brought her to tears while spending two days in jail in Uganda.

KanyiDaily recalls that on December 12, 2020, Tems and her fellow Nigerian singer, Omah Lay performed at The Big Brunch concert in Kampala.

Following their performance, the two singers were arrested and charged to court by the Uganda police for flouting COVID-19 guidelines after lockdown.

Speaking during an interview with radio show host Angie Martinez, Tems explained that her arrest, along with Omah Lay and Donawon, was the result of a setup by a local artist who had promised to deal with them.

The singer said they didn’t exactly break any rules, stressing that the show organisers assured them that they had a permit to hold the concert and people were already going out because the covid restrictions had been lifted.

Tems revealed that after the show, she was having lunch with her manager in her hotel room when they were picked up by Ugandan police.

She stated that at first, she thought it was a prank, but after arriving at the prison and receiving her outfit, everything seemed far too real, and she started to cry.

The music star said that she spent two nights in prison and feared she might not be released because she had no communication with the outside world.

Tems described the challenging experience in the prison, expressing uncertainty about her condition, feeling a need to adapt and even offering hope to fellow inmates.

She said, “I thought I wasn’t gonna come out. I thought I was seeing it for a reason like maybe I was meant to help the people.

“I was settling in because I adapted real quick and as I was walking in I started to cry because they gave me my uniform and it stunk because they don’t wash it.

“It was a small room and there was nothing, there’s just the floor they give you blankets and tissues and you’re just on the floor, no bed and I did it for two days.

“I didn’t even know I was going to get out, I didn’t have any ears on the ground nobody told me anything. Outside everyone was like ‘free Tems, free Omah lay’ but inside I was just hopeful, waiting.”

Tems also highlighted the conditions in the prison, where she met women imprisoned for trivial reasons, including some whose husbands had locked them up.

She added that some of the women had their children with them in jail.

“Once I walked in everyone turned and looked at me and whispering and I was like ‘what have I done? I can’t cry’ and I just started winking, that was my way of adapting.

“I must show these people that I’m confident so I started being extra winking and saying hi and they were laughing, ” Tems said.

Watch the video below:

KanyiDaily recalls that Tems had called out Ugandan singer, Bebe Cool, accusing him of allegedly arresting her and Omah Lay in his country.