Top Ugandan musician arrested over theft of sh51m
A top Ugandan musician has been arrested over theft of sh51m. The multi-talented singer and songwriter, Priscilla Zawedde alias Azawi, was arrested in connection with theft of money amounting to 51 million from a city tycoon only identified as Amatosi.
Azawi was apprehended last Friday from Kabalaga together with Swangz Avenue Public Relations Manager Jaylor Birungi and the duo spent three days at Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka.
The pair was grilled over the withdrawal of sh51 million from Amatosi’s Standard Chartered Bank account through an ATM. The musician was later released on Tuesday at 9pm on Police bond.
The two celebrities were grilled by head of SIU Francis Olugu until a member of the First Family intervened for their release.
According to Azawi’s police statement, she explained how she landed in trouble and acknowledged withdrawing the money through an ATM at Shell Kibuye.
On October 14, Azawi through Jaylor Birungi landed on a gig to perform at a birthday party at Amare Palace in Nsambya.
Azawi told Police that she had agreed with the organizer a payment of sh5 million.
Shockingly while on stage performing, the tycoon Amatosi who turned to be the “birthday boy” started fondling Azawi, something that didn’t go down well with Jaylor who acted as her manager at the time.
Azawi narrated that after her performance Amatosi who had then ring-fenced her said he didn’t have cash but would pay later.
The singer and the tycoon descended to Kibuye Shell and Azawi explains, “the man said I withdraw as much money as I wanted.”
“I first withdrew sh5m which I had worked for. I then withdrew sh10 million for myself and more 8 million for my brother,” said Azawi.
She told police that she further withdrew a lot of money which totaled to 28 million and she gave it to Amatosi’s security team which had escorted her to the ATM.
The total cash was sh51 million.
Azawi, however, told police that Amatosi had not authorized her to give his bodyguards money, but they coerced her while holding guns.
Azawi doesn’t explain where the tycoon was at the time she was busy withdrawing money. The CEO of Swangz Avenue Julius Kyazze said, “our artist and her manager got into a misunderstanding with a client but has been fully resolved.”