Jemima Locheng was battling a bout of malaria when her mobile phone trilled. The number was unknown, but she answered it anyway. The voice on the other end was unmistakable—deep, composed, and iconic. It was Bebe Cool.
“I froze. I thought I was dreaming,” she recalls, her voice still filled with disbelief days later. “I kept thinking, is this really happening?”
At just 25, Jemima had no idea that her deep love for Ugandan music—and a few TikTok videos she created out of pure passion—would earn her a personal call from one of the country’s most celebrated artists.
What followed was more than just a meeting. It was a full-circle moment for a girl from Karamoja who had always believed in the power of Ugandan talent.
Born in the north-eastern region of Karamoja, Jemima is proudly Karamojong, a part of her identity she carries with pride and confidence. Her educational journey took her from Hormisdallen Primary School in Kamwokya to Seroma Christian High School, and then to Makerere University Business School, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business.
Yet, her true heartbeat lies beyond academic achievements.
“I’ve always loved music. It connects to something deep inside me,” she says. “I listen to it when I’m happy, sad, thinking… or even when I just want to dance.”
But Jemima doesn’t just enjoy music. She lives it. And when Bebe Cool released his 16-track album Break the Chains on May 29, she didn’t wait for a PR brief, a gig, or even recognition. She simply did what came naturally—she started promoting the songs on TikTok.
She took it in song by song, lyric by lyric — using her TikTok account to breathe life into the album.
Over several days, Jemima posted videos of herself miming to different tracks, adding commentary, and even explaining the meanings behind some of the songs.
With each video, Jemima would lip-sync lyrics, interpret the meaning behind the tracks, and express her love for the artistry.
“It wasn’t a job,” she clarifies. “I wasn’t paid. I just wanted people to hear how good the album is.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Her followers grew. Comments poured in, with many people saying her content made them appreciate the album in a new light.
“People were like, ‘You’re actually making us fall in love with these songs!’ That was everything to me,” she says.
Her delivery, fun but sharp, heartfelt, and infectious, got the attention of many on social media.
So did Bebe Cool.
As her posts gained traction, word began to spread. Soon, Bebe Cool’s team was watching. His manager reached out, thanking her for the genuine effort to promote the album.
Then came the message from the legend himself.
“I was lying in bed that day, still weak from [a bout of] malaria, when the phone rang,” Jemima says.
She had responded as usual but the voice at the other end was not the usual. She sat up as she tried to confirm she was really speaking to Bebe Cool.
"And he laughed and said, 'Yes, it’s Babe Cool. How are you doing? What do you do?'"
“I almost had a panic attack.”
They spoke briefly—two minutes, maybe less—but the impact was immediate. Plans were made for a Thursday lunch, and Bebe Cool insisted on picking her up personally.
“He came in a convoy of three cars. I thought he’d say, ‘Meet me here.’ But no, he came to me. That level of humility for a celebrity like Bebe Cool? I was shocked,” Jemima shares, still visibly in awe.
With her best friend Bridget by her side - she says she is her lucky charm -, Jemima stepped into Bebe Cool's bulletproof car, the singer holding the door for her in unmistakeable chivalry.
“It was surreal,” she says. “I’d never even imagined being in one.”
The lunch was more than a meal—it was a vibe. Zuena, Bebe Cool’s wife, joined the table. The artist’s entire team was present. They talked music, Africa, and creativity.
“He asked who my favourite African artists were. We had a real conversation,” Jemima says. “It wasn’t just smiles for the camera.”
At the end of the lunch, Bebe Cool gave her a gift and some money—not as payment, but as a gesture of appreciation. Then, his driver dropped her and Bridget back home.
Reflecting on the moment, Jemima smiles. “I felt seen. Valued. For just being myself and doing what I love.”
Jemima’s journey is symbolic of a deeper cultural shift in Uganda’s music landscape. Break the Chains is not just another album. It’s a bold, ambitious body of work that has dominated local charts since release, with all 16 tracks charting on Apple Music Uganda within days.
From high-energy bangers like “Games” featuring DJ Edu to reflective pieces like “Home,” the album explores a wide emotional and sonic range.
The standout track “Cheque,” featuring Joshua Baraka, soared to No. 11 on the charts within 24 hours of the release, while “Boy Like Me” and “African Love” are making waves with their rhythmic diversity and lyrical strength.
Jemima’s personal favourite is “African Love.”
“I’m a patriotic African. That song just speaks to me. It celebrates who we are and what we stand for,” she says. “But Home is also so powerful. The lyrics are emotional, talking about second chances and making things right. It makes you think.”
In a time when many Ugandan hits tend to lean toward shallow lyrics and fleeting dance trends, Break the Chains is a reminder that music can be both enjoyable and meaningful.
“We’ve been used to songs that you enjoy today and forget tomorrow,” Jemima says. “But this album? These are songs you can love forever.”
Her conviction reflects something Bebe Cool himself has spoken about often—that Ugandans must start appreciating their own artists more actively.
Jemima took that idea and ran with it, organically pushing Break the Chains with zero expectations in return.
Her story has since resonated with many and her 42,000 fans on TikTok. In a digital world where clout often overshadows talent, Jemima’s rise feels pure and refreshing. She didn’t chase fame—she just showed love. And that love was returned in full.
As for Bebe Cool, Jemima describes him as “deeply caring,” the kind of person who notices what others miss.
“He loves to give. He wants to know if you’re okay. He’ll have a conversation with you and really listen. You can tell he genuinely wants people to do well,” she reflects.
“He told me that the way I was feeling about meeting him was the same way he felt when he met the President. That humbled me even more.”
Today, Jemima continues to share music on TikTok, though nothing may top the surreal experience of that Thursday lunch.
Still, she believes the moment is just the beginning of something greater—not just for her, but for how Ugandans celebrate and promote their own.
“I want people to see this and know that it’s okay to support what you love. You don’t need a contract. You don’t need permission,” she says. “You just need passion.”
From her small TikTok videos to sitting across the table from a music giant, Jemima Locheng’s journey is a reminder that authenticity, when paired with purpose, can create magic.
And sometimes, even when you’re lying in bed with malaria, a dream might just call your phone.