Even though singer Moses Ssali alias Bebe Cool has deleted the social media posts that sparked his public fallout with former Miss Rwanda Jolly Mutesi, the screenshots he shared before taking them down continue to fuel conversations online.
The screenshots, which Bebe Cool presented as evidence to support his allegations that he had fallen victim to an elaborate online scam, have attracted as much attention for their contents as they have for the accusations themselves.
From East African oil deals and football transfer insider Fabrizio Romano to a potential FIFA World Cup performance and even meetings involving Cristiano Ronaldo, the conversations appeared to promise Bebe Cool access to opportunities many would only dream of.
The dispute, which by Thursday had entered legal territory after Mutesi threatened to sue the singer for defamation, now appears to be taking a different direction after Bebe Cool deleted the posts following intervention from First Son and Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
However, Mutesi has consistently denied any involvement, maintaining that she has never met Bebe Cool and that fraudsters have for years been impersonating her online.
Even so, before the posts disappeared, social media users had already begun picking apart the conversations and questioning just how many opportunities could realistically be packed into a single WhatsApp exchange.
One of the screenshots centred on regional infrastructure and East Africa's oil sector. In the conversation, the person Bebe Cool believed to be Mutesi introduced him to the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project and appeared to offer him a gateway into lucrative oil-related opportunities.
“Regional infrastructure Project known as LAPSSET (Lamu Port South Sudan, Ethiopian, Transport Corridor) also in terms of business we can do,” the message read.
“Go through Oloibon Loitiptip Ruto. This is Ruto's right hand man. The Pipeline project of oil in East Africa is a hot deal I can fix you in.”
Bebe Cool appeared interested in the proposal and replied, “I also want to discuss the opportunities surrounding the oil because there's still a lot to take advantage of in the oil sector of Uganda.”
If oil was not enough, another screenshot suggested there was also a football package on offer.
In the conversation, the person promised to connect Bebe Cool's son and footballer, Alpha Ssali, to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, one of the most recognisable figures in global football journalism.
“By the way I will share your contact to some good agent don't worry he won't charge. He is a good friend. He can always post about your son. He's called Fabrizio. He's good at transfers. He's Italian but speaks English.”
Bebe Cool responded: “Yes I know him (Fabrizio), that will be great.”
By this stage, some social media users were already joking that the conversations were beginning to resemble a premium subscription package where oil projects and Europe's biggest football insider came as a bundle.
The promises did not stop there. Another screenshot suggested Bebe Cool could take his music to one of the biggest stages in world sport.
“Bebe, I love your song Love you Everyday. I would love you to sing at World Cup in USA.”
There is no evidence that any discussions involving FIFA or World Cup organisers ever existed, but for many online observers, the list of opportunities was becoming increasingly extraordinary.
Then came a request that looked far more familiar.
In one exchange, the person claimed a cousin travelling from California to Uganda urgently needed financial assistance after her house had burnt down.
“Also i wanted to disturb u .Ihave my cousin shes on flight from California to Ug her house got burnt she will be at my place in kololo untill her insurance gets her cash to get another house SOon. Bottomline is wanted u to help me send credit on her ug simcard airtel money so she uses it for data, credit etc . Let me share the number for her airtel money.”
For many followers, this was perhaps the moment the conversation shifted from celebrity networking to a scenario commonly associated with online impersonation schemes.
Yet the surprises were still not over.
Perhaps the most eye-catching screenshot involved a proposed trip to Saudi Arabia. Bebe Cool expressed interest in joining some meetings, only to be told there would be influential personalities in attendance, including Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, popularly known as CR7.
“I need to join you for those meetings,” Bebe Cool wrote.
The response read, “Yes i go on friday now maybe i can invite you on the next one coz its early feb Because there are big people u will love meeting. Also Cr7 will be in these meetings coz they are using him for the football promotions.”
By then, social media users were left wondering what else could possibly have been added to the list.
The conversations had already touched on East African oil projects, Fabrizio Romano, a World Cup performance and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Still, one crucial question remains unanswered: was Bebe Cool communicating with the real Jolly Mutesi?
Nevertheless, Mutesi has repeatedly maintained that she was being impersonated and that she has never had any personal dealings with the Ugandan musician.
As the public feud gradually cools following Bebe Cool's decision to delete his posts, the screenshots continue to generate traction online.