Ugandan music icon Jose Chameleone has revealed that he has quit smoking and given up hard liquor, saying age, experience and a series of health challenges forced him to make major lifestyle changes.
The singer made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on the NBS After 5, where he reflected on personal growth, fatherhood and life after years in the public spotlight.
Chameleone, born Joseph Mayanja, said he no longer sees value in the reckless lifestyle that defined parts of his younger years.
"I later realised that being unruly doesn't help at the end of the day. You cannot compromise with life. Besides, this is a different Chameleone. I am now 48, not the Chameleone who was 35. The race has just started and we shall be judged at the end," he said.
The singer also disclosed that he has completely stopped smoking and no longer drinks spirits, although he occasionally takes beer.
"I no longer smoke. I also no longer take hard liquor, although I take a few beers once in a while because I am only human," he said.
His remarks come after a series of highly publicised health complications in recent years that were linked to excessive alcohol consumption.
Since 2021, Jose Chameleone has reportedly been admitted to hospital on several occasions with serious pancreatic and liver-related illnesses. Medical experts are said to have advised him to abandon alcohol after he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening condition often associated with prolonged heavy drinking.
His latest health scare attracted national attention, prompting concern and support from fellow musicians, family members and fans across the country.
On the same programme, Chameleone also spoke about parenting, admitting that raising children from Generation Z presents unique challenges because of changing lifestyles and beliefs.
"Parents are stranded on how to handle this generation because they think differently from millennials, especially children growing up in the limelight," he said.
He advised parents to build trust and open communication with their children rather than relying solely on strict discipline.
"You have to be open with your children and also allow them to be open with you. That is the only way they will excel. Once in a while, take your child out, sit with them, talk to them and allow them to enjoy themselves," he said.
The singer also revealed that he regularly advises his eldest son, Abba Marcus, particularly after seeing him post content on social media that he did not approve of.
"I recently saw Abba on Instagram with some drugs. Don't think I keep quiet. I told him it was wrong," he said.
His comments come just weeks after Abba Marcus and his American girlfriend, Angel, dominated social media following the leak of explicit private videos. The couple are also expecting their first child, making Chameleone a grandfather for the first time.
While the controversy sparked criticism of his parenting, Chameleone maintained that children inevitably make mistakes and that parents should focus on guiding them rather than condemning them.
His latest reflections portray a musician who says he is now prioritising his health, family and personal growth after more than two decades at the top of Uganda's music industry.
