Ugandan music icon Mesach Semakula has issued a public apology to fans who attended his '50 Years of Greatness' concert at Kingdom Kampala, acknowledging that the event did not meet expectations.

The concert, which was intended to celebrate the singer's milestone in the music industry, has faced heavy criticism online, with many attendees accusing the organizers of poor planning, disorganization, and exploitation.

Some fans who paid Sh150,000 for tickets complained that they were unable to secure seats and had to stand throughout the show, even as heavy rain pounded the venue.

Semakula Takes Full Responsibility

In response to the backlash, Semakula said he takes full responsibility for the shortcomings, though he stressed that the problems were not intentional.

Speaking after the concert, the singer revealed that he had invested over Sh300 million in preparations and that everything had been running according to plan until a downpour at around 3:00 pm disrupted the arrangements.

"I am here to apologize, to thank you, and to clarify exactly what happened. Amid the disappointments, people turned up because of the love they have for me. I disappointed you; it is true. I take full responsibility, but none of it was intentional," he said.

Chair Sales Blamed on Unscrupulous Individuals

Semakula explained that the venue had been set up with enough chairs to accommodate the number of tickets available for sale. However, he claimed that some unscrupulous individuals took advantage of the confusion caused by the rain and started selling chairs to revellers.

He said he was unaware of the alleged chair sales because he was on stage performing.

"The number of chairs at the venue was similar to the number of tickets we prepared to sell. But with the disorganization caused by the rain, some bad people took advantage of the situation and started selling chairs. I was on stage without any knowledge that chairs were being sold to the attendees," he said.

The singer added that he had looked forward to the milestone concert for years and was equally disappointed that months of preparation had ended in such controversy.

"I organized this show with love because I had waited for it for a very long time. However, seasons have changed, and November is now rainy. I am also in pain that, after months of proper organization, this happened," he said.

Semakula's apology comes as a attempt to mend fences with his fan base, many of whom have expressed their disappointment on social media. The incident highlights the challenges of organizing large-scale events, particularly in the face of unpredictable weather.