Acholi top celebrities accused as Gulu misses golden climate concert

Gulu City officials have promised to arrest and prosecute those involved in the alleged scam and subsequent collapse of the “Music in Space” climate mitigation project.

The initiative, which was meant to benefit millions in the Acholi sub-region, was derailed by what organizers claim were high-profile scammers posing as local partners.

Several people are under investigation for allegedly defrauding the multimillion-shilling project.

Among the accused are Tonny Olanya Olenge, alleged to have swindled $7,000; a man known as Bouncer Affair, accused of taking UGX 3.5 million; Dominic Ochola, who allegedly took $1,700; Layeng Hagreye Fortune, also known as Lazy Mover; Walter Anywar, aka Walter Pro; and a local DJ known as DJ Red.

The “Music in Space” project partnered with the global organization Adventure for Humanity to spearhead climate action through music, education, and cultural initiatives in Northern Uganda.

The initiative had aimed to host a mega concert, and support over 10,000 school children across Uganda, promote Acholi culture and tourism, and plant millions of trees to combat the region’s increasing environmental degradation.

The collapse of the initiative has left stakeholders devastated. Kijani Forest, a key partner responsible for supplying millions of tree seedlings, has missed a significant opportunity.

“We are extremely disappointed,” said Michael Tebere, Director of Kijani Forest. “The scammers have robbed Acholi of a golden chance to lead in climate restoration.”

The city also missed out on a recycling project that was to be implemented in collaboration with “Taka-Taka Company.” This project aimed to enhance Gulu City’s greening efforts by managing plastic waste sustainably.

According to a USAID report from 2012–2017, 41% of Uganda’s land area suffers from environmental degradation, with 12% classified as severely degraded.

A more recent report (2023–2024) by Ribe Pi Paco (RPP), a northern Uganda-based advocacy group, attributes the ongoing deforestation in Acholi to commercial charcoal production.

The report estimates that about 40% of the region’s tree and forest cover has been cleared, leaving communities vulnerable to erratic weather patterns and reduced agricultural productivity.

Bjorn Vido, Director of the Music in Space project, expressed deep frustration over being allegedly scammed, bullied, and threatened by individuals in Gulu who posed as event management experts.

“We were promised a safe, collaborative environment. Instead, we were scammed. We’re now considering relocating the concert to Ghana, where we’ve received official support,” Vido said.

Vido claimed that while the project had confirmed 52 artists, signed contracts, and booked Pece Stadium for July 4–6, 2025, the hostile environment made it impossible to proceed in Uganda.

The organization faced several logistical and financial hurdles. Outstanding bills include UGX 1.65 million for local service providers such as police officers, chefs, dancers, and traditional rainmakers.

The total budget for food and performances was UGX 12.5 million—UGX 6.5 million for food and UGX 6 million for shows. Additionally, Vido reported UGX 3 million missing from his residence.

One significant concern was the alleged forging of artist contracts. Vido said a prior agreement with local artists Laxzy, Eddy, and Ezzy was altered from UGX 5 million to UGX 30 million for three 15-minute performances.

He had planned to pay each artist UGX 10 million post-festival but claimed the revised contract misrepresented the original terms.

According to Vido, over UGX 92 million was siphoned by a group led by Eng. Tonny Olanya Olenge and Walter Pro, resulting in the project’s collapse.

In response, Eng. Tonny Olanya Olenge denied the allegations, accusing Vido of mismanagement, failure to pay artists including Vampino and Laxzy, and breaching financial commitments.

Olenge announced plans to sue Vido for defamation and lodged a formal complaint with the Danish Embassy in Uganda.

“He made false and damaging claims. Vido’s own actions led to the project’s failure,” Olenge said.

The controversy sheds light on deeper issues of professionalism, integrity, and accountability within Uganda’s entertainment sector. It also highlights the risks international investors face when working in unfamiliar local contexts.

Okello Okuna, Minister for Information and Communication at the Acholi Cultural Institution, clarified that they were not formally involved in the Music in Space project.

“Tonny Olanya Olenge works with us as a researcher and documentary officer, but his involvement in this project was personal,” Okuna stated. “He did not represent the cultural institution.”

Okuna condemned the fraudulent acts, emphasizing that Acholi had missed out on a rare opportunity for international exposure, cultural exchange, and economic growth.

“We had the chance to showcase our food, culture, and music to the world. Instead, individual greed sabotaged the initiative,” he said.

He urged future international investors to work through the cultural institution for proper guidance and accountability. “We have clear structures in place. Such scams can be avoided.”

Gulu City Mayor Alfred Okwonga confirmed that on February 10, 2025, an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Music in Space organizers, granting them access to the Kaunda Grounds for the concert and funding tree-planting initiatives.

“As a city, we provided the infrastructure. I advised them to report any difficulties to my office. But I only learned of the collapse through a third party on April 1,” the Mayor said.

He emphasized the need for proper communication and advised both parties to resolve their differences through mediation rather than airing grievances on social media.

“I planned to mediate, but unfortunately, the complainant fled the country before we could meet,” Okwonga explained.

He also warned against informal verbal agreements. “Every agreement should be documented. This incident has shown how verbal deals create openings for fraud.”

Okwonga lamented the missed opportunity, calling it a major setback for Gulu City’s economy and social development.

“The concert would have injected significant funds into our local economy. From tourism to vendor sales, the ripple effect would have been huge. It’s shameful that selfish individuals ruined this chance for our region,” he said.

The Mayor also urged the public to treat foreign investors with integrity and fairness.

“We must stop overcharging or exploiting international partners. Otherwise, we’ll keep losing out on golden opportunities,” he added.

Uganda’s creative arts, tourism, and cultural sectors hold immense potential. A joint report by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and World Bank for financial year 2018–2019 estimated that the sector could generate $1.6 billion in annual revenue and create up to 75% of new employment opportunities in the country.

The Music in Space debacle serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the need for transparency, ethical conduct, and structured collaboration between local entities and international partners.

While the Acholi region has lost a chance to be part of a groundbreaking international climate and culture event, stakeholders hope this incident will spur reforms and better practices moving forward.