KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan songstress Spice Diana has weighed in on a public dispute between songwriter Sheena Skies and DJ Roja, urging artists to embrace professionalism and clearly delineate business from friendship.
The controversy erupted after Sheena claimed she was the songwriter behind More Of This, a hit collaboration by Rema Namakula, Slick Stuart, and DJ Roja. According to Sheena, she was compensated only Shs20,000, which was labelled as “fuel facilitation.”
“They only paid me Shs20,000 for fuel. Things are not as simple as they look,” Sheena said, highlighting the financial struggles of behind-the-scenes creatives despite the glamour associated with songwriting.
DJ Roja, however, dismissed her claims, insisting Sheena had been fairly remunerated. “I am shocked by her claims. Sheena was already a big brand at the time, and there is no way she would walk away with only Shs20k. No way! We paid her Shs1.5m for the project,” Roja stated. “She should stop spreading lies. I honestly wonder why she does such things.”
With tensions rising and accusations of dishonesty and disrespect being exchanged, Spice Diana intervened, calling for calm and professional conduct in creative collaborations.
“Writers need to be professional and stand by their word,” Spice Diana said. “No one can perform a song you wrote without your permission. If you agree on Shs500,000, it should be documented in a contract. If you want a percentage from caller tunes or royalties, it must be put in writing.”
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She warned that publicly airing unresolved disputes could tarnish a songwriter’s reputation and limit future opportunities. “If you keep talking about these things without proper agreements, you risk killing your brand because other artists will fear working with you,” she added.
Spice Diana concluded by emphasising the importance of separating friendship from business—a principle she says has guided her own career. “That’s how I operate,” she said. “Friendship is friendship, but business must be handled professionally.”
The dispute underscores ongoing challenges in Uganda’s music industry, where issues of fair pay, copyright, and formal contracts remain a pressing concern.
Industry observers note that clarifying professional agreements in writing is increasingly critical as Ugandan music continues to gain regional and international recognition.
