‘He beat me in public’ - Singer Joe Bossa recounts 3 years with abusive man

The former Matendo band singer was forced to put her music on hold as she endured the jealous and extremely abusive boyfriend.

She describes the man without naming him, as a young, good-looking and successful businessman dealing in imports from China. He was her neighbour, living just across the street from her apartment.

After meeting him at his business a few times, he’d charmed her into his life even though she knew he was a ladies' man. She also broke up with her South Africa-based boyfriend to settle in with the new catch.

But a short while later, the ‘Love Yo’ singer says the man’s true colours started coming out as he became more and more impulsive and extremely jealous.

Quarrels started about her appearance at music shows, and then the beatings began.

“He beat me often and badly; one time I was even hospitalised,” Bossa narrated in a YouTube interview over the weekend.

“He didn't like seeing me on TV, sometimes he’d stop me from going out to perform and if someone had booked me, he would refund the money.”

Read: Lugazi teacher livestreams violent fight with boyfriend over phone password

Joe Bossa / Instagram pulse uganda

Every time he beat her up, Bossa says, the boyfriend would appear remorseful, buy her gifts and take her out. One of the gifts he got her after a fight was a Toyota Spacio. But soon after, the abuse would carry one.

At one time, she recalls when he invaded her at a music show and beat her up there.

“I was with Evelyn Lugu; we had a show in Lukaya. He called me and when I didn't pick up, he drove all the way from Kampala and found when I had just got off stage,” she narrated.

While sitting in her Spacio with Lagu, she says, she was startled when she felt a big slap in the face.

“Lagu was shocked, and she told him to back off. It was at that point that I made a decision to leave him. I even left the car with him in Lukaya and he had to get someone to drive it back to the city."

Since then, Bossa decided to put her music on hold and venture into other businesses including farming and selling grain. She also opened a herbal clinic.

Recently, however, she decided to give singing another try and has a new single.