Chameleone, who completed his UACE exams at Katikamu SDA Secondary School, chose a subject combination of History, Economics, Divinity, and Art (HED/A).
Jose Chameleone was ready to join university, but the course he wished to pursue, Industrial Art and Design, was only available at Kyambogo, which was then just an institute. He aspired to attend Makerere University instead.
Jose Chameleone
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"At that time, I wanted to study Industrial Art and Design," Chameleone explained to Crystal Newman. "Unfortunately, around 1998, Industrial Art and Design was not offered at Makerere. It was only available at Kyambogo, and I did not want to go there; I wanted to attend university. That's how I lost interest and decided to pursue art through music."
Recently, the 'Badilisha' hitmaker graduated from Cavendish University with a degree in International Relations.
Who is Jose Chameleone?
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Born Joseph Mayanja on April 30, 1979, in a family of eight children — seven boys and one girl — Chameleone left home at the age of 15 to pursue a career in music. His parents are Gerald Mayanja and Prossy Musoke, and he is the fourth-born.
Chameleone attended Nakasero Primary School and Mengo Secondary School, where he was expelled in Senior 2. He then joined Kawempe Muslim Secondary School to complete his O-Level. After another expulsion in Senior 5 at Katikamu SDA, he completed Senior 6 at Progressive Secondary School.
Chameleone's musical talent seems to be inherited; his grandfather was a guitarist, and his father played multiple instruments in the Nsambya Boys Band during his school days. His eldest brother, Humphrey, owned a band called Super World Band.
Chameleone began participating in drama at Nakasero Primary School and served as the entertainment prefect at both Kawempe Muslim and Katikamu SDA, where he also performed regularly.
His first song, "Bageya," was released in 1999 at Hills Studio in Nairobi. Despite being sung in Luganda, it became a hit in Kenya, followed by the success of "Mama Mia."
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His debut album, which included "Mama Mia," was released in 2000. At one point, he was a backup singer for Shanks Vivid Gumaras.
Chameleone's big break came when the Kenyan hip-hop group Kalamashaka performed in Kampala. Shanks invited Chameleone to freestyle for them, and they were impressed. They invited him to Kenya to record a song, but it didn't materialise, leaving Chameleone stranded in Kenya without transport back home. He connected with Bebe Cool, who assisted him.
Chameleone then befriended Redsan, and together with Bebe Cool, they formed the East African Bashment Crew. However, financial issues led to the group's dissolution.
In early 2000, Chameleone recorded "Mama Mia," which became a hit, first in Kenya and later in Uganda. He had gone to Kenya in 1999 and returned to Uganda following the release of "Mama Mia."
