More information has emerged after Bebe Cool released a video he dubbed #M7MoneyAccountability showing musician, Dr Hilderman signing paperwork with a bundle of local currency cash placed in front of him.
In a self defense post, Hilderman (real names Hillary Kiyaga) has insisted that Bebe Cool had actually refused to give him any money because he (Bebe) claimed the money was for only those artistes that participated in the 2016 election campaign song – Tubonga Nawe.
“I was part of the 2016 campaign trail for President Museveni. This campaign was branded with the Tubonga Nawe song which was launched in 2016 at Munyonyo where I was invited as a guest . The President was the chief guest and he pledged 400 millions towards the artists Sacco,” Hilderman says.
Days after the Munyonyo event, Hilderman who was apparently contracted by KK Advocates to be part of the campaign trail for President Museveni received a tip from a friend that Bebe Cool was at Serena Hotel distributing money “to artistes who attended the Munyonyo event” and since he too had attended, he phoned Bebe to get more information.
“He [Bebe] directed me to find him at Serena. When I reached, he told me the money was only for musicians who featured in Tubonga Nawe song, not all artistes. Since I never featured in the song, I automatically bought his statement,” the Zunguli master adds.
But as he walked out of room in which Bebe Cool was, Hilderman was called back and given Shs2m of the Shs400m that Bebe Cool got from the President and was asked to sign for it for accountability purposes seen in the widely circulated video.
According to Hilderman, the released video was intentionally muted by Bebe Cool because he did not want people to know how little money he was given.
Hilderman admits that although he worked for the government not only during the 2016 elections but even way before, his was a temporary jig and was not subject to any further conditions – especially political affiliations.
“No future political regulations were put on me, meaning after my contract I was free to exercise my rights and freedom as any Ugandan,” he adds.
The singer who harbours political ambitions has since advised Bebe Cool to focus more on finding out why artistes who were staunch NRM supporters like him have abandoned the party instead of creating more disunity and paying attention to “petty” issues.
He adds that since the Shs400m that the President gave to Bebe Cool was for a musicians’ SACCO, he should also update the country on how far its establishment has gone before more artistes in the NRM can cross to the opposition.