East Africa’s musical titan, Jose Chameleone, has narrowly escaped permanent blindness after emergency intervention in Kampala.

The "Valu Valu" hitmaker was rushed to the Kampala Eye LASIK Hospital after a sudden and rapid deterioration of vision in his right eye, a terrifying development that threatened to draw the curtain on the career of one of the continent’s most electrifying performers.

A Race Against Darkness

Breaking his silence from his hospital bed, the 48-year-old icon revealed the gravity of the situation. "I was going blind," he admitted, stripping away the celebrity veneer to show a man in fear. The surgery, performed by the renowned Dr. Ludovica Tindebwa, was a delicate procedure aimed at arresting a condition that had progressed with alarming speed.

Images shared on his social media show the star with a heavy bandage over his eye, yet flashing his signature defiant smile. It is a testament to the resilience of a man who has survived political storms, physical accidents, and the fickle nature of the music industry for over two decades. This, however, was a battle of a different kind—one fought in the silence of an operating theatre.

• Health Struggles: This incident adds to a worrying list of health scares for the singer, including a battle with pancreatitis in 2025 that saw him flown to the US. Fans are growing increasingly concerned about the toll his high-octane lifestyle is taking.
• The Comeback King: True to form, Chameleone is already talking about recovery. His ability to bounce back from the brink has become part of his mythology, but doctors have advised a strict period of rest.

The Leone Island Legacy

Chameleone is not just a singer; he is an institution. His health is a matter of national interest in Uganda and across the region. As news of the surgery spread, prayers poured in from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, proving that his influence transcends borders. The Lion of Leone Island has been wounded, but if history is any guide, he will roar again.

For now, the stage lights are dimmed, and the music is paused. The only performance that matters is his recovery.

"I seek your healing as always, my Lord," he wrote. A prayer from a legend who knows he has one more song left to sing.