Nigerian singer Tems has shed light on why she has no intention of returning to Uganda, revisiting the ordeal that left her with a lasting trauma.

During an online Q&A session, a fan asked her: “What’s the lore behind you not coming to Uganda? #AskTems.”
Instead of giving a long explanation, Tems responded with a single picture — her old courtroom photo from 2020, used in news reports during her arrest, captioned: “Nigerian singer Tems appearing before court in Uganda.”

The image instantly brought back memories of the incident where Tems and fellow artist Omah Lay were arrested in Kampala after performing at a concert held during COVID-19 restrictions. They were accused of violating public health rules and detained by authorities.

Tems later spent two nights in a Ugandan prison, an experience she previously described as terrifying. Her choice to share the mugshot made it clear that the trauma of that arrest remains the reason she has avoided returning to Uganda ever since.