Ugandan events MC and television personality Edwin Katamba, popularly known as MC Kats, has spoken candidly about his regrets over introducing singer Fille Mutoni to the mainstream music industry, admitting that fame exposed her to pressures she was not emotionally prepared to handle.
Speaking in recent interviews and on social media, Kats said the entertainment industry’s intense demands played a significant role in Fille’s struggles with substance abuse at the height of her career.
“Have you ever sat down and regretted something you did? It is good, but you regret it,” Kats said. “I regret this at this time because, as Ugandans, we do not prepare for this industry. Some people are not naturally mentally and emotionally strong for this industry.”
Fille rose to prominence as one of Uganda’s top female artists, commanding expensive bookings and dominating music charts. Kats revealed that during that period, competition was fierce, particularly with fellow artist Irene Ntale, whom he described as a major rival at the time.
“I fought hard to see that she outshone everyone,” he said, adding that the pressure to stay relevant eventually took a toll. “In the process of navigating the industry, they end up being overpowered. Friends influence them, drugs, lack of hit songs, competition from their fellows — all that pressure.”
Kats acknowledged that at the peak of her fame, Fille turned to drugs as a way of coping with the demands of stardom. He said she had not been exposed to alcohol or substance use before entering the secular music scene.
“Fille never used to drink, and she learnt it,” he said. “I got her from Miracle Centre. My regret is that I should have left her in church and sung Gospel music. I would have left her to sing for God.”
Recalling one of the most difficult moments in their professional relationship, Kats narrated how Fille missed a major video shoot while under the influence, despite receiving substantial funding for the project.
“One day I received huge funding to shoot Where Have You Been At, which was meant to feature Radio & Weasel,” he said. “But because she was under the influence, she missed the appointment.”
He added that panic set in as he struggled to account for the money. “I had to run to producer Artin, get Dokta Brain to write the song, and get Jeff to confirm it. By the time we reached the video shoot with Great Make Films, the money had run out. I had to sell my piece of land to fund it.”
In a separate social media post dated January 26, Kats reflected on his own exhaustion with the industry, hinting at the possibility of taking a break.
“Music brings out the best of feelings though the music business has no space for feelings — it’s just business,” he wrote. “It’s emotionally draining. I have dedicated a lot of myself to the music industry and people think that’s all I know.”
Despite the regrets, Kats said he still loves music and cannot completely walk away from it, though he believes he has “overgiven” himself with little emotional return.
Kats and Fille, who were once romantic partners and share a daughter, have had a complex personal and professional history. His recent comments, widely shared across entertainment platforms, have reignited conversations about mental health, artist management, and the pressures facing young musicians in Uganda’s music industry.
“I carry the guilt,” Kats said, “because I know she was talented, but the industry messed everything up.”
