On May 24, 2025, The Ben and Diamond Platnumz performed at the Coffee Marathon Concert held in Ntungamo, Uganda. Celebrating Uganda's renowned coffee production, the event brought together music icons but raised questions of treatment disparities among artists.
Traveling in style, The Ben and Diamond Platnumz were provided with a private helicopter for their journey from Kampala to Ntungamo. In contrast, local Ugandan artists were transported by cars or left to arrange their own travel to the venue, sparking widespread criticism over unequal treatment.
Eddy Kenzo, a highly respected figure among Ugandan artists, voiced his frustration over this imbalance. He called it a "deep insult" to the country's musicians and decried the preference given to foreign artists at Uganda's own events.
In response to the controversy, veteran artist Jose Chameleone took to TikTok with a live video to reflect on the event. He acknowledged organizational shortcomings and urged stakeholders to draw lessons for future improvement.
He stated, "I saw what happened at the Coffee Marathon. It was a mistake. I had a busy schedule and did not get the chance to share my input. But whenever something wrong happens, wise people draw lessons from it. We must learn from our errors and improve. The mistakes during this concert were evident to all of us and must now be corrected."
While many criticized Diamond Platnumz’s VIP treatment and hefty performance fees, Ugandan artist Bebe Cool defended the Tanzanian superstar. He highlighted Diamond's significant role in promoting Uganda's industries and encouraged local artists to channel their energy into hard work to achieve similar success.
During the Coffee Marathon Concert, The Ben and Diamond Platnumz electrified the crowd by joining forces on stage for a performance of their hit song "Why."
The celebrity duo opted for a helicopter to reach the venue, putting on full display a level of grandeur that sparked conversations across Uganda’s artistic community.
Jose Chameleone took a proactive stance amidst the debate. He called on fellow artists and organizers to learn from the mistakes made in the event to pave the way for more inclusive and well-structured concerts in Uganda.