The Teso Bloggers Association has spoken out in outrage following a violent incident that allegedly took place during the Yona Chanlee live concert on Saturday, May 17th, at Arrow Square in Soroti City.
The incident involved well-known local musician Ikwap, popularly known as Mark-P, who is accused of ordering a physical assault on prominent TikTok influencer and blogger Auma Jesca, widely recognized by her social media alias “Teso Girl.”
According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation occurred at approximately 1:00 AM, just moments before Mark-P was due to perform. Teso Girl was reportedly recording the event live from the front of the stage when a group of seven men, allegedly Mark-P’s personal bouncers, approached her aggressively.
Witnesses say the group forcefully pulled her away and began physically assaulting her without giving any justification.
“I only saw a group of bouncers moving towards her. They started pushing and hitting her until she fell to the ground,” said an eye witness who kept anonymity for security reasons.
“When I ran to intervene and asked them what offence she had committed, they continued to drag her violently. The scene quickly escalated and sympathizers rushed to help her.”
While the reason for the hostility remains unclear, insiders suggest that the feud between Mark-P and Teso Girl may have deeper roots, Sources indicate that tensions began after a fallout in December 2024 when Teso Girl reportedly withdrew her support for Mark-P’s concert promotions due to unmet obligations on the musician’s part, It is alleged that Mark-P’s wife played a role in fueling the tension, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Nathan Eyagu, spokesperson for the Teso Bloggers Association, strongly condemned the actions of the artist.
“We are disappointed by Mark-P’s conduct, As a senior figure in the Teso music industry, he should lead by example, not act like a street thug,” Eyagu stated. “We are consulting our legal team to explore possible legal action against him and his team.”
Eyagu also called on the public to demand accountability from entertainers who misuse their influence to intimidate or harm media professionals.
“This is not just an attack on one individual. It’s an attack on press freedom and the entire media fraternity in Teso.”
The organizers of the Yona Chanlee concert have remained silent since the incident, which has sparked criticism from members of the media and the general public alike. Many believe the event lacked adequate security measures to protect both performers and members of the press.
Teso Girl, who appeared shaken by the incident, expressed that this was not the first time Mark-P had harassed her.
“He’s been threatening me ever since I stopped promoting his concert last year. I didn’t expect it to come to this level of violence,” she said in a brief interview.
Calls are growing for local authorities and entertainment stakeholders to address the safety of journalists, especially at high-profile events.
The incident has sparked widespread concern on social media, with many demanding that the perpetrators be held accountable and that media freedom be respected.
As of now, both Mark-P and his wife have not made any public statements regarding the incident, efforts by various media houses to obtain their side of the story have so far been unsuccessful.
The Teso Bloggers Association has vowed to pursue justice for Teso Girl and is mobilizing support from both legal and media networks.
“We will not allow one of our own to be attacked in the line of duty and let it pass silently,” Eyagu concluded.
The Incident has reignited important conversations around the safety of journalists in Uganda and the need for stronger protections and regulations within the entertainment industry.