Temilade Openiyi, Nigerian R&B vocalist better known as Tems, has expressed deep regret for flouting COVID-19 protocols in Uganda.
The singer was arrested and detained alongside Omah Lay for performing in an unauthorized concert which held on December 13 in Ddungu Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala City.
The show, which is the first music concert in Uganda since the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were imposed by President Museveni, was sold out.
In a statement shared on her social media page, the singer revealed that it wasn’t her intention to put Ugandan citizens at risk of COVID-19 infection.
“I’m truly saddened that attendees could have possibly been exposed to covid-19. I would never have participated I had even the slightest knowledge that the event would not meet standard operating procedure and put Uganda citizens at risk,” she wrote.
She went on to thank the Nigerian and Ugandan governments for working towards her release.
Although Tems‘ ordeal was a “difficult” one, she noted that she met “amazing women and children” while in detention and got to experience the “strife” they go through.
“The past week has been difficult but eye-opening for me. While I was being detained I met some amazing women and children, and my eyes were opened to the strife and hurt a lot of women are going through,” she wrote.
Tems arrest comes barely two months after she released her 7-track debut EP, For Broken Ears.
Tracks on the body of work include ‘Interference’, ‘Ice T’, ‘Free Mind’, ‘Temilade Interlude’, ‘Higher’, ‘Damages’ and ‘The Key’.