Television personality and socialite Sheila Gashumba has found herself at the center of an online storm after a section of X (formerly Twitter) users accused her of promoting “pimping” through some of her recent party-related posts.
The backlash erupted following a BBC documentary that highlighted a sex trafficking ring of Ugandan girls in Dubai, a ring headed by a Ugandan national.
The documentary which aired at the weekend has since raised dust with Ugandans pointing fingers at everyone who has ever showed signs of pimping out girls, the latest being Gashumba whose 2022 posts came to centre stage.
Gashumba, through her X platform shared promotional messages for her lavish parties, encouraging “big spenders” to attend, with a promise of “international girls: for their entertainment.
“If you are buying a table for one man one bottle and you want new sexy girls to fly in for your party, just book and let me know! We are international, baby! We are flying in girls from all over the world for our biggest spenders,” she posted in 2022.
“Anyone buying 25m and 12m table will have two international girls to entertain them. That’s why we call it spenders assembly,” she added.
Several users have brought back the posts interpreting them as suggestive, claiming she was indirectly positioning herself as a link between wealthy men and young women.
“Sheila has basically rebranded pimping into a lifestyle event,” one user wrote, sparking a wave of criticism that gained momentum under multiple trending threads. Others accused her of normalizing exploitative behavior under the guise of nightlife and entertainment.
The comments soon snowballed, with many questioning the morality of Uganda’s party culture and the role of high-profile influencers in shaping it.
Gashumba Responds
In response, Gashumba strongly dismissed the allegations, describing them as “malicious” and a deliberate attempt to taint her reputation. Taking to X, she clarified that her parties are strictly lifestyle events designed to celebrate music, fashion, and nightlife.
“I don’t and will never promote such behavior. People just love to twist things,” she posted, adding that her focus has always been on building a brand that showcases entertainment in Uganda at an international level.
“Stop painting a bad picture of my story yet you should be learning from it. Don’t make excuses of your laziness. I host (push sales both alcohol and food in bars and clubs) from 10pm to 6am on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and now Djing and some of you can’t even sell a tomato at a market stall,” she wrote.
“If I was getting paid soo easy like you claim I would be on holiday every day of my life. Those who follow me everywhere know how much I work hard. My family and friends are always worried that I don’t rest and eat enough from all the bar hosting and mceeing and now Djingggg!!! Stop the propaganda,” she added.
Gashumba further argued that critics often misunderstand the dynamics of event hosting, pointing out that corporate sponsors and entertainment venues regularly back her shows because of the value they bring to Kampala’s nightlife economy.
A Divided Public
Despite her clarification, the conversation remains polarized. Some fans rallied behind her, defending her as a hardworking young woman who has built a recognizable brand in Uganda’s entertainment scene. Others insisted that her messaging fuels perceptions of moral decadence.
This is not the first time Gashumba has been at the center of public controversy. Over the years, her outspoken nature and bold approach to lifestyle branding have often attracted both admiration and criticism in equal measure.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear—Sheila Gashumba’s influence on social media and nightlife culture remains significant, and her every move is bound to spark discussion.
