Viboyo, a longtime member of Swangz Avenue, has revealed that Irene Ntale’s departure from the record label was her own decision, insisting that the singer chose to move on while still under contract.
Speaking in a television interview, Viboyo said Ntale willingly decided to leave the Industrial Area-based label despite having an active contract at the time.
“Irene Ntale wanted to move on. It was totally her decision. She wanted to move on, and she did. The contract was still on,” he said.
Viboyo also explained that leaving a record label does not automatically determine the direction of an artiste’s career, saying some musicians become even more active after going independent while others struggle.
“It goes back to what kind of person you are. Some people leave record labels and get even more aggressive. Others leave, and their careers drop,” he added.
Ntale left Swangz Avenue in 2017 and later celebrated her independence with the “Ntale Unchained” concert in 2018.
Her departure has remained a subject of discussion in Uganda’s music industry, with some critics arguing that leaving the label affected the trajectory of her career.