‘I was betrayed and arrested’-Rose Muhando recalls past struggles
By Valerian Khakayi, December 4, 2025Veteran Tanzanian gospel singer Rose Muhando has opened up about one of the most painful seasons in her life, revealing how someone she trusted framed her and caused her to be arrested at the airport just as she was preparing to travel to the United States.
In a candid interview with lady bishop Kathy Kiuna, Muhando disclosed that the struggles and pain she went through during that difficult moment gave birth to her hit song dubbed Nibebe.
“Mungu alininua nikaimba mteule uwe macho nikaimba Nibebe, Nibebe ndio nyimbo ambayo itaishi kwa sababu nilipitia machungu duniani.Shetani aliinuka akanifitini nikafanyiwa ubaya mwengine mpaka polisi nikapelekwa nikawekwa ndani,” she revealed.
Betrayal
According to her, the troubles began in church after her first manager was jailed, leaving her alone with the choir members. Someone whom she had never worked with before approached her and offered to manage her ministry. Trusting him, she agreed.
However, she says things changed, she felt uncomfortable around that person, and she chose to distance herself. Around the same time, Muhando received an invitation to perform in the United States.
“Huko kanisani tukiishi tukitumikia Mungu, wakati meneja wangu wa kwanza aliwekwa ndani gerezani nikawa mweenyewe na wana kwanya,” she explained.
“Sasa ikaja mtu mmoja lakini hanijui akaniambia sasa nitakusimamia nikamwambia sawa akaniambia kama kutakuwa na shida na sema, nikamwamini lakini ikaja tokea mambo mengine hayakuwa sawa mimi sikuyapenda ikabidi nijitenge.“
“Katika kujitenga nikapata mwaliko kwenda America kwa vile yeye alikuwa anataka vitu na mimi sikuzifanya akasema siwezi enda America atahakikisha sitaenda.“
She added that the American invite led to betrayal from people close to her who claimed she had stolen a huge sum of money.
“Sasa nikaenda bahati nzuri yele mtu ambaye alinisaidia alitoka gerezani akapata niko kwa process ya kwenda marekani sasa yule mchungaji akamweta akamwambia ‘unajua huyu ameiba pesa hapa siku zote offisini mwangu millioni tisa ya Tanzania nikasema ata sijawai enda offisini kwake,” she revealed.
Arrest
On the day she was meant to fly to Texas, Muhando was arrested at the airport.
“Basi siku hiyo tulikuwa na mlezi wangu tunaenda marekani Texas tumealikwa, tunafika airport nikakamatwa nikawekwa chini ya ulinzi. Nkaambiwa nimeiba pesa yanikarudishwa Dodoma,” she revealed.
At the police station, her passport was seized, and she was asked to use her car as bond. Still, she was allowed to travel to the U.S. the following day, with the case to be discussed once she returned.
“Nilifika polisi wakachukua passport yangu, uzuri ,mkuu wa upelelezi alikuwa ameokoka aliniita akaniambia ‘gari lako iko wapi?’ nika mwambia nyumbani akaniambia ‘kailete’ nkatuma dereva akaileta pale polisi,” Muhando added.
“Akasema gari itabaki hapa kama dhamana alafu asubuhi nkaondoka nikaenda kupanda ndege nikaenda zangu marekani wakasema nikirudi ndio tutaongea kesi.”
While in America, still hurting from the betrayal, Muhando wrote her powerful hit song “Nibebe”.
“Nilipokuwa marekani ndio nilitengenezea nyimbo Nibebe kwa sababu nilikuwa na machungu,” she disclosed.
When she eventually returned home, Muhando surprised many with her act of forgiveness. She bought herself a new car and gave the old one, the same vehicle she had left as a bond at the police station, to the person who had falsely accused her.