Who is Pallaso? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Mr Gerald Mayanja, Mrs Prossy Mayanja, Chameleone, Weasel Manizo and the late AK 47, Nicole Hayman, Maisha Mayanja, Dinari Mayanja the early life and education of a Ugandan recording artist, songwriter, producer and videographer.
Pallaso whose birth name is Pius Mayanja is a Ugandan recording artist, songwriter, producer and videographer.
He does various music genres including; afro pop, afro beats, hip hop, dancehall and RnB. He sings in Luganda, occasionally blending in English and Kiswahili.
Net Worth
In 2024, Pallaso’s net worth was estimated at $51.3K though this amount might vary in the range between $37.3K – $65.2K.
Early Life
Pius Mayanja (Pallaso) was born on September 5th 1987 at Mulago Hospital to the family of Mr Gerald Mayanja and Mrs Prossy Mayanja.
Pallaso is one of the seven children born into this family.
Three children from this family are musicians including Chameleone, Weasel Manizo and the late AK 47.
The majority of the family’s early years were spent in the Kampala suburb of Kawempe.
Education Background
Pallaso started his education journey at Happy Hours Nursery and Primary School. After his elementary education, he joined Mengo Senior School and Kasawo Secondary School for his O-level and St. Augustine College, Wakiso for his A-level.
He left for the USA joining Pennsylvania High School where he completed and studied for a diploma at the College of Direct Studies.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| Happy hours nursery and primary school | PLE – Completed | |
| Mengo senior school and Kasawo secondary school | UCE – Completed | |
| St Augustine College | UACE – Completed | |
| Pennsylvania high school (college of direct studies) | Diploma |
Marriage / Relationship
While in the United States, Pallaso married a white woman, Nicole Hayman.
Together, they had two children; Maisha Mayanja and Dinari Mayanja both of mixed-race ethnicity.
Upon Pallaso’s return to Uganda in 2014, the entire family came along although they went back after a few months leaving Pallaso in Uganda.
In 2016, Pallaso and Nicole separated.
In 2018, Pallaso revealed he had hooked up with a new woman, Hannah who inspired his new song titled ‘Hana’.
Currently, Pallaso is in a relationship with Mimi Diva.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Pallaso began his musical career in 2000 with the band Leone Island, which was owned by his older brother, Dr. Jose Chameleone. By this time, he went by the stage name Lizard.
In 2003, he dropped his debut track, Mudigidde, which received a ton of airplay on Radio Simba.
In 2005, Pallaso moved to the USA where he lived and worked for 10 years before returning to Uganda in 2014. He nonetheless continued with his music career in the USA.
During his time in America, he changed his name from Lizard to Pallaso, based on his true name Pius.
He was in collaboration with a local rapper named The Mess while living in Lewiston, Maine. They worked together on a collaborative album called Change, which was published in 2013.
Pallaso, Shaggy, and DJ Hidrro collaborated to create “Remain in Our Hearts” in 2014. The song was primarily dedicated to Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, and The Notorious B.I.G., the fallen music heroes.
Later in the year, Pallaso made his way back to Uganda and continued his musical career with the song “Amaaso,” a collaboration with Goodlyfe Crew. The song rose to the top of the charts and spent several weeks at the top of the TV and radio charts.
He also worked on several solo musical projects, such as “Omugongo” and “Wekoledewo kaki.”
Subsequently, Pallaso formed the musical group Team No Sleep with Sheebah Karungi, a Ugandan performer, and renowned musical manager Jeff Kiwa joined as the group’s manager.
Later, prominent musicians like King Saha, Ak47, and others would join the Team No Sleep collective.
The pair’s first single, “Mundongo,” was released with Sheebah. “Go Down Low,” which won the 2015 HiPipo Music Awards for Best Afro Pop Song, came next.
Pallaso later collaborated with King Saha on the song “Tamale Mirundi,” as well as several other singles, such as “Kilabe embaliga” and “Sanyu lyange”.
His collaboration with Nigerian rapper Davido began in November 2014 and resulted in the release of the track “Twatoba” in January 2015.
Along with several other songs from 2015, such as “Ffe tuliko,” “Tiwa Savage,” “Mubambazanga,” “Tebakusobolola,” and many more.
Pallaso departed Team No Sleep on May 19, 2015, to start Team Good Music, his independent music group. TGM is one of the leading record labels in East Africa.
Musical background summary
| Year | Musical Group | Position |
| 2000 – 2004 | Leone Island | Artist |
| 2015 | Team No Sleep (TNS) | Co-founder |
| 2015 – Present | Team Good Music (TGM) | Founder |
Album
- Mama (2016)
Songs
- Move your body (2013)
- Change ft The Mess (2013)
- No More ft Dirty Boy Raw (2013)
- It’s Cold (2013)
- Follow Me ft The Mess (2013)
- Amaaso ft Radio & Weasel, The Mess (2013)
- Home ft The Mess (2013)
- Mundongo ft Sheebah (2014)
- Wekoledewo kaki (2014)
- Go down low ft Sheebah (2014)
- Pray for Me (2014)
- Tamale ft King Saha (2014)
- Ntwala ft Spilla (2014)
- Sanyu lyange (2015)
- Very Sorry (2015)
- Twatoba ft Davido (2015)
- Koona ft Spice Diana (2015)
- Malamu (2020)
- Ani Oyo (2020)
- Nalonda Nemala (2021)
- Mpa Love (2021)
- Bega Bega (2022)
- Ndikuwaki (2021)
- Bareke Abo (2022)
- Katonda (2022)
- Sherry (2022)
- Zari (2022)
- African tears
- No answers
- Birthday
- Ready for you
- Never been came clean
- My girl
- Omusawo
- Bagezi Boka (2025)
- Tycoon (2025)
- Bogere (2025)
- Kalaala (2025)
Achievements and Awards
Pallaso founded “Team Good Music,” a group that appears to be successful in the Ugandan music industry.
He has had a highly acclaimed musical career characterized by several awards and nominations.
In 2014, Pallaso won the HiPipo Awards for Best Artiste in the Diaspora, and the Buzz Teeniez Awards for the Hottest Riddim, Flyest Music Video and Hottest Collaboration (“Amaaso”).
He also won the Rising Star Award for Best Male Artiste.
In 2015, he was nominated for the HiPipo Award- Best Male Artiste, Zinna Awards-Male Artiste of the Year and Best Collaboration. He won the HiPipo Awards for Best Collaboration that year.
In 2016, he won the Zzina Awards for the inspirational song of the year, Mama and Soma.
In 2021, Pallaso won the Janzi Awards for Male Artist of the Year and the Zzina Awards for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Artist of the Year.
In 2022, he won the Zzina Awards for Artist of the Year and Best Male Artist of the Year. He also won the MTN Awards for People’s Choice Award Male.
Controversies
Pallaso was attacked by an angry mob in Johannesburg, South Africa where he had gone to shoot a new video for one of the songs. It was reported that he was hit with stones and cut with pangas.
He later attacked Kato Lubwama who had alleged that he was looking for relevance. He told Kato to mind his business and leave his private life alone.
Pallaso was also involved in a scuffle with police in his home residence of Makindye. He ended up running away with handcuffs after trying to be arrested for failure to abide by the COVID-19 SOPS.
On his return from the States in 2014 Pallaso fell out with the Goodlyfe crew and they started beefing.
Later he opened up beef with the TNS boss Jeff Kiwa over issues concerning the death of his young brother AK 47.
