Ugandan child star Saad Ssozi, popularly known online as Tengetenge, has met American singer Jason Derulo, adding another high-profile international celebrity encounter to his rise from poverty to internet fame.
Tengetenge, who became popular in late 2023, shot to fame after a video of him dancing and singing “tenge tengelele” went viral, garnering more than 100 million views.
Reports about his early life say he stopped attending school because of poverty and collected scrap metal to help support his family.
His fortunes changed after he met manager Michael Kabongi at a community dance programme. Kabongi noticed his dancing ability and began posting videos of him online.
The “Tengetenge” sound, based on a traditional Ugandan children’s song called “Tengerere”, subsequently spread across social media, turning the young creator into a viral sensation.
Tengetenge has since built a following across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. He has also travelled to countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for performances and brand deals.
The young creator has previously interacted with international stars including Chris Brown, IShowSpeed, Davido, Tiwa Savage and Kai Cenat through live video calls.
On October 4, 2026, he met Derulo in an encounter that quickly drew attention online, with fans describing it as a “dream come true” for the Ugandan creator.
Details of their meeting had not been widely reported at the time of publication.
In previous interviews, Tengetenge has spoken about how his online popularity has changed his life.
“My TikTok fame has enabled me to travel to countries that I never thought I would ever travel to… I have also been able to have live stream calls with international celebrities,” he said.
Despite his growing online profile, Tengetenge continues to attend school and creates content mainly during weekends and school holidays.
He has said education remains his priority, even as his social media career continues to grow.
His meeting with Derulo is the latest in a series of encounters with major international entertainers since the young Ugandan first gained attention online.