Ugandan singer Pius Mayanja, popularly known as Pallaso, has shared chilling memories of his time at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, describing it as brutal and deeply isolating.

His reflection comes amid a wave of online news this week saying that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been taken into U.S. custody and transferred to MDC Brooklyn, the same federal facility that has previously housed high-profile inmates including music stars Sean “Diddy” Combs and R. Kelly.

“Just saw news of the Venezuelan president and Diddy being taken to MDC Brooklyn. R. Kelly too,” Pallaso wrote on social media. “If someone is sent there, please keep them in your thoughts. It’s a brutal, isolating experience right in the heart of NYC.”

For Pallaso, this was not speculation. The Nalonda Nemala hitmaker revealed that he was detained at the same facility in 2009, an experience he says left lasting emotional scars.

“I know this all too well — I spent time there as a prisoner in 2009,” he shared. “MDC challenges everyone, no matter your status. Healing from that place took me years.”

? Just saw news of the Venezuelan president and Diddy being taken to MDC Brooklyn. R. Kelly too. If someone is sent there, please keep them in your thoughts. It’s a brutal, isolating experience right in the heart of NYC. I know this all too well—I spent time there as a Prisoner…

— Pallaso (@pallasomusic) January 5, 2026

MDC Brooklyn, located in the Sunset Park neighbourhood of Brooklyn, is a U.S. federal administrative facility that holds both male and female inmates across all security levels, often while they await trial or sentencing. Despite its position in one of the world’s busiest cities, the detention centre has long been criticised by former detainees and human rights observers for harsh conditions, prolonged isolation and limited access to outdoor time.

During his time there, Pallaso said that the experience stripped inmates of comfort and dignity, regardless of their background or profile. His candid reflection came as a reminder of how difficult detention in a foreign justice system can be, leaving emotional and psychological wounds that linger long after release.

Pallaso’s comments have sparked renewed interest in the discussion around prison conditions both inside the United States and among international visitors and expatriates who may face legal challenges far from home.

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