President Yoweri Museveni has been dragged to the commercial court by a local Musician Richard Kaweesa for allegedly stealing his song “Another Rap” which he used in his 2010 presidential campaigns and later acquired copyrights to the song.
Kaweesa is also suing President Museveni together with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau for failing to carry out due diligence before illegally registering and granting President Museveni copyright adding that he produced the said song using a few Kinyakore words that were contained in the president’s speech of the 9th of October 2010 at Statehouse.
Through his lawyers of Muwema and Company Advocates, the singer is seeking for a court declaration that he is the author, producer and owner of the ‘Another rap song’ and that Museveni’s use and registration of copyright in the musical works without his knowledge, consent and compensation is an infringement on his right.
However, in the alternative, Kaweesa wants the court to order the president pay him adequate remuneration for his musical works contending that the song was a hit on airwaves, internet and dance halls to which Museveni claims popularity both locally and on the international scene.
Kaweesa further contends that several negotiations with the president to have the matter settled amicably with a whopping of Shs 5.5 billion compensation claim to him proved futile hence seeking court’s redress.
In the plaint, Kaweesa also mentions that as a president, Museveni lost his immunity not to be sued as a sitting president when the Head of state individually subjected himself to acquire copyright on a song which does not belong to him.
