Singer Richard Kawesa has demanded Ugsh5 billion(Ksh 135 million) from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as payment for copyrights to the song he wrote dubbed ‘Another rap’ , which was used during the 2011 presidential elections.
Mr Kawesa claims that he wrote and produced the song under President Museveni’s instruction.
“This song also became a popular ringtone, which was obtained on all mobile telecommunication platforms and enhanced the top of the mind awareness of your brand to the Ugandan populace while making billions of shillings in royalty fees in the process. It is the reason we hold that the politico-commercial value and mileage you extracted from the said song is very substantial and indisputable,” Mr Kawesa claims.
Through his lawyers of M/s Muwema and Company Advocates, Mr Kawesa’s letter to the president and copied to the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) contends that Mr Museveni took all moral and economic rights to the said song and even registered its copyright without recognizing his associate brand as author, director and producer of the works.
Citing the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act of 2006, Mr Kawesa claims that the musical work belongs to him, but for the reason that Mr Museveni authorized the creation and production of the musical work attaches a liability for payment.
According to the Daily Monitor, he wrote a demand letter addressed to Museveni on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
In the notice, Mr Kawesa states that he is aware of Article 98 of the Constitution through which a sitting as president enjoys immunity from legal proceedings but asked Mr Museveni to treat the notice as an invitation to amicably settle and consider resolution of the matter.
Will Museveni swallow his pride and pay the artists?