Uganda: Dead musician's label warns against copyright infringement

The warning was issued last week by Angel Music, a label founded by the singer. 

The company’s lawyers said a number of musicians had created new renditions of a number of Mowzey Radio's popular songs after his death earlier this year.

In addition, Ugandan media houses had been running adverts using his music without permission.

“It has come to our notice that several persons have started to reproduce substantial parts and also recompose musical works of the late Moses Ssekibogo, aka Mowzey Radio, without the licence of the copyright owner,” a statement from Katende, Ssempebwa and Company Advocates reads.

“The copyright owner shall not hesitate to invoke the strong arm of the law against any or all persons and institutions that are infringing on the musical of the late Moses Ssekibogo.”

Mowzey Radio and Weasel were part of the Goodlyfe Crew, which was managed by the Swangz Avenue label. However, he often wrote and composed songs as a solo act under his own label.

On the day of his funeral, his promoter, Balaam Barugahara, said the singer had recorded hundreds of songs including a gospel album under Angel Music and another 200 with Weasel, all of which were ready for release.

The music has since been stored away for safekeeping until the label and next of kin agree on how best to release the music. 

Legal counsellor Fred Muwema said in an article published by The Observer on 18 February that given Ugandan musician's limited understanding of intellectual property laws, there was a possibility that no ownership agreement existed between Radio and Weasel to ascertain if the two musicians had equal rights to the music they composed and recorded.

"Any further comment on this subject must first ask, who is the owner of the music that was produced by Mowzey Radio and Weasel under their brand name Goodlyfe?” Muwema said.

"If you listen to all the songs of the duo, you will realise that three quarters of the voice-overs was done by the late Mowzey Radio."

"It would be disheartening for the family and endearing fans of Mowzey Radio to learn at some point in the future that he was cut out of his own music creations."

Mowzey Radio died on 1 February after he was assaulted by a bouncer at a bar in Entebbe.