Ugandan music star Sheebah Karungi has taken a bold legal step against her former record label Team No Sleep Entertainment, accusing the company of continuing to use her songs without her permission.
The dispute has now reached the High Court of Uganda.
It is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about legal battles in the local music industry.
According to documents circulating online, the singer claims that her music has been distributed and monetized by the label even after she demanded that the practice stop.
Information from a formal letter written by her lawyers, SM & Co. Advocates, shows that Sheebah has been pushing for action for some time.
In the letter addressed to Jeff Kiwanuka, a director at Team No Sleep, the lawyers demanded an immediate halt to what they described as unauthorized use of her musical works.
The legal team stated that the artist is the original creator and full copyright owner of her songs.
They explained that this means she alone has the right to decide how her music is shared or sold.
They also claimed that despite repeated warnings, the company allegedly continued to exploit her music across different digital platforms.
They further stated that this was done without a valid contract or approval from the singer.
The letter warned that failure to remove the songs and stop any form of distribution would force the singer to seek legal help from the courts.
It stated clearly that continued use of her work without consent amounts to a direct violation of intellectual property rights.
The lawyers also gave the company a deadline to comply with the demands.
They made it clear that legal action would follow if the instructions were ignored.
The matter has now progressed to the courts, showing that the disagreement has moved beyond private talks.
It has now turned into a full legal showdown between the two sides.
Court papers indicate that the case is now before the Commercial Division of the High Court in Kampala.
A summons was issued to guide how the case will proceed.
The hearing was scheduled to bring all parties together before the registrar.
This meeting is meant to help both sides agree on timelines for filing documents and witness statements.
It will also guide when trial materials should be submitted.
The court is expected to set a date for a scheduling conference.
This conference will prepare the case for a full hearing before a trial judge.
As the legal process continues, fans and industry players are closely watching the situation.
Many want to see how the conflict between Sheebah and Team No Sleep will unfold.
The outcome of the case could set an important example for artists fighting to protect their music rights in Uganda.
