The legal feud between Comedy Store Uganda CEO Alex Muhangi and Gagamel boss Bebe Cool has taken center stage in court, with allegations of copyright infringement and payment disagreements.
Court Hearing and Background of the Case
The hearing, which took place at City Hall in Kampala on March 19, 2025, was triggered by Bebe Cool’s claims that Muhangi illegally uploaded videos of his performances from Comedy Store without permission. The artist accuses Muhangi of benefiting financially from his content through YouTube monetization.
Muhangi, however, strongly denied the allegations, stating that Comedy Store videos are not monetized on YouTube and that posting performances is purely for promotional purposes.
Muhangi’s Response: No Earnings from Bebe Cool’s Music
Speaking to the press before the court session, Muhangi clarified:
“It is impossible to monetize content that contains someone else’s music. That is simply how YouTube operates. I cannot earn even a single penny from content featuring Bebe Cool’s music.”
He further added that artists benefit from the free promotion when Comedy Store shares their performances on its platforms.
“Bebe Cool should be thankful that whenever we post his content, it drives engagement on his channels.”
Clash Over Performance Payment
Muhangi also revisited the origin of the fallout, which stemmed from payment issues at a past Comedy Store event.
According to him, Bebe Cool was set to perform for Shs 6 million, but upon arrival, demanded payment before stepping on stage.
Muhangi claims his team had only Shs 5 million in cash at the time, but he assured Bebe Cool that the balance would be sent via Mobile Money. However, Bebe Cool left without performing, sparking a public dispute.
With both sides maintaining their stance, the case is now before the courts, where a final verdict will determine whether Comedy Store violated copyright laws or if the claims were baseless.