Kampala, Uganda – The estate of the late Ugandan musician Job Paul Kafeero has taken legal action against artist Gravity Omutujju, accusing him of copyright infringement for his unauthorized use of Kafeero’s iconic song “Walumbe Zaaya.” The lawsuit, which was filed by Libirige & Co. Advocates, demands a compensation of Shs2 billion for damages.
According to the legal notice issued on February 11, the estate alleges that Gravity Omutujju, along with Pitaxon and producer Rinex, remixed and distributed a version of “Walumbe Zaaya” back in 2012 without obtaining permission from Kafeero’s family or the relevant copyright holders. The version of the song, which is still accessible on Gravity Omutujju’s YouTube channel, allegedly includes unauthorized use of the original audio, lyrics, beats, and even the late Kafeero’s voice.
The lawsuit asserts that Gravity’s actions constitute severe violations of copyright and intellectual property laws, particularly infringing upon Kafeero’s moral and economic rights. The legal documents claim that these actions represent unlawful reproduction, distribution, and commercial exploitation of Kafeero’s work.
As part of the lawsuit, Gravity Omutujju is being ordered to cease all performances, distributions, and monetization of the song “Walumbe Zaaya,” and to remove it from all digital platforms. Additionally, the court has demanded that Omutujju provide a detailed financial report outlining the revenues generated from the unauthorized version of the song. The estate is also seeking Shs2 billion in general damages for the infringement.