TAKEAWAYS
- TNS sues Sheebah and Ziiki Holdings over music rights dispute
- Sheebah claims full ownership of her musical works
- Case unfolds as Uganda enforces new copyright law
Songstress Sheebah Karungi is currently held up in a legal copyright dispute with her former label, under her ex-manager Jeff Kiwa. According to documents accessed by this website, Team No Sleep Entertainment (TNS) has dragged the matter to the High Court of Uganda, suing Sheebah and Ziiki Holdings.
Court records show that the case, filed in the Commercial Division, follows an earlier legal warning issued by Sheebah’s lawyers in July 2025. In that notice, she demanded that TNS immediately stop distributing, monetizing, or exploiting her music, asserting that she is the sole copyright owner of her works.
“Our client is the author and sole owner of the copyright in all her musical works and retains full and exclusive rights thereto,” part of the legal notice reads.
“Any unauthorized use, distribution, or exploitation constitutes a direct infringement of her intellectual property rights.”
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It should be noted that the “Queen Karma” rose to solo stardom under the guidance of Jeff Kiwa, building one of the most successful music careers in Uganda during her time at TNS. However, a few years ago, Sheebah ceased working with Kiwa, and since then, the relationship between the two has remained strained.
The dispute now raises a critical question: who owns the rights to music created during her time under TNS?
Sources indicate that Sheebah did not appear for the initial court summons scheduled yesterday, adding another layer of intrigue to the case. Legal experts say her absence could influence how quickly the matter progresses.
The timing is also significant, coming just as Uganda moves to implement the newly assented Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act, 2026. The law is expected to strengthen protections for artists and clarify ownership and earnings from creative works.
With both sides digging in, this case could set a precedent for artist-label relationships in Uganda’s music industry.
