KAMPALA – Media Lab Entebbe, the people suing National Resistance Movement (NRM) darling singer Ronald Mayinja for illegally using their footage in President Museveni’s campaign song titled ‘Muzeeyi Akalulu’ have revealed that they will not relent on the case against the singer.
Speaking to the media at their offices in Entebbe to address the ‘notice to sue’ that went viral recently, Mr Adam Walusimbi the Media lab Spokesperson said the footage used in Mayinja’s video was one of the projects they had been hired by Entebbe Municipal Council to capture photos when it was being inspected by State Minister for Local Government Ms Jenifer Namuyangu on the works progress recently.
“We offered to shoot a video for them which they agreed to and asked us to share with them a sample, if they were pleased with the footage we would release the full footage to them. We gave it to them and also shared it on our different social media sites where it was picked by Mayinja who used it and edited out the media lab logo,” he said.
Mr Ivan Walunyolo the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) Entebbe Media Lab said they were saddened to see their intellectual work illegally get used by Mayinja.
Walunyolo emphasized that their suit is not in any way politically motivated but rather a step to ensure content providers retain copyright of their intellectual works and are paid for in case someone wants to use them.
“What we are doing is the same that artists have been asking the government to do for a long time to ensure they retain copyright to their intellectual works and they earn a living off it even without performing on shows,” he said.
He shares that the Municipal Council was impressed with the sample and they were supposed to meet with them to discuss the payments but before the meeting could take place, they saw the footage in Mayinja’s video.
Entebbe Media Lab is made up of different journalists based in Entebbe and trains students interested in practicing media as a goodwill action.
“In training these students there are some costs incurred like transport and feeding, these students don’t pay. As media lab, we have to carry out side business to bring in funds like videography photography among other things,” Walusimbi revealed.
Media Lab Entebbe through their lawyers (Walusimbi & Co Advocates) have since demanded singer Ronald Mayinja for an apology and compensation of Ugx 375 Million for using their work without consent.
