(Kampala) – The future of Uganda’s renowned Nyege Nyege Music Festival remains uncertain as a legal dispute over the ownership of the festival’s business name continues in court. The case centers around who holds the rights to the business name “Nyege Nyege Music Festival,” with court proceedings ongoing to determine the legally recognized owner.
The festival, known for attracting thousands of attendees from around the world, is organized by Afroludo Ltd., a local events company. However, court documents indicate that Afroludo Ltd. has been operating without having registered the “Nyege Nyege Music Festival” business name. This gap reportedly allowed an individual, identified only as Ezra, to formally register the business name “Nyege Nyege Music Festival” under his own ownership.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), responsible for handling business registrations in Uganda, stated in court that Ezra’s registration of the name was lawful and complied with the Business Names Registration Act. URSB, which is also a party in the civil suit, confirmed that Ezra is the officially registered proprietor of the name.
The case raises questions over whether Afroludo Ltd. will be allowed to continue organizing the festival under the current brand name. Until a court decision is made, the status of this year’s Nyege Nyege Music Festival remains uncertain. Festival fans and stakeholders await the outcome, as it may determine whether Uganda’s largest music festival will proceed under its well known brand or be forced to make changes to align with the ruling.
