URSB’s Baffling Verdict Leaves All Parties Baffled!
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) recently concluded a legal drama over a catchy slogan that’s meant to extend President Museveni’s rule to a mind boggling 45 years. The slogan in question, “Omalako Jajja Tova ku Main,” loosely translated as “Grandfather, you are still capable, do not leave the platform,” has taken the country by storm – It’s the kind of slogan that could inspire a revolution or just leave you scratching your head.
However, the battle over its ownership has taken Ugandan absurdity to new heights.
Three individuals found themselves embroiled in this legal locking of horns – social media commentator Frank Gashumba (the applicant), ONC national coordinator and senior presidential advisor Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye (the 1st objector), and Lwengo District chairperson Ibrahim Kitatta (the 2nd objector). Who could have guessed that such an innocuous slogan could ignite such an entertaining legal circus?
The assistant registrar of copyright at URSB, Mr. Denis Birungi, announced a verdict that’s as clear as mud. He said that the available evidence is about as convincing as a politician’s promises and that nobody can be crowned the slogan’s author. The evidence, or lack thereof, is simply insufficient to crown an author.
“The applicant, Frank Gashumba, is not the author and cannot apply for registration of the disputed works. There is no evidence to prove that the 1st objector, Namyalo, commissioned the applicant to develop the disputed works and has not proved ownership/authorship of the works, the 2nd objector, Kitatta, has no copyright in the disputed works,” the ruling reads, leaving everyone scratching their heads about who gets credit for rallying support for President Museveni’s eternal rule.
“While there is no evidence to conclusively determine the author of the works, there is sufficient evidence on a balance of probability, to prove that the applicant [Gashumba] could not have been the author,” it added, as if that cleared up anything.
Ms. Namyalo, not one to mince words, vowed to protect ONC from “interference” and those she dubbed “self-seekers.” Her words were as crystal clear as the bottom of a muddy river, but who these nefarious “self-seekers” were, nobody could quite put a finger on.
Mr. Gashumba, the initial claimant of the slogan, submitted his application to URSB on May 16, 2023 hoping to copyright and register it as his ‘masterpiece’. He boldly asserted that he birthed this slogan on November 5, 2022, probably during his creative yoga session at Speke Apartments.
Not to be outdone, Ms. Namyalo, with her lawyers in tow, objected to Mr. Gashumba’s application on June 5, asserting that she was the true creator of the work. She even claimed to have used it at an NRM ONC office launch much earlier on October 19, 2022.
She boldly proclaimed, “These people from day one didn’t have a point because you can’t claim something based on artistic work which you were paid for, and in this case, it is only Museveni who is supposed to claim. Should they make a mistake of going to the High Court, they must prepare money to give us as compensation.”
Mr. Kitatta, the Lwengo District chairperson, had the audacity to join this slogan saga, filing his objection on July 17, complete with evidence that he had already secured slogan ownership through copyright number UG/C/2023/6. You couldn’t make this up if you tried.
URSB, in a move that could only be described as masterful in its ambiguity, dismissed both Mr. Gashumba and Mr. Kitatta’s cases while upholding Ms. Namyalo’s claim, but without bestowing the much sought after title of “slogan’s author.”
But the show must go on!
Frank and Kitatta are now plotting their next move, swearing to appeal this “unfair” decision. Frank maintains, “I’m the mastermind behind that slogan! We’re taking this to the High Court, where they’ll witness the brilliance of our creative process! The judge simply had a case of selective amnesia.”
