By Umoja Standard Reporter.
NEWS: The Lwengo District Chairperson Ibrahim Kitatta has in a new twist claimed copy right and ownership of the slogan Omalako Jajja Tova Kumain.
The slogan is meant to persuade president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to stand for presidency in 2026.
In the records before the Uganda Registration Services Bureau in Kampala, Kitatta says he bred the Slogan , launched and gazetted it in February 2023 but , he was shocked to learn that sofar businessman Frank Gashumba and the Head of Office of the National NRM chairman Hadijja Namyalo Uzeiye claim ownership of the same Slogan.
Ibrahim Kitatta Almalik, Lwengo District Chairperson /Courtesy Photo.
Kitatta has freshly furnished documents including a Certificate of ownership to prove that his work is original and a product of his independent efforts to which he enjoys copy right and seeks protection.
Sometime in October last year, a group of youth led by Namyalo referring to themselves as “ Bazukkulu ba Museveni” launched a campaign in which they asked President Museveni to offer himself as a presidential candidate in the 2026 general election.
Interchangeably using the slogans “Omalako Jjajja Tova ku main”, “Sigala ku Ballot”, “We Command you to Stand Again in 2026 and Beyond” and “Bazzukulu ba Museveni”, the group traversed various parts of the country seeking endorsements for Museveni to stand again in 2026.
However, in May 2023, the founder of SISIMUKA Uganda Frank Gashumba petitioned Uganda Registration Services Bureau claiming the copyright of Omalako Jajja Tova ku Main Sigala Ku Ballot: Jajja we command you to stand again in 2026 and beyond , bazzukulu ba Museveni as his own art work that he allegedly developed in November 2022.
However on June, 5th , 2023 , Hajjati Namyalo through her lawyers of Sebuufu Usaama and Stanley Kangye from K&K Advocates challenged Gashumba’s claims saying she is the originator and creator of the words and the slogan.
Now Kitatta through his lawyers of Kabega, Bogezi and Bukenya Advocates has also submitted an application to URSB in which he says he owns the exclusive rights of the slogan Omalako jaja Tova ku main copy right.
Kitatta contends that he is the individual owner and the author of the said literacy works under certificate of registration number six of 2023 and therefore the attempt by Gashumba and Namyalo’s claim of ownership over his work is an infringement.
The evidence submitted before the URSB by Kitatta indicates that he is the National Vice Chairperson of National Resistance Movement NRM Youth League and together with members of this party and students sat way back on October 17th 2022 at Zebra Hotel in Masaka City and launched the contentious slogan.
The evidence further indicates that the launch was widely publicized in media and some senior staff of Internal Security Organization-ISO equally witnessed the launch.
The records further indicate that as a politically active and sworn supporter of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Kitatta participated in the formation of Pro Museveni Youth in the drive towards the 2016 Presidential elections then with his other colleagues whom they proudly formed KALOC- Kick Age Limitations Out of the Constitution and their views are in the Hansard of Parliament of Uganda.
As such, the Former Secretary General of the National Youth Council Kitatta contends that towards the 2026 elections, he created and registered the works to continue and add value to what he describes as the generally accepted view that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni should continue to serve Uganda as president in 2026 and beyond in order to safe guard the future of Bazzukulu , a group he contends that he has proudly been associated with since sixyears ago.
Further , Kitatta in his letter of objection says that on January 27th 2023, he applied for registration of copyright in respect of the same via copy right application number UG/C/2023/6 and his application was accompanied with copies representing his works for which he paid application fees.
Resultantly, the Lwengo District boss says on February 13th 2023 URSB issued a notice of number ,476 of 2023 where upon no objection was lodged against his application by Gashumba and Namyalo within the required time frame of sixty days . This , Kitatta argues Namyalo and Gashumba were fully aware of the Gazette notice since they are responsible citizens of Uganda.
“As you being fully satisfied that I have provided all necessary information and followed the due process of law, you rightly registered me as the author or owner or holder of the copyright in respect of Omalako Jaja Tova Kumain and consequently on May 4th 2023 issued me with a certificate of registration number six of 2023 as proof of my registration”, reads Kitatta ‘s documents.
Kitatta now argues that he has a right to copyright protection because the Omalako jaja Tova Kumain slogan is his original product of his Independent efforts and he holds the exclusive rights over the same .
He wants the claims by Gashumba and Namyalo dismissed in the interest of justice