I Will Sue Alex Muhangi – Bebe Cool Warns NTV, Comedy Store

Ugandan music star Bebe Cool has taken a legal stand against Comedy Store Uganda proprietor Alex Muhangi, accusing him of unlawfully using his performances for commercial purposes. Through his lawyer Timothy Sentongo of RSK Associates, the renowned musician has issued a legal notice to Muhangi, warning him of potential legal action for broadcasting and distributing his content without permission. Also read about the Bebe Cool list.

What allegations does Bebe Cool have Against Alex Muhangi?

According to the legal letter, Bebe Cool alleges that between October 2017 and November 2024, Muhangi used his performances on various media platforms, including YouTube and NTV Uganda, without obtaining proper consent from the artist. The notice, which has been copied to key institutions such as the Uganda Registration Service Bureau’s Directorate of Intellectual Property, Uganda Communications Commission, and Uganda Performing Rights Society, underscores that Muhangi does not have the right to exploit Bebe Cool’s performances for commercial gain. Below are the details Bebe Cool wrote in the now leaked document.

R.S.K. ASSOCIATES
(Tax, Sports, Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property, Environment, Islamic Finance, Investment Advisory, Legal Research, Project Management, Debt Collection, Property Management, Conference, and Workshop Consultancy)

OUR REF: R.S./11/9/18/25
Date: 29th February 2025

TO: Mr. Alex Emix Munangi
Comedy Store Uganda

Subject: DEMAND NOTICE CUM INTENTION TO SUE FOR COPYRIGHT & NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS INFRINGEMENT

Dear Sir,

I, the lawful attorney/copyright administrator for Salim Moses Bebe Cool (vide P.O.A INST-174072008712), do hereby address you in that capacity as hereunder:

It is within my understanding that on several occasions, Bebe Cool has performed at Comedy Store Uganda, a show hosted and directed by you in Kampala.

That your show airs on NTV Uganda and is distributed and syndicated via multiple online platforms, including your YouTube channel:
YouTube.com/AlexMunangiComedian

Between October 2017 and November 2025, Bebe Cool’s express consent was not obtained before broadcasting his performances for economic gains. Despite repeated warnings, your show has monetized and benefited commercially from Bebe Cool’s performances without permission.

This is copyright infringement, and you have no legal right to:

1. Broadcast, distribute, or perform Bebe Cool’s performances without a valid license.
2. Commercialize his works for financial gain without proper authorization.

Therefore, I demand that you take the following actions:

1. Cease and desist from broadcasting Bebe Cool’s performances on any platform for commercial purposes.
2. Remove and delete all infringing content copied under unauthorized circumstances from all media platforms.
3. Provide a detailed account of all revenues generated from the infringement.
4. Compensate Bebe Cool with an amount of UGX 579,498,880 for the unauthorized use of his performances.

TAKE NOTICE

Failure to adhere to these demands within 14 days from the date of this notice shall result in legal proceedings against you without further notice.

Sincerely,
Ssentongo Timothy
(Attorney for Bebe Cool)

• CC: Uganda Registration Services Bureau (Director of Intellectual Property, Copyrights & Trademarks)
• CC: Uganda Communications Commission
• CC: NTV Uganda

The letter further outlines the nature of the alleged infringement, describing how Muhangi affixed, distributed, and broadcasted Bebe Cool’s content across multiple channels. Bebe Cool’s legal team asserts that these actions are unjust enrichment, causing significant economic harm and violating the musician’s performance rights.

Legal Demands and Compensation from Alex Muhangi

In response to the allegations, Bebe Cool’s legal team, led by Timothy Sentongo of RSK Associates, has outlined several demands:

1. Cease and Desist: Muhangi must immediately stop broadcasting and distributing Bebe Cool’s performances across all media platforms.
2. Removal of Content: All infringing content related to Bebe Cool’s performances must be taken down from Muhangi’s platforms, including his YouTube channel and any other outlets where the performances have been broadcasted.
3. Revenue Accounting: Muhangi is required to provide a full account of the revenues generated from the unauthorized use of Bebe Cool’s content, detailing earnings from all platforms.
4. Financial Compensation: Bebe Cool is seeking UGX 579,698,550 as restitution for the economic harm and damages caused by the infringement.

These demands come with a 14-day ultimatum, and failure to comply will result in both civil and criminal legal action against Alex Muhangi.

Protecting Intellectual Property in Uganda’s Entertainment Industry

Bebe Cool’s move to take legal action highlights the growing importance of intellectual property rights in Uganda’s entertainment industry. As artists continue to embrace digital platforms for content distribution, disputes over unauthorized use of performances are becoming more common. This case serves as a reminder for content creators and event organizers to obtain the necessary permissions before using an artist’s work for commercial gain.

As of now, Alex Muhangi and Comedy Store Uganda have not publicly responded to the legal notice. It remains to be seen whether the parties will reach an amicable resolution or if the case will proceed to court.

Alex Muhangi’s Past Feuds

Alex Muhangi has been at the center of several disputes in Uganda’s entertainment industry. Some of the notable feuds include:

• Patrick Salvado Idringi (2018-2020) – The two comedians had an on-and-off rivalry, with Salvado once accusing Muhangi of monopolizing the comedy industry and blocking other comedians from accessing platforms. Their disagreements were most evident between 2018 and 2020, though they later appeared to reconcile.
• Madrat & Chiko (2021) – The comedy duo hinted at disagreements with Muhangi over how Comedy Store was run, with complaints about how comedians were treated and paid. In 2021, they publicly voiced concerns about fairness in the comedy industry.
• MC Mariachi (2019) – Another notable Ugandan comedian who, in 2019, clashed with Muhangi over performance arrangements and payment disputes. Their fallout was widely discussed in the comedy industry at the time.

Celebrities Who Have Clashed with Bebe Cool

Bebe Cool has had a fair share of conflicts with fellow Ugandan celebrities over the years. Some of the most notable include:

• Bobi Wine (2000s – Present) – The longtime feud between Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine dates back to their early music careers in the 2000s. It has been fueled by competition in the music industry and later deepened due to their opposing political views, with Bobi Wine venturing into politics while Bebe Cool remained a strong government supporter.
• Jose Chameleone (2005, 2014, 2019) – While they have had moments of friendship, Bebe Cool and Chameleone have clashed multiple times. Their first major fallout was in 2005 over claims of sabotage in the music industry. In 2014, they had another dispute over music awards, and in 2019, they exchanged words over leadership in Uganda’s music industry.
• Gravity Omutujju (2022) – The rapper openly took jabs at Bebe Cool in 2022, accusing him of being out of touch with the younger generation of Ugandan artists and not supporting upcoming talent.
• A Pass (2017, 2018) – The dancehall singer engaged in several social media spats with Bebe Cool, often mocking him over his musical style and relevance. In 2017 and 2018, their online clashes became a trending topic in Ugandan entertainment news.
• Eddy Kenzo (2019, 2023) – At one point, Kenzo and Bebe Cool had disagreements regarding international recognition. In 2019, they had a heated exchange over Uganda’s music industry representation at international awards. Their rivalry resurfaced in 2023 when Kenzo criticized Bebe Cool’s influence in Uganda’s music leadership circles.

This latest legal dispute between Bebe Cool and Alex Muhangi adds another chapter to the ever-evolving drama in Uganda’s entertainment industry. Whether this matter will be settled privately or escalate to a full legal battle remains to be seen.