Ugandan music star Sheebah Karungi is once again at the center of a heated dispute with her former manager Jeff Kiwanuka, popularly known as Jeff Kiwa, over the ownership of her music catalog and royalties from past hit songs produced under the Team No Sleep (TNS) label.
According to sources close to the singer, Sheebah claims that Kiwa and his label continue to control and monetize several of her earlier tracks without proper authorization or compensation. She alleges that songs recorded during her years with TNS — between 2013 and 2020 — are still being streamed and performed under rights registered to Jeff Kiwa, despite her departure from the label nearly five years ago.
“I built my brand from the ground up. Every song I made represents my sweat and creativity. It’s time I fully own what’s mine,” Sheebah recently stated in an interview.
The tension between Sheebah and her former manager reportedly reignited in August 2025, when the singer accused Kiwa of using her hit song “Nobody” without her consent and of paying bloggers to attack her reputation online. Kiwa has yet to issue a formal response to the accusations.
Industry observers note that such disputes are common in the East African music scene, where artists often sign early-career contracts that assign broad ownership rights to managers or record labels. Without clear reversion clauses, musicians can struggle to reclaim their catalogs once they become independent.
Entertainment analysts say the case highlights the urgent need for stronger music copyright laws and transparent royalty systems in Uganda to protect artists’ intellectual property and long-term income.
While Sheebah continues to release new music independently and perform across Africa, it remains unclear whether she plans to take legal action against Jeff Kiwa or TNS. As of now, no official lawsuit has been filed in the Ugandan courts.
