The High Court of Uganda has ruled in favor of Ugandan musician Bruno Kiggundu, popularly known as Bruno K, in a major legal battle against Black Market Records (BMR). The ruling, delivered on April 2, 2025, orders the US-owned music label to compensate Bruno K with UGX 130 million for copyright infringement and unpaid royalties.
Bruno K signed a music contract with Black Market Records on May 12, 2020, hoping to advance his music career. However, he later discovered that the terms were unfair and decided to terminate the agreement.
Despite his decision, BMR refused to release his royalties, continued to claim ownership of his music, and allegedly exploited his content without proper compensation. This led to a legal dispute that has been ongoing for years.
After years of legal wrangling, the High Court ruled in Bruno K’s favor, citing that BMR had illegally withheld his royalties and infringed on his copyright. The court awarded him:
- UGX 100 million in general damages for loss of income and unfair treatment.
- UGX 30 million in aggravated damages due to the label’s continued exploitation of his music.
An emotional Bruno K celebrated the victory, thanking his legal team, fellow musicians, and industry stakeholders for standing by him.
“Justice has been served! I thank my legal team, my brother Eddy Kenzo, and the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) for their unwavering support. This win is not just for me but for every artist who has suffered under exploitative music contracts,” Bruno K stated.
The ruling marks a significant victory in the Ugandan music industry, reinforcing artists’ rights and warning record labels against unfair treatment of musicians.
