Additional reporting by Paul Kayonga
Musician and Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) may not have a case to answer for including MPs in his music video Tuliyambala Engule.
Several legal minds interviewed by the Nile Post say Bobi Wine did not break any law when he included the MPs in his music video. Ugandan lawyer Fred Muwema and Uganda Performing Rights Society CEO James Wasula argue that as long as someone is in public space they have consented to appearing in any recording.
On Wednesday, several MPs complained to the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga that fellow legislator Bobi Wine had included them in his music video without their consent.
VIDEO: NRM MPs featured in Bobi Wine Tuliyambala Engule complain to speaker Kadaga
A section of NRM legislators in the video led by the Parliamentary Commissioner Robinah Nabanja are said to have reported the matter to speaker seeking her intervention.
Though MP Nabanja shunned our camera, other NRM Legislators led by MP Moses Balyeku had no kind words to Bobi Wine.
He defended Nabanja’s contention that he tainted the MPs images by including them in that video. He said if he had been included in that video, he would have personally sued Bobi Wine and used the court winnings to benefit the people of Jinja municipality West, who he represents.
Lawyer Muwema says that, if Bobi Wine had used the Members of Parliament clip for his political and commercial ideologies he would have a case to answer, but musically he had all the rights to do so.
“An artist is allowed to perform live and authorize production. If you go for his performance, you consent to dance with him, you have waived your rights to privacy, so Bobi did not break any law,” Muwema further elaborates.
The lawyer says members of the public simply need to learn about their rights to protect their privacy and not fall victims to circumstance.
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