Court suspends Miss Tourism Uganda activities in Kigezi over copyright infringement
The High Court in Rukungiri has suspended all Miss Tourism Uganda activities including a beauty pageant that was set to be held on Saturday night over copyright infringement.
“The respondents and their agents are restrained from running a beauty pageant of Miss Tourism Kigezi region and stop online voting and advertising of the intended event on June, 15 , 2024 pending the determination of civil miscellaneous application number 222 of 224,” the interim order by the court’s acting assistant registrar issued on Friday read in part.
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The development followed a civil suit by Miss Tourism Kigezi Initiative Ltd in which it challenged Miss Tourism Uganda - Pearl of Africa and Ms. Zakia Lucky’s powers to hold the beauty pageant yet the former solely and independently manages the initiative for purposes of young men and women in Kigezi region in tourism.
Miss Tourism Kigezi Initiative Limited through their lawyers of Bwagi & Co. Advocates says they have since 2016 managed the beauty pageant , adding that the Aprl, 20, 2024 letter in which Zakia Lucky was appointed as the new coordinator for the Kigezi Cluster suggested that Miss Tourism Kigezi was under the authority of Miss Tourism Uganda - Pearl of Africa whereas not.
Miss Tourism Kigezi Initiative Limited therefore asked court to stop all activities of Miss Tourism Uganda-Pearl of Africa in Kigezi , including the beauty pageant that they said if allowed, would suffer monetary loss and other irreparable damages.
The plaintiff also told court that they had launched the 9th edition of Miss Tourism Kigezi and allowing the beauty pageant by Miss Tourism Uganda-Pearl of Africa in Kigezi would make it hard for the former to get contestants, partners and sponsors.
In the Friday ruling, the Rukungiri High Court halted the beauty pageant meant for today, Saturday afternoon until the matter is disposed of
The interim order also stopped Miss Tourism Uganda from organizing any events or using the name ‘Kigezi’ in their programs until the main case is disposed of.
