Ugandan music label Team No Sleep (TNS) has taken singer Sheebah Karungi to court in a renewed and escalating copyright battle, reviving long-standing tensions between the two parties.
According to court documents and sources close to the matter, TNS accuses Sheebah of continuing to perform songs recorded during her time under the label without formal authorization. The disputed catalogue includes some of her earliest and most commercially successful hits, produced while she was managed by Jeff Kiwa.
The label maintains that all music created under its management remains its intellectual property, a position that has fueled disputes since Sheebah’s departure from the camp.
Reports further indicate that Sheebah has neither appeared in court nor filed an official response to the summons, allowing the case to proceed in her absence.
The legal action adds a new chapter to one of Uganda’s most high-profile artiste-manager breakups, a fallout that has for years revolved around issues of music ownership, branding rights, and performance control.
Neither Sheebah nor Team No Sleep has issued a fresh public statement regarding the ongoing proceedings.
Sheebah Karungi, who is currently managed by Dirisa Bukenya Aziz, former manager of Azion, rose to prominence after joining TNS around 2013. Since then, she has grown into one of Uganda’s leading music exports, building a strong brand across Africa with multiple hit songs, awards, and business ventures.
Her early success is widely credited to the foundation laid during her time under Jeff Kiwa’s management, a partnership that significantly shaped her career trajectory.
Unconfirmed reports previously suggested that Sheebah’s split from TNS stemmed from reduced attention from Kiwa, who had reportedly expanded into other business interests, including real estate