Upcoming singer Dwiz Playboi has accused established musicians Sheebah Karungi and Karole Kasita of allegedly using the concept of his song Bukutu for their own collaboration, sparking debate over originality and ownership in Uganda’s music industry.
Dwiz claims he released his version of Bukutu last year, before the two singers released their collaboration in October 2026. He argues that the idea behind the song originated with him and has questioned the release of a similar concept by the established artistes.
“Bukutu is my creation,” Dwiz has insisted.
The singer previously reported the alleged infringement to Katwe Police Station, seeking action over what he considers the appropriation of his creative work.
He has also questioned Sheebah’s involvement in the project, arguing that her experience in the music industry should make her more conscious of the challenges faced by emerging artistes seeking to protect their work.
The accusations have, however, attracted mixed reactions, with some commentators questioning whether the controversy could also increase the upcoming singer’s visibility.
Commentator VictorYo suggested that the dispute could help Dwiz gain recognition among music fans.
“For me, I think Dwiz has used this to gain attention. As you see, we have even discussed him here, so let him push more. People are knowing him,” VictorYo said.
Meanwhile, Sheebah and Karole Kasita’s Bukutu collaboration, which blends dancehall and reggaeton influences, has been promoted through music visuals and nightclub premieres since its release in mid-October.
Neither Sheebah nor Karole Kasita had publicly responded to Dwiz’s specific allegations at the time of writing.
The dispute raises questions about how musical concepts are developed and protected, particularly when emerging artistes believe their ideas have been used by more established performers.
However, similarity in a song’s title or general concept does not, by itself, establish copyright infringement. Determining whether Dwiz’s work was unlawfully used would require examining the recordings, the specific musical elements involved, the history of their creation and any supporting copyright evidence.
For now, the allegations remain unproven.
