Ugandan dancehall singer Mikie Wine has offered his explanation for why veteran musician Ragga Dee’s threatened lawsuit over his hit song ‘Zuena’ never materialised, suggesting that the legendary singer may have forgiven him after hearing the remake.
Speaking during an interview with Galaxy TV, Mikie reflected on the copyright controversy surrounding his version of Ragga Dee’s 2004 song ‘Nkuguddemu Oyagala Cash’.
According to Mikie, he believes Ragga Dee may have changed his position after listening to the remake and appreciating how he had reworked the original material.
“I think he later forgave me; he is my elder and a father to me. I think he gave up on me because I might have redone it in a way that he liked,” Mikie said.
The singer further suggested that Ragga Dee may initially have received negative feedback about the remake but eventually recognised that the song had gained popularity without damaging the reputation of the original.
“Maybe they had told him I had ruined his song and when he heard it, he loved it. The song had gone viral and he knew his name was well preserved,” he added.
The controversy dates back to last year when a legal notice prepared by MGC Law Advocates on behalf of Ragga Dee circulated on social media.
The document accused Mikie Wine of copyright infringement, claiming that Ragga Dee had published and secured copyright protection for ‘Nkuguddemu Oyagala Cash’ in 2004 before Mikie released his own version, titled ‘Zuena’.
Ragga Dee’s legal representatives reportedly demanded UGX 300 million in compensation within seven days of the notice, warning that failure to comply would lead to legal action.
However, Mikie disputed the allegation that he had recorded his version without seeking permission from the veteran musician.
His latest remarks suggest that he believes the situation may have been resolved privately, although he did not provide details of any formal agreement or confirmation from Ragga Dee that the dispute had been withdrawn.
Interestingly, Mikie spoke respectfully about the veteran singer, describing him as an elder and father figure despite the disagreement.
For now, the singer’s explanation offers his perspective on why the much-discussed UGX 300 million copyright dispute did not progress into the lawsuit that had been threatened.