A Ugandan writer, Annette Najjemba, has won a major legal battle against MK Publishers, one of the country’s most recognized publishing companies, after the High Court ruled that the company used her work without her permission.
The court ordered MK Publishers to pay Najjemba Shs 100 million in damages and hand over 30% of all the profits made from selling her stories in Rwanda. The company was also told to pay interest on these payments dating back to 2013.
This case started when Najjemba discovered that her children’s story collection, *Our Folktales*, had been turned into audio stories and sold to the Rwandan government for use in primary schools — all without her consent. The stories included *The Gooseberry Triplets*, *The Cruel Stepmother*, and *The Snake and the Beautiful Girl*, among others.
She had submitted the manuscript to MK Publishers years ago hoping they would publish it. But instead of signing an agreement with her, the company reportedly adjusted the stories to match Rwandan cultural themes and sold them abroad.
In court, MK Publishers claimed Najjemba knew about the changes and didn’t object at the time. They also argued that since she submitted the manuscript voluntarily, the company had the right to use it.
However, Justice Patience Rubagumya disagreed and ruled that the publisher had no legal right to reproduce, modify, or sell Najjemba’s stories without a formal agreement. She emphasized that there was no contract or license giving the company permission to use her work.
As a result, Najjemba was awarded Shs 70 million in general damages and Shs 30 million in additional (exemplary) damages — both attracting 6% annual interest. Furthermore, MK Publishers must give her 30% of profits earned from Rwandan sales, with 24% interest per year from 2013 until the full amount is paid. The court also ordered the publisher to cover the costs of the case.
This ruling is being seen as a significant moment in Uganda’s publishing industry, where many authors have long complained about unfair treatment but few cases reach the courts.
Najjemaba’s win is expected to inspire more writers to speak up and demand protection for their intellectual property, especially as cross-border publishing becomes more common. The case also sends a clear message to publishers about the importance of proper contracts and respecting copyright laws.