Uganda Player Accused Melbet & Paragon Bet For Image Right Violation

Dennis Onyango and Mamelodi Sundowns, goalkeeper, claims Melbet and Paragon bet used his photos for promotional purposes during the international break without permission regarding demand Ush 100m (about 30,000 USD) from the two brands for image rights violations.

According to a local media report, the custodian demanded Ush50 million from each Melbet and Paragon betting firm for allegedly violating his image rights through his lawyers Muwekma and co. Advocates, the experienced Cranes skipper, claimed the two brands used his image to promote their products before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Burkina Faso and Malawi Match. As reported by local media, “Our clients’ attention was recently drawn to advertisement carried out by both Melbet and Paragon bet on their social media handles to promote their products. For the Uganda Cranes games against Burkina Faso and Malawi,” the statement demand read.

“The unauthorized use of our client’s image is a deliberate violation of his image rights for which we shall hold you liable, given the fact that our client is signed up as an ambassador to another entity in the same business”.

The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to demand that you desist from any future usage of our clients’ image to promote your products. And to further demand that you pay our client Ush 50,000.000 (Uganda shillings fifty million) only as compensation for violations of his image rights. However, Melbet is an established brand in the Africa online gambling market. The company has been at the forefront in Africa iGaming industry with a presence in multiple territories such as Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Kenya, and DR Congo. In contrast, Paragonbet is one of Uganda’s newest sports betting firms, one of Uganda’s most fast progressing brands.

Meanwhile, in February this year, the gangly shot-stopper named the brand ambassador of a sports betting company in Uganda. Thus his images shouldn’t appear as a promotion brand for other direct competitors. Onyango is one of the few athletes in Uganda who has an endorsement with corporate companies and institutions. However, the qualifier was of great importance for Uganda as they attempted to book a ticket to the Cameroon Africa Cup of Nation next year. However, after a draw against Burkina Faso in Kitende and a subsequent loss to the flames in Blantyre, the Cranes could not qualify. The failure to be eligible for the third straight Africa Cup of Nation finals (AFCON) saw the federation vowed to implement some radical measures to revive the national side.

However, this new development came as a surprise to the gaming industry stakeholders and; E-play Africa did further research to contact the two brands’ representative to hear their side of the allegation or hear their opinion from this allegation, but nothing has been fruitful yet. Uganda is a landlocked country situated in East-Central Africa.

It bordered to the north, South Sudan to the east, Kenya, the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania to the south. It has a population of over 44 million, and its capital is Kampala. The National Gaming Board Uganda, under section 4 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, 2016, has the mandate to issue a gaming license for Lotteries, Casinos Gaming, and Betting in Uganda.

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Adeleye Awakan

Author E-play Africa, sports betting reviews, thoughtful leardership articles in Africa gambling industry, marketing gaming platforms in Africa with strong networking relationship with gaming operators in Africa, Expertise in PR, marketing communication, and consultant on gaming in Africa.

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Adeleye Awakan

Author E-play Africa, sports betting reviews, thoughtful leardership articles in Africa gambling industry, marketing gaming platforms in Africa with strong networking relationship with gaming operators in Africa, Expertise in PR, marketing communication, and consultant on gaming in Africa.