In a letter received by Airtel Uganda on February 14, 2024, popular musician Bebe Cool, born Moses Ssali notified the telecommunication company of his intention to sue them following the depletion of 22 GBs of data bundle from his mobile phone number in a short span of time without him using the data.
“That on 16th January at around 21:56 hours, I entered into a prepaid contract with your company for purchase of 22 GB of monthly data at UGX 50,000 (Sh 2,000). It is your operation policy that mobile data bundle depletion depends on a customer’s internet usage based on the volumes of the megabyte file browsed,” said Bebe Cool via his lawyers.
Also read: Nigerian artists say Bebe Cool ‘set us up’
The demand notice went on to reveal that he opened his TikTok app at 22:00 hours for only 5 minutes and then plugged his phone to charge as he waited to participate in a Zoom meeting.
During this charging period, by 12:30 am, without using the phone, he received an alert he had remained with 5694 MBs of which 17 GB of data had been depleted.
He went on to state that two minutes later, no remaining bundles were linked to his phone number.
“That this unethical data depletion antagonised my important Zoom business meeting which was scheduled that same night and as a result, I have to incur travel expenses together with my team for a physical meeting in Lagos,” added the lawyer’s letter to Airtel.
Bebe Cool accused Airtel of “unjustified, self-enrichment conduct” and breaching “their prepaid agreement.”
Also read: Bebe Cool booed off stage for ‘not standing with Bobi Wine’ – VIDEO
Following this, he demanded an inventory and usage chart of his mobile data bundle between January 16 and 17, 2024, a refund of his unused data bundles, UGX 100 million (Sh 4.02 million) as compensation for his travel expense and another UGX 100 million for all inconveniences caused to him within 21 days of Airtel receiving the lawyer’s letter.
“Should you fail to comply, I will not hesitate to seek legal redress from Courts of law at your own cost, peril and embarrassment,” Bebe Cool finally told Airtel.
Bebe Cool is one of the legendary musicians in Uganda and East Africa. Among his chart-topping hits include Mbolzi Za Malwa with Kenya’s Sauti Sol, Love You Everyday and Am Good in which he collaborated with Kenya’s Nameless.
