By Spy Uganda
In a landmark decision set to revolutionize Uganda’s creative industry, President Yoweri Museveni has approved the establishment of a Copyright Management System aimed at ensuring musicians earn from their work. This development was announced during a high-profile meeting at his country home in Rwakitura, attended by key officials, artists, and industry stakeholders, including celebrated musician Eddy Kenzo.
For years, Ugandan artists have struggled with piracy and the lack of a structured system to collect royalties from their music. The introduction of this Copyright Management System is expected to change that.
How the System Works
The proposed system will:
- Register musicians’ works
- Track music usage in bars, TVs, and radio stations
- Ensure artists receive payment per play
- Combat music piracy
Under this framework, businesses such as bars, TV stations, and radio stations will be required to install a licensed device that tracks song plays. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) will oversee the enforcement, ensuring compliance across all entertainment platforms.
For instance, if a bar pays UGX 1 million for a music license, artists will be compensated based on the number of times their songs are played. If a song is played 60 times, the artist will earn 60% of the fee.
However, failure to comply could result in fines or closure, with Uganda Police tasked to enforce the regulations.
Uganda’s music industry has long fought for stronger copyright protections. Artists often lament that they create hit songs yet struggle financially due to widespread unauthorized use of their music. In reality, although media houses, bars, and event venues have played music for free, they do not generate enough revenue to afford copyright fees.
In an exclusive interview, Andrew Irumba Katusabe, the President of INDOJA-U, an Association for online online Media in Uganda and a EXCO member of National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) raised critical concerns about the sustainability of such initiative.
Irumba stated, “Media houses are already struggling. The government, which should be the biggest spender on media, has no budget for it. They budget for everything—fuel, water, mandazi, even toilet paper at government events—but not media. Yet, the same government now wants to force media houses to pay artists like Jose Chameleone, who may be 100 times richer than the station itself!”
He further questioned how struggling media houses, particularly upcountry stations, would afford such payments.
“How does a small radio station in Gulu, which barely makes enough money to operate, afford to pay fees for playing music from thousands of artists—including international stars like Michael Jackson and Celine Dion? If they couldn’t afford it before, what makes anyone think they can now? The reality is that they’ll be forced to shut down.”
A Double-Edged Sword?
While the move is a victory for artists, it poses a potential risk to the survival of media houses and entertainment businesses. If enforced too rigidly, many bars, radio, and TV stations could shut down, leading to massive job losses.
Uganda’s creative industry is now at a crossroads—between securing musicians’ rights and ensuring media platforms remain operational. The big question remains: Can Uganda implement this system without killing the very businesses that help promote artists in the first place?
President Museveni’s endorsement of the Copyright Management System marks a new era in Uganda’s music industry. While it promises fairness and financial security for artists, its impact on the struggling media industry remains uncertain.
