Veteran Ugandan musician and Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Creative Industries (UGAPAFOCI), Rachael Magoola, has called for robust implementation and enforcement of copyright laws as the country prepares to overhaul its intellectual property framework.
Speaking during NBS Morning Breeze on Thursday, Magoola emphasised the importance of distinguishing between personal and commercial use of music, noting that while individuals can freely enjoy music in private settings, commercial users must compensate creators.
“If you play music at home, that’s personal use. However, if you play music for commercial use you will have to pay for that music,” she said.
Magoola further clarified how media houses operate within copyright systems, stating that television stations typically pay a blanket licensing fee to collecting management organisations rather than negotiating directly with individual artists.
This system allows for streamlined payments while ensuring creators are compensated.
Magoola revealed that a new tracking system is expected to play a key role in revenue distribution. The system will monitor how often and how long creative works are used, providing data that will determine how royalties are allocated among artists.
Highlighting global best practices, Magoola pointed out that internationally successful artists—such as Beyoncé—earn a significant portion of their income through royalties enabled by well-established copyright laws.
“The biggest money they make comes from royalties from laws that were set up many years ago,” she said.
However, Magoola warned that legislation alone is not enough. She described implementation as the “white elephant in the room,” stressing that without proper enforcement, even the strongest laws would fail to deliver meaningful benefits to creatives.
Magoola urged the government to establish a dedicated enforcement mechanism, including a “copyright police” unit, to tackle infringement and piracy.
Magoola also noted that the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) will be responsible for setting up collecting management organisations tasked with gathering and distributing royalties on behalf of artists
In recent days, government introduced the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, a proposed law expected to significantly transform the country’s creative sector.
The bill was introduced by President General of the Democratic Party and Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao. It seeks to modernise Uganda’s copyright framework and align it with international standards so that creators can benefit more fairly from their intellectual work.
Speaking about the proposed legislation, the Laroo-Pece MP-elect described the bill as a major breakthrough for Uganda’s creative industry, which includes musicians, filmmakers, writers and other artists.
“This bill is a game-changer for our creative industry. It will provide stronger protection for creators, streamline the sector and introduce tougher penalties for piracy and copyright infringement,” he said.
Officials say the proposed amendments are designed to address long-standing challenges faced by Uganda’s creative community, particularly the widespread unauthorised use and distribution of artistic works.
The bill introduces several reforms aimed at improving how artists earn from their content, especially in the digital era where music and other creative works are increasingly distributed through telecommunications platforms.
One of the key provisions is the introduction of a new revenue-sharing model for caller ringback tones, a popular service offered by telecom operators that allows callers to hear music instead of the standard ringing tone when making calls.
Under the proposed structure, authors and performers will receive 60 percent of the revenue generated from caller ringback tones. Telecommunications companies will take 31 percent, while aggregators will receive 8.5 percent.
The new arrangement is intended to ensure that artists receive a larger share of the earnings generated from the use of their music and other creative works.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), which oversees intellectual property rights administration in the country, has welcomed the proposed reforms.
URSB officials say the bill could significantly strengthen Uganda’s creative economy by providing creators with stronger legal protection and improved opportunities to monetise their work.
The agency also believes the updated copyright framework will help curb piracy, a challenge that has long undermined the earnings of artists across Uganda’s entertainment sector.
Industry observers say the bill reflects growing recognition by government of the economic potential of the creative industry, which contributes to employment, cultural expression and innovation.
If enacted into law, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 is expected to create a more structured and transparent system for managing intellectual property rights while encouraging investment in Uganda’s cultural and creative sectors.
Artists and other stakeholders have long called for stronger legal protections to ensure they receive fair compensation for their work, particularly as digital platforms continue to reshape how creative content is produced, distributed and consumed.
