President Yoweri Museveni has given the green light to a new copyright management system aimed at protecting Ugandan creatives and ensuring they get paid for their work.
Speaking in Rwakitura on February 28, 2025, Museveni said the system would track when and where a song is played, making it easier to compensate musicians fairly. He recalled how, in the past, people would record songs off the radio and sell them without permission. “Now technology should be able to tell us who has played my song and where,” he said.
The meeting brought together Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, State Minister for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuuzo, and a team of musicians led by Eddy Kenzo, President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF).
The new system will allow artists to register their work, track its usage, and get paid accordingly. Businesses that play music, like bars, hotels, and media houses, will have to contribute a fee, ensuring musicians earn from their songs.
Dr. Joel Isabirye, a Principal Development Economist at State House, explained how it will work. If a bar plays Afrigo Band’s music and charges customers for entry, the band should get a cut of that revenue. The same applies to radio and TV stations that attract advertisers by playing local music. “Artists don’t want all the ad money, just a fair share for their contribution,” he said.
To ensure compliance, bars and entertainment venues will have to install a monitoring device as part of their license requirements. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Uganda Police will oversee enforcement, and tampering with the system will trigger alerts.
“This is about fairness. The payments won’t be unreasonable—just a way to acknowledge that businesses use musicians’ work to make money,” Dr. Isabirye noted. Those who refuse to comply will be flagged, and UCC will take action.
Ugandan musicians have long struggled to earn from their work due to weak copyright laws. Under this system, payments will be based on actual airplay rather than an artist’s popularity.
For example, if a business pays a Shs 1 million licensing fee and an artist’s song gets 60% of the total airplay, they’ll receive Shs 600,000. The rest will be shared among other artists based on play frequency.
“This will help musicians earn even after their careers slow down,” Dr. Isabirye said. “They’ll continue receiving royalties in retirement, illness, or even after they pass, benefiting their families for generations.”
The meeting also included members of the UNMF and the State House science team, led by Engineer Sheba Kyobutungi. Key government agencies like UCC, Uganda Police, URA, and the Ministry of Local Government are expected to collaborate on enforcing the system.
