• About
  • Contact
Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Now Then Digital
23 °c
Kampala
22 ° Fri
23 ° Sat
23 ° Sun
22 ° Mon
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • TECH
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • LIFESTYLE
  • TIPS & ADVICE
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • TECH
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • LIFESTYLE
  • TIPS & ADVICE
No Result
View All Result
Now Then Digital
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Entertainment

Museveni Approves Copyright System to Pay Ugandan Musicians for Airplay

Wafula Steven by Wafula Steven
March 3, 2025
in Entertainment, Music, Uganda
Reading Time: 2 mins read
1 0
A A
0
President Museveni, Artists Back System to Enforce Music Royalties in Uganda

President Museveni, Artists Back System to Enforce Music Royalties in Uganda

0
SHARES
15
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Youmight also like

Rising East African talent takes centre stage at MTF

MultiChoice Talent Factory Welcomes New Cohort in East Africa

July 25, 2025
EAC head tours Uganda with focus on youth, fisheries, and regional growth.

EAC Secretary General Visits Uganda to Boost Regional Cooperation

July 24, 2025
The five-time Grammy winner joins the 2026 class alongside global stars including Miley Cyrus and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Angélique Kidjo is to be honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star — a first for an African artist

July 4, 2025
Former police officer remanded over Uganda prosecutor's 2015 killing.

Fifth suspect in Joan Kagezi’s murder case remanded — pleads for food, accuses police of abuse

June 24, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Wafula Steven

Wafula Steven

Am Wafula Steven, a seasonal writer for Now Then Digital, as well as a teacher, digital marketer, public relations specialist, and blogger known as 'Doc Stevens'.

Recommended For You

Rising East African talent takes centre stage at MTF
Entertainment

MultiChoice Talent Factory Welcomes New Cohort in East Africa

by Now Then Digital
July 25, 2025
EAC head tours Uganda with focus on youth, fisheries, and regional growth.
News

EAC Secretary General Visits Uganda to Boost Regional Cooperation

by Wafula Steven
July 24, 2025
The five-time Grammy winner joins the 2026 class alongside global stars including Miley Cyrus and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
Entertainment

Angélique Kidjo is to be honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star — a first for an African artist

by Wafula Steven
July 4, 2025
Former police officer remanded over Uganda prosecutor's 2015 killing.
Politics

Fifth suspect in Joan Kagezi’s murder case remanded — pleads for food, accuses police of abuse

by Wafula Steven
June 24, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

President Vičič Congratulates Cheptegei for 10,000m World Title

Serbian President Aleksandar Vičič Congratulates Cheptegei for 10,000m World Title Win

2 years ago
Tanzanian Artist Nezo B Killed

Tanzanian Artist Nezo B Killed: Tragic Loss Shakes Tanzanian Music Community

2 years ago
Innovation by Ugandan students wins EU prize for tackling post-harvest losses.

Ugandan innovators win global award for fruit preservation breakthrough

1 month ago

Popular News

  • Anna Maria von Stockhausen Accused Victim of Superstition

    Who Was Anna Maria von Stockhausen: A Victim of Witch-Hunts in the 18th Century

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Key Tips to Identify Fake X Accounts Amid Growing Misinformation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Uganda’s Urban Skyline – Ranking the Tallest Buildings in the Country

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Uganda Airlines Launches Direct Service Linking Mumbai and Entebbe

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • “Tumbiza Sound” Star Eezzy Welcomes Baby Boy, Names Him Seth

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Connect With Us

Join our Newsletter

Who We Are

Now Then Digital | Breaking News from Uganda & Africa

Latest headlines from Uganda, Africa & the world. Explore politics, entertainment, sports, finance & more on Now Then Digital.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Now On Pinterest

marjorie harvey steve harvey's wife

Marjorie Harvey: A Closer Look at Her Impressive Net Worth

mayanja

Sibling of Famous Singers, Humphrey Mayanja, Dies After Illness

From Our Partners

  • Editorial Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Corrections Policy
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • DMCA Policy

© 2025 Now Then Digital - Breaking News from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Travel
    • Tech
  • Health
  • Food

© 2025 Now Then Digital - Breaking News from Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.