President Museveni Approves Copyright Management System to Boost Ugandan Artists’ Earnings

Kampala, Uganda – A New Era for the Creative Industry

Uganda’s creative industry is set for a transformative shift after President Yoweri Museveni approved a Copyright Management System aimed at ensuring musicians and artists earn from their work. 

This groundbreaking development will register artists' works, track music usage, and facilitate fair compensation for plays across various platforms, including bars, TV stations, and radio stations.

The approval came during a high-level meeting at the President’s country home in Rwakitura, attended by top government officials and leading musicians, including award-winning artist Eddy Kenzo. President Museveni emphasized the need for technological advancements to accurately track song plays and guarantee earnings for artists.

 "Now technology should be able to tell us who has played my song and where," Museveni stated, reinforcing his commitment to protecting Uganda’s creative talents.

The State House scientists, under the leadership of Eng. Sheba Kyobutungi, developed the system to combat music piracy and guarantee fair payment to musicians. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and Uganda Police will collaborate to ensure its implementation and enforcement.

✅ Registration of Music Works – All musicians will be required to register their songs under the system to track their usage.

✅ Real-time Tracking of Plays – Businesses such as bars, radio stations, and TV stations will need to install a licensed device that monitors the number of times a song is played.

✅ Revenue Distribution Based on Play Counts – If a bar pays UGX 1 million for a music license, the earnings will be proportionally distributed to artists based on the number of plays their songs receive.

✅ Music Piracy Elimination – The system will prevent unauthorized use of songs, ensuring artists get paid for their intellectual 

Strict enforcement measures have been put in place to ensure compliance:

🔹 Mandatory Device Installation – All bars, clubs, TV stations, and radio stations must install the system’s licensed device.

🔹 Monitoring by UCC – The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) will oversee compliance and ensure businesses follow the guidelines.

🔹 Law Enforcement by Uganda Police – The Uganda Police will actively enforce the law, with non-compliant businesses facing penalties or closure.

This means that any establishment playing Ugandan music without proper licensing will be subject to legal consequences.

For years, Ugandan musicians have struggled with music piracy, lack of structured revenue streams, and financial instability after their peak years. Many artists fail to benefit from their music beyond initial releases. With this Copyright Management System, musicians will now enjoy lifetime earnings from their creative works.

This system is expected to:

✅ Ensure sustainable income for musicians even after their active careers end.

✅ Encourage professionalism in Uganda’s music industry.

✅ Enhance international recognition by implementing global copyright standards.

✅ Strengthen Uganda’s creative economy through structured and fair 

🔹 Musicians registering their works under the new system.

🔹 Bars, clubs, radio, and TV stations installing tracking devices to monitor music plays.

🔹 Government agencies rolling out awareness campaigns to educate stakeholders on compliance.

With this approval, Uganda’s music industry is poised for a new era of professionalism, copyright protection, and financial stability. Artists can now look forward to earning from their songs long after their release, bringing much-needed relief to the creative sector.

This marks a huge win for Uganda’s music industry and sets a precedent for better copyright management across Africa.