Ugandan creatives are celebrating after Parliament passed the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Bill, confident they will start earning from their hard work.
Musician Edrisa Musuuza, popularly known as Eddy Kenzo, said the law will be strengthened further through the introduction of a digital Copyright Management System to track usage of creative works.
Opponents of the clause had argued that some musicians might lose out on free promotion through radio and television airplay. However, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka maintained that anyone who benefits commercially from promoting a song or creative work must first seek the creator’s permission or pay royalties.
With the law now passed, responsibility shifts to institutions such as the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS), the Uganda Federation of Music Industry, and the Uganda National Musicians Federation to popularise the law and sensitise artists about their rights and obligations.
