President Yoweri Museveni has given the green light to a new Copyright Management System, aimed at safeguarding musicians’ rights and ensuring they receive fair compensation for their work.
Following a meeting with key officials and musicians, including Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), President Museveni emphasized the importance of tracking music plays.
The system, developed by State House scientists under Eng. Sheba Kyobutungi, will register musicians’ works, track music usage in bars and media houses (TVs and radios), and prevent piracy.
Businesses that play Ugandan music; such as bars, radio stations, and TV stations—will be required to install a licensed device to monitor and report song plays. This will ensure that musicians earn a fair share of revenue.
For example:
- If a bar pays UGX 1M for a music license, artists will receive payments based on play counts.
- A song played 60 times will receive 60% of the fee.
The Ugandan government has outlined strict enforcement measures:
- Bars must install monitoring devices to track music plays.
- The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) will oversee compliance.
- The Uganda Police will enforce the law.
- Businesses that fail to comply risk closure.