Uganda's creative industry is on the cusp of a major transformation following the introduction of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025. Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, has heralded the proposed legislation as a "game-changer," designed to modernize Uganda's copyright framework, align it with international standards, and ensure creators receive fairer benefits from their intellectual work. This comprehensive bill aims to provide stronger protection for artists, streamline the sector, and impose tougher penalties for piracy and copyright infringement, addressing long-standing challenges faced by musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other artists.

Shadrack Kisame, Team Leader of UgaTunes, emphasized the bill's crucial role in fostering fairness within the music industry, particularly targeting entities that have profited from music without remitting royalties. Kisame cited examples such as Howebiz, MP3Jaja, and DJ Erycom, who he claims have earned from Ugandan music for over two decades without paying creators. He highlighted UgaTunes' commitment to paying royalties and stressed that the bill would flag such non-compliant players. Kisame also celebrated the bill as a win for the entire creative value chain, including managers and songwriters, noting that while intellectual property inherently belongs to its creator, formal registration becomes paramount when commercialization is introduced.

Kisame further underscored the necessity of robust organizational structures within the creative industry, observing that globally renowned artists often thrive within highly organized ecosystems managed by executives, even if the artists themselves are less structured. He argued against limiting industry organization solely to artists, drawing parallels with successful international models where learned professionals run operations, allowing artists to focus on their craft.

A significant provision within the new bill is the introduction of a revenue-sharing model for caller ringback tones, a popular telecommunication service that plays music instead of a standard ringing tone. Under this proposed structure, authors and performers are allocated 60% of the revenue, telecommunications companies receive 31%, and aggregators take 8.5%. This model is specifically designed to ensure artists receive a substantially larger share of earnings from the digital use of their music and other creative works.

Renowned Ugandan musician Daniel Kazibwe, popularly known as Ragga Dee, echoed the sentiment of industry reform, advising upcoming artists to adopt a business mindset. Speaking on NBS Eagle, Ragga Dee underscored the critical importance of strategic distribution and legal protection for their work. He lamented the persistent lack of support hindering emerging artists' growth and sustainability, urging them to view their creations as business assets, distribute their music across all social media platforms, register their work, and anticipate earning from it.

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), responsible for intellectual property rights administration, has enthusiastically welcomed the proposed reforms. URSB officials believe the bill will significantly strengthen Uganda's creative economy by enhancing legal protections and expanding monetization opportunities for creators. They also anticipate that the updated copyright framework will be instrumental in curbing piracy, a pervasive issue that has long undermined artists' earnings across the entertainment sector.

Industry observers note that the bill reflects the government's increasing recognition of the creative sector's economic potential, highlighting its contributions to employment, cultural expression, and innovation. If enacted, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 is expected to establish a more structured and transparent system for managing intellectual property rights, fostering a conducive environment for investment in Uganda's cultural and creative industries. Artists and stakeholders have consistently advocated for stronger legal protections to ensure fair compensation, especially as digital platforms reshape how creative content is produced, distributed, and consumed.