UCC to enact copyright law, ensure filmmakers can earn money from their sweat

Additional Reporting by Rukia Nabbanja

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has assured players in the film industry that they are going to work with other stakeholders to ensure that they enforce the copyright law.

The revised copyright law is expected to come into effect this year on October 1st. This is believed to address the industry characterized by High Violation of Law and Regulations, unlicensed operations, pirating of foreign movies and distribution of unclassified materials on the market.

The UCC Executive director Godfrey Mutabaazi said that they have come together with other government agencies such as Police, Media Council, Pornographic Control Committee among others to start on a joint enforcement of all legal requirements and standards to make sue that all players abite with the copyright law.

Mutabaazi warned all players who have failed to comply saying that they are going to be handled.

“As government, we are sending a strong message that signals the end of malpractices like piracy that have been hindering the growth of the film industry,” he said in part.

Meanwhile the assurance is yet to appease a number of players in the film industry with a section of them saying that it might not yield anything since UCC has always promised them to do act yet nothing has ever been seen.

According to the Chairperson of the Uganda Copyright Association Bonny Kasujja, UCC has failed to implement the law and he has no hopes that it will ever be effected.

Father Lukodo, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity however responded to the comments saying that all players should get organized and approach government which he said is responsive to the complaints of its people.

Lukodo also burned explicit materials in a symbolic burning of pornographic materials ahead of the nationwide enforcement against the sale and distribution of pornographic materials in Uganda.