KAMPALA — The Uganda National Musicians Federation has unveiled a new Copyright Management System (CMS), a digital platform designed to strengthen copyright protection and improve royalty collection for artists and other creatives across Uganda.
Speaking after the unveiling, UNMF President Eddy Kenzo said the system would provide a structured framework for registering creative works, collecting royalties, and distributing earnings to rights holders.
“The CMS is built on three key pillars: Registration, Collection, and Distribution. Once fully operational, the system is expected to enhance the protection and monetization of creative works, enabling creatives to earn more effectively from their talent and intellectual property,” Kenzo said.
According to Kenzo, the initiative emerged from engagements between the federation and President Yoweri Museveni over longstanding concerns that many Ugandan artists were not fully benefiting from existing copyright laws.
“This milestone is a result of the engagement between UNMF and H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who recognized the existing gap in ensuring that creatives fully benefit from the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Act,” he said.
Kenzo revealed that the President subsequently directed the federation to work with the State House Science Team to develop a practical and technology-driven solution to address the challenge.
The development process involved collaboration with several government institutions and industry stakeholders, including the Uganda Communications Commission, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda Performing Rights Society, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Uganda Police Force, National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and local government authorities.
Kenzo said the involvement of multiple agencies was intended to ensure the system integrates seamlessly with existing regulatory, enforcement and identification frameworks, making copyright protection more effective and enforceable.
The unveiling attracted musicians, producers, performers and creatives from different regions of the country, reflecting the federation's intention to ensure nationwide participation in the implementation process.
“As UNMF, we shall now embark on a nationwide awareness campaign to educate creatives about the CMS, its benefits, and how it works,” Kenzo announced.
He also disclosed that President Museveni is expected to officially launch the Copyright Management System on a date yet to be announced.
The launch comes amid growing calls from Uganda's creative industry for stronger protection of intellectual property rights and more effective mechanisms for collecting royalties from broadcasters, digital platforms, event organizers and businesses that use copyrighted content.
For years, musicians and other creatives have argued that weak enforcement of copyright laws has deprived them of significant income despite the widespread use of their work. Industry stakeholders have often cited inadequate tracking systems and challenges in royalty collection as major obstacles to the growth of the sector.
Supporters of the new system believe it could help address these concerns by creating a centralized digital platform capable of tracking registered works and facilitating more transparent royalty management.
Kenzo described the unveiling as a landmark moment for Uganda's creative industry and thanked the President, government agencies, stakeholders and artists who contributed to the initiative.
“Together, we are building a stronger and more sustainable future for Ugandan creatives,” he said.
If successfully implemented, the Copyright Management System could mark one of the most significant reforms in Uganda's creative sector, providing artists with greater control over their intellectual property and improving their ability to earn from their work in an increasingly digital economy.