The Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS) has defended its planned distribution of Shs216 million in royalties to musicians and other rights holders after Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) president Edrisah Musuuza, alias Eddy Kenzo, criticized the payout as too small and questioned how the money was collected and allocated.
Kenzo described the proposed payout as “a shame,” arguing that the amount would have little impact if shared among musicians across the country.
“I saw our brothers from UPRS saying they were going to distribute Shs200 million to all Ugandan musicians. To be honest, that thing is not fair. How did you collect it and how are you going to distribute it?” Kenzo said.
The award-winning musician called for greater transparency in the collection and distribution of royalties, insisting that artists deserve clear information on how the funds are generated and allocated.
His remarks came shortly after UPRS announced that it would distribute Shs216 million to eligible music rights holders from revenues collected through music licensing and the commercial use of copyrighted works across various sectors, including media houses, entertainment venues, events and businesses.
Responding to the criticism, UPRS Board Chairman Martin Nkoyoyo acknowledged that many artists remain dissatisfied with the level of royalty earnings but said the amount available for distribution reflects longstanding challenges facing copyright administration in Uganda.
“Every musician, composer, publisher, and rights holder deserves to earn more from the use of their works,” Nkoyoyo said in a statement.
“The fact that we are distributing shs216 million should not be viewed as the destination, but rather as one step in a much larger journey towards building a stronger and more sustainable copyright economy for Ugandan creators.”
Nkoyoyo said the low royalty pool is largely a result of weak copyright enforcement, low compliance among music users and widespread unlicensed use of music.
According to UPRS, many businesses, broadcasters, event organisers and other commercial users continue to use copyrighted music without obtaining the required licences, limiting the amount of money available for distribution to artists.
The society also sought to clarify how royalties are shared among members, stressing that payments are not distributed equally but are based on documented usage of musical works and established distribution policies.
“The purpose of royalty distribution is not to reward membership but to compensate rights holders proportionately for the use of their works,” Nkoyoyo said.
He explained that some artists may receive only a few thousand shillings while others may receive several million, depending on how frequently their music was used during the period under review.
UPRS said one of the biggest challenges affecting royalty distribution is the difficulty of accurately tracking music usage across the country.
“Fair distribution is only possible when the Society has reliable information on where, when and how music is used,” Nkoyoyo said.
He added that UPRS is investing in improved monitoring systems, reporting tools and enforcement mechanisms to strengthen collections and ensure more accurate distributions in future.
The organisation said it is also expanding licensing coverage and engaging stakeholders to improve compliance with copyright laws.
Nkoyoyo maintained that the Shs216 million payout should be viewed as part of broader efforts to strengthen Uganda’s collective management system and rebuild confidence among artists.
“We recognise that many members continue to have high expectations regarding royalty earnings and that the amounts received by some rights holders may not yet reflect the true value of their creative works,” he said.
He assured members that all revenues collected by the society are held in trust and distributed in accordance with established policies and international collective management standards.
“The Board and Management remain committed to ensuring every collection made is distributed fairly and equitably,” Nkoyoyo said.