The Government of Uganda has taken a major step toward strengthening protection for artists and creators with the introduction of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, a proposed law expected to transform the country’s creative industry.
The bill, introduced by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, seeks to modernise Uganda’s copyright framework and align it with international standards to ensure that creators benefit fairly from their intellectual work.
Speaking about the proposed legislation, Mao described it as a major breakthrough for the country’s creative sector, which includes musicians, filmmakers, writers and other artists.
“This bill is a game-changer for our creative industry. It will provide stronger protection for creators, streamline the sector and introduce tougher penalties for piracy and copyright infringement,” he said.
Officials say the proposed amendments are designed to address long-standing challenges faced by Uganda’s creative community, particularly the widespread unauthorised use and distribution of artistic works.
The bill introduces several reforms aimed at improving how artists earn from their content, particularly in the digital era where music and other creative works are increasingly distributed through telecommunications platforms.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the introduction of a revenue-sharing model for caller ringback tones, a popular service offered by telecom operators that allows callers to hear music instead of the standard ringing tone when placing calls.
Under the proposed arrangement, 60 percent of the revenue generated from caller ringback tones will go to authors and performers, while telecommunications companies will receive 31 percent and aggregators will receive 8.5 percent.
The new revenue-sharing structure is intended to ensure that artists receive a larger share of earnings generated from the use of their music and other creative works.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), which oversees intellectual property rights administration in the country, has welcomed the proposed reforms.
URSB officials say the bill could significantly strengthen Uganda’s creative economy by giving creators stronger legal protection and more opportunities to monetise their work.
The agency also believes the updated copyright framework will help reduce piracy, which has long undermined the earnings of artists across Uganda’s entertainment sector.
Industry observers say the bill reflects growing recognition by government of the economic potential of the creative industry, which contributes to employment, cultural expression and innovation.
If enacted into law, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 is expected to create a more structured and transparent system for managing intellectual property rights while encouraging investment in Uganda’s cultural and creative sectors.
Artists and other stakeholders in the industry have long called for stronger legal protections to ensure they receive fair compensation for their work, particularly as digital platforms continue to reshape how creative content is produced and consumed.