Seasoned media consultant Joel Isabirye has praised the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, describing it as a good foundation for Uganda’s creative sector.
Speaking during NBS Frontline on Thursday, Isabirye said the amendment builds on existing legislation to strengthen protection for creators and ensure fair compensation for their work.
“This is an amendment bill. It’s an improvement on a previous law. If a song is created, there are many contributors to it. The question was, are these contributors entitled to royalties from these songs?,” he said.
Isabirye noted that media houses already pay for music, shifting the debate from whether radio and TV stations should pay to ensuring that contributors receive their rightful share.
“Radios and TVs are already paying for the music they play. The debate has moved from the argument that media houses paying for music is ridiculous. Even the President is an artist. He has sung a song before. The definition of an artist should be broadened,” he said.
Isabirye further emphasized that while the bill lays a strong foundation, effective implementation structures are crucial.
“Going forward, I think the copyright act creates a good foundation for the creative industry. There is a lot to be done. The copyright law is one thing but implementation is another. The structures for implementation should be in place,” he said.
The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, introduced by Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, aims to modernize Uganda’s copyright framework and align it with international standards. Officials say the bill addresses long-standing challenges such as unauthorized use and distribution of creative works, and introduces tougher penalties for piracy.
Among the proposed reforms is a new revenue-sharing model for caller ringback tones, allowing artists to earn 60 percent of revenue generated from the service, while telecommunications companies take 31 percent and aggregators 8.5 percent.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has welcomed the bill, citing its potential to strengthen Uganda’s creative economy by giving creators stronger legal protections and better opportunities to monetize their content. Observers note that the legislation reflects growing government recognition of the economic potential of the creative industry, which drives employment, cultural expression, and innovation.
If enacted, the bill is expected to create a structured and transparent system for managing intellectual property, encourage investment in Uganda’s cultural sector, and ensure fair compensation for musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other artists, especially as digital platforms continue to reshape content production and distribution.
Artists and industry stakeholders have long advocated for such reforms, which could be transformative in addressing piracy and improving earnings across Uganda’s entertainment sector.
