Veteran Ugandan actor John Segawa has called on creatives to take greater responsibility for protecting and valuing their work, stressing the importance of understanding copyright, ownership and fair compensation in a rapidly evolving creative economy.
Speaking during an interview on NBS Television’s After 5 programme, Segawa said creators across all disciplines must actively advocate for themselves in an increasingly competitive and commercialised industry.
“Creators must advocate for themselves. Understand your work’s value and make informed decisions about ownership, royalties and registration,” he said.
Segawa noted that while market forces ultimately determine the value of creative work, artists must first understand their legal rights before entering agreements or partnerships.
“The market ultimately determines the value of your work, but you must start by knowing your rights and protecting your creation. This applies to all creative fields—music, theatre, visual arts and even choreography,” he added.
He highlighted the complexity of ownership in collaborative industries such as music, where multiple stakeholders—including songwriters, producers and performers—often contribute to a single piece of work.
“In music, multiple parties may be involved. You must understand your stake in the work and negotiate it properly. Before complaining about legal systems, make sure you understand your value and rights,” Segawa said.
He further emphasised the importance of clear contractual agreements, especially where ownership and authorship may be disputed.
“If a producer registers a song but you were the songwriter, your rights should be clearly defined in a contract. If you sell your work, you can decide whether to give up some rights or retain them. This is an investment in your art and your future,” he noted.
Segawa also underscored the importance of early copyright registration and legal awareness, warning that failure to do so leaves creators vulnerable to exploitation.
“When you create something, it’s essential to understand copyright and ownership from day one. If someone copies your work without permission, they must pay for it,” he said.
His remarks come as Uganda moves to reform its copyright framework following the introduction of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao.
The proposed legislation seeks to modernise Uganda’s copyright regime and align it with international standards while addressing longstanding challenges such as piracy and unauthorised distribution of creative works.
A key provision introduces a new revenue-sharing model for caller ringback tones, under which authors and performers would receive 60 per cent of earnings, telecommunications companies 31 per cent and aggregators 8.5 per cent.
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), which oversees intellectual property administration, has welcomed the reforms, saying they could strengthen the creative economy by offering improved legal protection and monetisation opportunities for artists.
Industry observers say the proposed changes reflect growing recognition of the sector’s role in job creation, innovation and cultural expression.
If enacted, the reforms are expected to create a more structured and transparent system for managing intellectual property rights while encouraging investment in Uganda’s cultural and creative industries.