Inside Uganda’s New Copyright Management System: How Musicians Will Finally Get Paid After Museveni Approval

By Our Reporter

Uganda’s creative industry is set for a major transformation with the approval of the copyright management system, a new program designed to ensure musicians and content creators get fair compensation for their work.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has given the green light to the system, which will help track music usage, collect royalties, and enforce copyright protection in Uganda.

A Game-Changer for Uganda’s Music Industry

For years, Ugandan musicians have struggled with unauthorized use of their music, leading to lost revenue and financial hardships, especially after their peak careers. With the new copyright management system, artists will now have a structured way to monitor their songs, track plays, and receive payments when their work is used for commercial purposes.

During a meeting held on February 28, 2025, in Rwakitura, President Museveni expressed satisfaction with the system’s development, noting that it addresses longstanding gaps in copyright enforcement.

“This technology should be able to tell us who has played my song and where, or that what you have sung belongs to another person,” Museveni stated.

How the System Works

The copyright management system is an integrated digital platform that will register, track, and distribute royalties to artists based on where and how their music is played.

According to Dr. Joel Isabirye, Principal Development Economist at State House, the system will require:

1. Artists to register their music – Musicians will upload and register their songs onto the system for tracking.
2. Bars, hotels, and entertainment venues to pay usage fees – Businesses that play music commercially will be required to pay a licensing fee, ensuring musicians receive a share of the revenue.
3. Media houses to contribute royalties – Radio and TV stations that attract advertisers by playing music will compensate artists based on airplay frequency.

“Musicians don’t want all the advertising revenue, but they seek a fair percentage for their contribution,” Dr. Isabirye noted.

Tracking Music Usage and Enforcing Compliance

To ensure compliance, bars and entertainment venues will need to install a monitoring device as part of their licensing conditions under the Ministry of Local Government.

• The system will track music usage in registered venues.
• Tampering with the device will trigger alerts, leading to possible fines or legal action.
• The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Uganda Police will oversee enforcement, ensuring that businesses adhere to the licensing rules.

“This is about cooperation, and the payments will be reasonable—just a way to acknowledge that businesses use musicians’ work to generate revenue,” Dr. Isabirye emphasized.

Failure to comply will result in warnings, penalties, or even revocation of business licenses by UCC.

How Artists Will Be Paid

One of the system’s biggest advantages is that payments will be based on song play frequency, not just popularity. This ensures fairer revenue distribution among all artists, including those who may not have mainstream fame but have high airplay.

For instance:

• If a bar, radio, or TV station contributes Shs. 1 million in licensing fees,
• An artist whose song is played 60 times will receive 60% (Shs. 600,000),
• The remaining 40% will be distributed to other artists based on airplay percentages.

This model ensures that musicians continue to earn even after their peak years, supporting them in retirement or during health challenges.

“Many musicians struggle financially when their careers decline. With this system, artists will continue to earn from their past work, ensuring sustainability for their families,” Dr. Isabirye stated.

With support from UCC, Uganda Police, Uganda Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Local Government, the new system is expected to bring much-needed regulation to the industry.

What This Means for Uganda’s Music Industry

1. Artists will finally receive fair compensation – Musicians will no longer depend solely on concerts and endorsements to make money.
2. Increased accountability for businesses using music – Entertainment venues, bars, and media houses must now pay for the music they use to attract audiences.
3. Stronger copyright protection – Unauthorized use of music will be detected, preventing piracy and unfair exploitation of artists’ work.
4. Sustained earnings for musicians – Even in retirement, artists will continue earning royalties, ensuring financial stability.

With President Museveni’s approval, Uganda is taking a huge step forward in protecting intellectual property rights for creatives. This system will not only uplift artists financially but also encourage more professionalism and investment in the music industry.

As the copyright management system rolls out, businesses and media houses will need to adapt to the new regulations—ensuring that Uganda’s creatives finally get the recognition and earnings they deserve.

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