DJ Erycom Denies Profiting From Ugandan Music Downloads
For years, Erycom’s website has remained one of the most popular destinations for Ugandan music lovers searching for both old classics and new releases.
Now, musicians have turned up the pressure on the veteran DJ and music promoter, born Eriyasaga Mukiibi, accusing him of uploading and distributing their music without permission.
Uganda’s new Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act, 2025, has only intensified the backlash, giving artistes stronger legal grounds to pursue digital platforms over copyright infringement.
Some musicians, including singer Gift Ov Kaddo, have already publicly demanded that DJ Erycom removes their music from his website.
However, speaking on Deep Talk, DJ Erycom strongly denied claims that he sells Ugandan music.
I do not sell Ugandan music. If you have ever bought music from me, please bring proof. I do not sell, I promote. Even in Europe, when a musician releases music, there is always music meant for promotion and music meant for sale.
He also dismissed the long standing belief that downloads from his website directly earn him money.
People have created a narrative that every time they download music from my website, I get money. Now I ask them, how do I get the money?
DJ Erycom went on to argue that telecom companies, not him, benefit whenever users spend mobile data downloading songs from his platform.
I have no arrangement with the network you use. If your data gets deducted, it is the network that benefits, not me. I do not get a single shilling.
Despite the growing backlash, the veteran promoter insisted that his relationship with artistes has always operated on mutual understanding.
He noted that he has always honored requests from musicians who want their music removed.
I will not say that I have encountered any difficulties with entertainers because we work on mutual understanding. I will give an example of a musician I joke a lot with. If Abdul Mulasi tells me to remove his music, I will remove it because I do not sell it.
