Elijah Kitaka Doubts Copyright Reforms Will Work

Ugandan singer Elijah Kitaka has expressed doubts about whether copyright reforms will work in Uganda, saying many artistes pushing for the law do not fully understand how it operates.

Speaking during a TikTok Live discussion with fellow creatives, including Bruno K and Amooti, Kitaka said the industry is still far from ready to properly implement copyright systems.

I know people wonder why I am never actively involved in those copyright conversations, but the fact is we are still about 1500 years backward. Whatever we are fighting for right now will never work.

He added that many musicians focus more on payments, tips, and profits than on understanding the law itself.

Artistes do not even understand what copyright is. We have not held a single class or workshop about copyright, but we are always discussing when the money is coming.

Kitaka also criticized meetings within artiste groups, saying they often lack meaningful discussion.

He noted that such gatherings rarely focus on educating artistes or building real understanding.

Despite his criticism, he insisted he was not attacking the industry, but speaking from the perspective of an artiste aiming for international success.

I am not a hate. I speak as an artiste trying to penetrate the international market, not as a hater of the industry.

During the same discussion, Bruno K admitted he also has limited knowledge about the copyright bill, noting that although meetings have been organized by the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), many artistes attend without fully understanding the issues being discussed.