President Museveni Approves New Copyright Management System: A Win for Ugandan Musicians?

The copyright amendment has been a hot topic among Ugandan entertainers for some time, with many questioning whether meaningful changes will be made.

However, skeptics of progress will now have to eat their words, as President Museveni has approved a new Copyright Management System designed by State House scientists to ensure that musicians are fairly compensated for their work.

The system, announced through the Government of Uganda’s official X handle, will track how often music is played in bars, radio stations, and TV, guaranteeing artistes receive payment based on their airplay.

Under the system, businesses like bars and media stations will need a licensed device to play Ugandan music.

The device will keep track of how many times each song is played, and artistes will earn a portion of the payment based on that.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda Police, and other agencies will enforce the system, and businesses that do not comply risk being shut down.

However, the announcement has not been without its critics.

Some social media commentators have questioned whether this development benefits only musicians, potentially sidelining other creatives within the industry.

In addition, concerns have been raised that bars and businesses, seeking to avoid paying for licenses, may opt to abandon Ugandan music in favor of foreign tunes.

While these concerns are valid and warrant attention, the Copyright Management System still marks an important step forward in ensuring that Ugandan musicians receive fair compensation for their work.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

Big win for Uganda’s creatives! President Museveni has given the green light to a Copyright Management System to protect musicians and… pic.twitter.com/sEZbFV6BeA

— Government of Uganda (@GovUganda) March 2, 2025