Bars, Media Houses to Pay Fees Under Uganda’s Copyright System

President Yoweri Museveni has given the green light to a new copyright management system aimed at protecting Ugandan creatives and ensuring they get paid for their work.

Speaking on the issue, Museveni recalled how, in the past, people would record songs off the radio and sell them for profit without compensating the artists. “Now, 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,” he said.

The announcement came during a meeting on February 28, 2025, in Rwakitura, where Museveni met with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, Minister of State for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuuzo, and a team of musicians led by Eddy Kenzo, who heads the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF).

This new system will allow artists to register their music, track how it’s used, and receive payments when businesses play their songs. According to Dr. Joel Isabirye, a development economist at State House, venues like bars and hotels that play music to entertain customers will now have to contribute a fee, ensuring artists get a share of the revenue.

“People pay to enjoy music in bars, clubs, and hotels. If a bar plays Afrigo Band’s music, it’s only fair that the band gets a cut since their work is bringing in customers,” Isabirye explained.

The same will apply to media houses. Radio and TV stations that play Ugandan music attract advertisers because listeners tune in for artists like Sheebah Karungi and Juliana Kanyomozi. “Musicians don’t want all the advertising revenue, but they seek a fair percentage for their contribution,” Isabirye added.

To make sure businesses comply, entertainment venues will be required to install a monitoring device as part of their licensing conditions. If a venue tampers with the device, the system will flag it, and authorities like the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Uganda Police will take action.

“This is about cooperation, and the payments will be reasonable—just a way to acknowledge that businesses use musicians’ work to generate revenue. If a bar or radio station refuses to comply, UCC will step in,” Isabirye said.

For years, Ugandan musicians have struggled to earn fairly from their work due to weak copyright enforcement. This new system changes that by ensuring revenue is distributed based on actual song play, not just an artist’s fame.

For instance, if a bar, radio, or TV station contributes Shs. 1 million as a licensing fee, and an artist’s song is played 60 times, they’ll receive 60% (Shs. 600,000), with the remaining Shs. 400,000 split among other artists based on airplay.

“This will be life-changing,” Isabirye noted. “Many musicians struggle financially when their careers slow down. With this system, they’ll keep earning from their past hits, even in retirement. Their families will benefit too.”

The initiative, backed by regulatory bodies like UCC, Uganda Police, and the Ministry of Local Government, aims to bring structure and fairness to Uganda’s music industry.