Uganda is updating its copyright laws with the new Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 to better protect artists and creators.
The changes aim to modernise the law and bring it in line with international standards, ensuring that people who create music, art, and other content can benefit fairly from their work.
The bill recognises how technology has changed the way creative content is made, shared, and sold. It includes new rules for digital platforms and telecommunications services, giving artists more ways to earn money from their work.
For example, the bill introduces a revenue-sharing system for caller ringback tones—the music you hear instead of a regular ringing sound when calling someone. Under this system, 60 percent of the money earned goes to the creators, while telecom companies and service aggregators receive smaller shares.
Another proposal would obligate broadcasters to pay extra royalties to artists whenever their music or audio-visual works are used for commercial purposes.
The law also expands the powers of the High Court to handle copyright disputes and introduces a quasi-judicial process to resolve issues more efficiently. This is designed to tackle long-standing problems like piracy and the unauthorised use of creative works, which have made it hard for Ugandan artists to earn a fair income.
Officials from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) believe these reforms will strengthen the creative industry by giving creators stronger legal protection and more opportunities to monetise their work. The government sees the creative sector not just as culture and entertainment, but also as an important contributor to the economy, providing jobs and encouraging innovation.
Overall, the bill is a step toward ensuring that artists and creators in Uganda can fully benefit from their talent in a modern, digital world.
