A high-level dialogue on intellectual property-backed financing is set to take place on March 19 at Motiv in Bugolobi, as stakeholders seek solutions to funding challenges in Uganda’s growing creative sector.
The event is being organised by the Center for Law, Policy, and Innovation Initiative in partnership with the Africa Creatives Alliance. It comes at a time when the creative economy is expanding, yet many artists and innovators still struggle to access financing.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the creative economy consists of “knowledge-based” activities that drive industries such as fashion, film, music, publishing, visual arts, and creative technology. Globally, these sectors generate trillions of dollars and provide significant employment and export opportunities. However, in Uganda, their growth continues to be limited by inadequate financial support.
One proposed solution is to allow creatives to use their intellectual property (IP)—such as music, films, and designs—as collateral to secure loans. This is supported by Uganda’s Security in Movable Property Act (2019), which recognises intangible assets, including IP, as valid security.
Despite this legal backing, financial institutions remain cautious. Key concerns include limited understanding of how to value intellectual property, difficulties in assessing risks linked to intangible assets, uncertainty about income streams from creative work—especially digital content—and challenges in handling such assets if a borrower defaults. In addition, the absence of standardised systems for registering and documenting copyrights has made lenders even more hesitant.
As a result, many creatives in Uganda are unable to use their work to access credit. The upcoming dialogue aims to bridge this gap by bringing together experts from the legal, financial, policy, and creative sectors to find practical solutions.
The roundtable will focus on raising awareness about IP valuation, identifying legal and institutional barriers, and developing clear action points to guide policy improvements. It also seeks to strengthen collaboration among key players and produce a policy brief with recommendations to support IP-backed lending.
Organisers say the conversation is long overdue.
“The conversation on intellectual property and finance can no longer remain theoretical. As the creative economy grows, there is increasing need to examine how legal and institutional frameworks can support more practical financing pathways around intangible assets. What matters now is building clarity, confidence, and systems that can make IP-backed lending workable within our context,” said Yiga Nalubega Vanessa, Research Assistant and Policy Co-ordinator at CeLPII.
Partners in the initiative also emphasised the importance of linking creative work to real financial opportunities.
“We are excited to collaborate with CeLPII and other stakeholders to ensure creatives have the financial pathways needed for growth and somewhat recognise their work. We see every day that creatives are building work with real value, but too often that value is still disconnected from the financial systems meant to support growth. This roundtable creates an important space to explore how intellectual property can be better understood, better protected, and better positioned within conversations about financing the creative economy,” said Amanda Gowa, Community and Program Development Lead at the Africa Creatives Alliance.
The discussions are expected to lead to the formation of a working group comprising industry leaders and financial institutions. This team will continue engagements beyond the dialogue and develop practical recommendations, including a pilot project that explores using intellectual property as loan collateral.
Youth-focused organisation Reach A Hand Uganda will also take part, highlighting the importance of intellectual property for young creatives. Through its Youth Empowerment, Livelihoods, and Innovations programme, the organisation promotes economic opportunities and supports initiatives such as the Ikon Awards Young Filmmakers’ Fellowship.
Organisers believe the dialogue will mark a significant step towards turning intellectual property into a usable financial asset, helping creatives access funding and grow their work.
