• Parliament passes Copyright Amendment Bill to improve royalty collection and enforcement

• New framework introduces digital payment systems and stricter penalties for infringement

• Reform aligns Uganda with international intellectual property standard

The Parliament of Uganda has passed the Copyright and Neighboring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing new mechanisms to improve remuneration for creators and strengthen enforcement in the country’s creative sector. The legislation establishes a structured system for the collection and distribution of royalties, with payments to be processed through platforms regulated under the National Payment Systems framework. According to lawmakers, the reform is intended to address longstanding gaps in revenue collection for musicians, authors, and audiovisual producers, particularly in broadcasting and commercial use of content.

The law also expands the mandate of collecting societies, allowing them to manage royalties on behalf of rights holders more effectively. In addition, it requires copyright owners to formally register their works to benefit from enforcement mechanisms, including the removal of infringing content and legal protection in disputes.

The new law introduces stricter penalties for copyright infringement, including fines of up to Shs50 million and prison terms of up to 10 years, targeting unauthorized reproduction and distribution of content. It also creates a legal framework for the use of “orphan works,” enabling licensed use of content whose authors cannot be identified, while safeguarding the rights of creators if ownership is later established.

Uganda’s reform comes as African governments increasingly seek to formalize the creative and cultural industries, which are a growing source of employment and income. According to UNESCO, cultural and creative industries contribute around 3% of global GDP and employ tens of millions of people worldwide, highlighting their potential as an economic sector.

By aligning its legal framework with international standards such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, Uganda aims to strengthen investor confidence in its creative sector and improve monetization opportunities for local content producers. The Bill now awaits presidential assent before entering into force.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang