By Scovia Tusiime
President Museveni has approved a Copyright Management System to protect Ugandan musicians and ensure they earn from their work.
This system will register musicians’ works, track usage in bars, TVs, and radios, and ensure artists get paid for plays, ultimately ending music piracy.
Here’s how it works:
Registration: Musicians will register their works in a central database.
Tracking: A digital system will monitor where and how often songs are played in bars, TVs, and radios.
Payment: Businesses like bars, radio, and TV stations will need a licensed device to play Ugandan music, and artists will get paid based on play counts.
Enforcement: Bars must install a device to track plays, UCC will monitor compliance, and Uganda Police will enforce the law.
This system ensures lifetime earnings for musicians from their songs, benefiting both artists and their families. The project was developed by State House scientists under Eng. Sheba Kyobutungi, and agencies like UCC, URA, and Uganda Police will work together to enforce compliance.
