Uganda’s creative industry has issued a strong collective appeal to Parliament ahead of the anticipated final reading of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, urging lawmakers to pass the bill without weakening its key provisions on artist royalties.
In a joint statement released Monday under the stewardship of the National Culture Forum (NCF), a coalition of Collective Management Organisations, creative industry associations and sector federations called on legislators to uphold Clause 9, which seeks to ensure artists are paid when their work is broadcast by radio and other media platforms.
The statement, signed on behalf of musicians, producers, performers, filmmakers, visual artists, authors and other creators responds to the recent second reading debate in the Parliament of Uganda, where some lawmakers argued that radio airplay should be considered promotional exposure rather than a service that attracts payment.
Under the headline “Airplay Is Not Payment,” the creative industry rejected the argument that promotional value should cancel a broadcaster’s obligation to pay for the music it uses.
According to the statement, radio stations use artists’ work to attract listeners and sell advertising, making music an essential commercial asset in broadcasting.
“The promotional benefit to the artist and the commercial benefit to the broadcaster happen simultaneously,” the statement reads. “One does not cancel the other.”
Industry leaders also pointed to countries such as United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria, where functioning royalty systems exist and broadcasters continue to operate successfully.
As Parliament prepares for the next stage of debate, the creative sector has outlined specific actions it wants lawmakers to take.
First, artistes are demanding that Clause 9 be passed in its current form, without amendments that introduce promotional exemptions or voluntary compliance by broadcasters.
Second, they want Parliament to reject any proposals that weaken the legal authority of Collective Management Organisations, which are responsible for collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of artists.
Third, the industry wants Parliament to formally acknowledge the potential conflict of interest involving presiding officers who own radio stations, noting that such broadcasters would fall within the class of commercial users expected to pay royalties if Clause 9 is enacted.
Finally, artistes are urging lawmakers to pass the entire bill as soon as possible, arguing that delays are costing Ugandan creators money especially royalties from international airplay.
The creative sector says Clause 9 is essential for Uganda to participate effectively in the global royalty system. When Ugandan music is played abroad—such as on stations like BBC Radio 1—royalty collection societies in those countries collect payments on behalf of rights holders. However, those funds can only be transferred if Uganda has a legally recognized collecting system in place.
Without that framework, the statement warns, Ugandan artists continue to lose royalties they are already owed internationally.
Creative industry representatives say they will closely monitor the committee stage and any amendments proposed during parliamentary debate.
“We will monitor every amendment proposed against Clause 9,” the statement says, warning that the industry will not accept legislation that is weakened before passage.
With the final reading of the bill expected Tuesday, the coming parliamentary debate could determine whether Uganda’s creative sector finally secures a long-awaited framework for collecting broadcast royalties.
Collecting Management Organizations, Sector Domain Associations & the creative industry federations leadership’s issue a joint statement of the Ugandan creative industry responding to the Parliament’s second reading for the copyright and neighboring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025 pic.twitter.com/HMFDHpG4qu
— SQOOP; It’s Deep (@MonitorSqoop) March 16, 2026
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