Martin Beta Muhumuza, the manager of Eddy Kenzo and Head of Research and Development at the Uganda National Musicians Federation, has moved to clarify the controversy surrounding the artist’s apparent unfamiliarity with neighbouring rights, a key concept in the music industry.
Kenzo, who also serves as president of the Federation and a presidential advisor on the creative sector, recently came under scrutiny after it emerged that he did not fully understand what neighbouring rights entail. The revelation sparked debate within Uganda’s creative circles, with many questioning how a figure in such influential positions could lack clarity on a fundamental aspect of music rights and revenue streams.
In response, Muhumuza explained that the issue should not be viewed as ignorance but rather as a reflection of broader structural gaps within the industry. He pointed out that for many years, Uganda’s music ecosystem has not adequately prioritised education around intellectual property, particularly neighbouring rights, which relate to earnings from the public performance and broadcasting of recorded music.
According to Muhumuza, many artists, even successful ones, have historically focused more on production, performance and promotion, with limited exposure to the legal and financial frameworks that govern royalties. He added that systems responsible for collecting and distributing such revenues have also been underdeveloped or inconsistently enforced, leaving musicians with little incentive or opportunity to fully grasp these concepts.
He stressed that the Federation, under Kenzo’s leadership, is actively working to bridge this knowledge gap through research, stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy aimed at strengthening rights awareness and enforcement.
The explanation, however, has done little to quiet critics, who argue that leadership in the sector demands a firm understanding of the very systems artists depend on for income protection. Still, supporters maintain that the conversation has exposed a critical weakness in Uganda’s music industry and could serve as a turning point for more structured education on artists’ rights.
Martin Beta Muhumuza, the Head of Research and Development at the Uganda National Musicians Federation, explains why Eddy Kenzo, who is the Federation president and a presidential advisor on the creative sector, did not know what neighbouring rights are. #SqoopUpdates pic.twitter.com/r8Og9f5h1g
— SQOOP; It’s Deep (@MonitorSqoop) March 30, 2026
Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop and Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel