The Parliament of Uganda has passed the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a major step toward strengthening legal protection for creatives across the country.
The proposed law is designed to enhance enforcement of copyright regulations, improve how artistes earn from their work, and address long-standing gaps in the digital distribution of music, film, and other creative content—especially in an era increasingly dominated by streaming and online platforms.
During the plenary sitting, a number of artistes and industry players attended proceedings from the public gallery, closely following the debate. Their presence underscored the high stakes the creative sector has in the proposed reforms, as well as the growing demand for fair compensation and stronger legal safeguards for intellectual property rights in Uganda.
Lawmakers emphasized that the amendment seeks to align Uganda’s copyright framework with modern technological realities, ensuring that creatives can track, protect, and monetize their work more effectively in digital spaces.
If assented to by the President, the law is expected to significantly reshape the creative economy—offering musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other artists stronger control over their content and new opportunities to earn from their intellectual property.
