Staff
By BigEyeUg Team
Media personality Mr Henrie has weighed in on Uganda’s newly approved Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, arguing that the country may not yet be fully prepared to implement the law effectively.
His comments come just a day after the Parliament of Uganda passed the bill on Tuesday, March 17, in a move aimed at strengthening protections for artists and ensuring they earn royalties from their work.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mr Henrie shared an in-depth analysis, stressing that passing the law is only the first step—and far from enough.
According to him, Uganda must build a functional system around the law if it is to work in reality rather than remain “just on paper.”
Mr Henrie highlighted the current tension between key players in the industry. On one hand, artists are demanding direct payment, transparency, and full control over their earnings. On the other, media houses and businesses are pushing for flexible and affordable licensing models.
He also pointed out the government’s delicate position—trying to regulate the industry without suffocating it.
“Who is more important to the government,” he questioned, “the artists or the multi-billion businesses that are taxable?”
A major concern he raised is the lack of clarity in how the law will be implemented. He emphasized that it must clearly define who pays royalties, how much they pay, and through which systems.
Without this clarity, he warned, vague clauses could create loopholes, confusion, and conflict between stakeholders.
Mr Henrie also addressed the existing copyright framework, noting that Uganda already has institutions like the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and collective management organizations such as the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS).
However, he believes the biggest challenge is trust.
Artists reportedly lack confidence in these organizations, while businesses remain skeptical about how collected funds are distributed and whether the payments reflect actual usage.
For the law to succeed, Mr Henrie stressed the need for a modern, transparent system. He proposed digital tracking of music usage across platforms such as radio, television, bars, and streaming services.
He also called for public dashboards showing earnings distribution, as well as independent audits to ensure accountability.
“Without trust, even the best law will collapse,” he noted.
Mr Henrie warned that poor enforcement strategies—such as random arrests or targeting DJs and bar owners—could quickly derail the law’s effectiveness.
He added that much of Uganda’s creative output currently goes untracked or underreported, making it difficult to ensure fair compensation for artists.
Another major challenge is the limited understanding of copyright laws among stakeholders. Mr Henrie pointed out that many DJs, event organizers, bar owners, and even artists themselves lack proper knowledge of how copyright works.
He also noted divisions within the artist community, with some supporting direct payment systems, others backing collective management organizations, and some distrusting both.
Without unity, he warned, implementation could become chaotic.
Beyond structure and awareness, Mr Henrie emphasized the need for significant funding, strong institutions, and strict anti-corruption measures to support the law.
He further raised a controversial point, suggesting that if artists gain financial independence through copyright earnings, it could reduce their political influence.
“If the government needed these artists for political reasons, giving them uncontrolled income through copyright will make them uncomplaining and ‘unbuyable’,” he argued.
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