After years of anticipation, Uganda is now closer than ever to enacting sweeping reforms in copyright law, as the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 moves through Parliament.
On Thursday, a high-powered delegation from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), led by Board Member Annie Katushabe — representing Board Chairman H.E. Amb. Francis Butagira — alongside Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
The URSB team made a strong case for the Bill, which was earlier tabled by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao (@norbertmao). The proposed amendments are now undergoing extensive stakeholder consultations to ensure the law is both robust and forward-looking.
Yesterday’s engagement centered on aligning the Bill with current legal frameworks, international copyright standards, and tackling the pressing challenges facing the creative industry — from gaps in regulation to the growing threat of online exploitation of creative works.
“The aim is to ensure creators get the value they deserve while fostering a copyright system that works for everyone,” the URSB team emphasized.
Meanwhile, URSB continues to reinforce Uganda’s copyright ecosystem by improving the governance and efficiency of collective management societies, promoting fairness, and delivering tangible benefits to their members.
If passed, the Bill is expected to mark a turning point for Uganda’s artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and all stakeholders in the country’s creative economy.
