KAMPALA – In a move aimed at protecting musicians and ensuring they earn from their work, President Yoweri Museveni recently gave a green light to a Copyright Management System. The development has been welcomed by Paddy Kayiwa Mukasa, popularly known as Paddyman, a renowned music producer.
According to Paddyman, copyright means protection and empowerment, safeguarding one’s creative work and intellectual property. He emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of creators and ensuring fair compensation for their work.
“Imagine walking down the street and seeing your pictures being used without your consent. Your face is your identity, your brand, and your creativity is invaluable,” Paddyman said in an exclusive interview with PML Daily’s Nelson Mandela.
He further explained that when a song is composed, it belongs to the creator. “When you compose a song, it’s yours. If someone wants to use or reproduce that work, they need to obtain permission and possibly pay royalties.
The music producer emphasized the need for effective implementation of copyright laws in Uganda. “In Uganda, we need to implement copyright laws effectively. This means that radio and TV stations, bars, and other public places that play music need to obtain licenses and pay royalties to the artists. Telecom companies also need to compensate artists for using their music as callback tunes.”
Paddyman believes that the implementation of copyright law will empower artists and create a system that supports and protects their rights. “If we can implement these measures, artists will be empowered and able to benefit financially from their creative work. It’s a matter of respecting the rights of creators and ensuring that they are fairly compensated for their work.”
He called upon the government to take action and enforce the law, ensuring that those who use creative work without permission are held accountable. “The government needs to take action to protect the rights of artists and creators. This includes enforcing copyright laws and ensuring that those who use creative work without permission are held accountable.”
President Museveni, during a meeting in Rwakitura with top officials and musicians, including Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Uganda Musicians Association (UMA), emphasized the importance of the Copyright Management System. “Now technology should be able to tell us who has played my song and where,” President Museveni said.
The Copyright Management System will register musicians’ works, track usage in bars, TVs, and radios, ensure artists get paid for plays, and end music piracy. Businesses like bars, radio, and TV stations will need a licensed device to play Ugandan music, and the system will monitor and ensure musicians earn a fair share.
Eddy Kenzo praised the initiative, saying it will ensure lifetime earnings for artists from their songs, benefiting both artists and their families. “Many musicians struggle financially after their peak years. This system ensures lifetime earnings from their songs, benefiting both artists and their families,” Kenzo said.
Paddyman believes that Uganda has talented artists, but there is a need to create a system that supports and protects their rights.
He commended President Museveni for taking steps to protect the rights of artists and creators. “I’m yet to study what the president signed….but it’s an enforcement to the consumers. It is good. But what are they enforcing? That’s very important.”
Paddyman also praised Eddy Kenzo for his efforts in advocating for the rights of artists. “I am proud of my brother, Kenzo, for whatever achievement he got there. But then we need more empowerment.”
The implementation of the Copyright Management System is expected to bring significant changes to the music industry in Uganda. With the new system in place, artists are expected to earn fair compensation for their work, and music piracy is expected to decrease.
