The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has initiated a nationwide consultation process aimed at amending the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law of 2006. The first of these consultations took place in Gulu on October 12, 2023, with artists and stakeholders from northern Uganda participating.

The objective of these meetings is to gather insights and perspectives from the arts and creative community, ensuring that the proposed amendments align with their interests and needs. The URSB registrar general, Mercy K. Kainobwisho, expressed the importance of involving all stakeholders in the process to create a comprehensive and equitable legal framework.

The meeting in Gulu brought together regional artists, music producers, authors, audio-visual producers, film and music industry figures, as well as promoters and other arts stakeholders. Similar consultative meetings will be organized in various regions of the country to ensure that all interests are adequately addressed in the copyright law amendments.

URSB is collaborating with several government bodies and industry associations, including the justice ministry, Uganda Law Reform Commission, Uganda Communications Commission, Collective Management Organizations, Uganda Musicians’ Association, National Cultural Forum, and Uganda National Musicians Federation to organize these engagements.

The amendments to Uganda’s Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law are expected to provide a legal framework that supports and protects the interests of creators and artists while fostering a thriving creative industry in the country.