URRO

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Africa Copyright & Collective Management Day

“Creativity is like a plant that needs to be tended to. It is watered so that it doesn’t wither. For us as government we have to ensure that creativity is protected. Creativity flourishes where it is protected.” – Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Registrar General

Uganda continues to recognize the creative sector as a cornerstone of our Social-Economic transformation.

“As we celebrate this special day, it is important to remind ourselves that the creative economy can help diversify production, build a competitive advantage, attract investment, support entrepreneurship & innovation, promote cultural diversity, and enhance overall well-being.” – Mr. David Njuguna, Director of Intellectual Property, ARIPO

“A sustainable future for our creatives depends on accountability, transparency, and innovation of CMOs. By valuing copyright and leveraging technology, we can ensure that every creator receives the recognition and reward they rightfully deserve.” – Mr. Robert Kasande, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Mr. Samuel Sangwa, CISAC Regional Director – Africa, educated the participants on the role of CISAC in collective management, “CISAC protects the rights and promotes the interests of creators worldwide as well as enabling CMOs to seamlessly represent creators and ensure that royalties flow to authors for the use of their works anywhere in the world.”

URSB Raises Concerns Over Private Copy Remuneration Scheme

 

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has expressed opposition to a provision in the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Amendment Bill, 2025, that proposes the creation of a private copy remuneration scheme.

Who is the Enemy of Uganda’s Creative Industry?

By Charles Batambuze

Every thriving economy must ask itself a hard question: who is standing in the way of its creatives? For Uganda, this question has become urgent as Parliament debates the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Bill, 2025, particularly the introduction of a Private Copy Remuneration scheme.

At first glance, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) warns that such a levy will make gadgets like smartphones and computers more expensive and slow down ICT adoption. But this argument, while convenient, distracts from the bigger truth. The real “enemy” of Uganda’s creative industry is not the levy. It is the entrenched system that enables free, uncompensated use of creative works while opposing every attempt to reward those who produce them.

Uganda’s musicians, authors, filmmakers, performers, and visual artists fuel the very content that sells gadgets, fills social media platforms, drives internet bundles, and sustains telecom profits. Yet, despite this undeniable contribution, they remain at the bottom of the earning pyramid. This is not by accident. It is the result of deliberate resistance to creating mechanisms that would ensure creators share in the wealth their works generate.

The private copy remuneration scheme is simple. It recognizes that in today’s world, copying is inevitable. When someone buys a device, they are effectively buying a means of reproducing and enjoying creative works. In fairness, a small fraction of that transaction should be channeled back to the creators whose works will inevitably be copied. This principle is already embraced in Europe, Canada, and several African countries. Why then should Uganda be the exception?

Let us be honest. We cannot legislate in a digital environment where devices and media are the principal way of consuming content, and then deny the very people who produce that content a system of fair compensation. To do so is to condemn Uganda’s creatives to perpetual poverty, while protecting the profit margins of manufacturers, importers, and telecom giants.

If URSB’s concern is the affordability of devices, then the solution lies in smarter tax policy and incentives, not in denying creators their rightful earnings. Creators should not be sacrificed at the altar of “cheap gadgets.” After all, what is a smartphone without music to stream, books to download, or films to watch? It is an empty shell.

The enemy of the creative industry is not technology. It is not innovation. It is not even the consumer. The true enemy is the resistance to fairness, the refusal to acknowledge that creativity is labour, and that labour deserves reward. Every year that we delay fair remuneration schemes, Uganda loses billions in potential creative economy earnings. More painfully, we lose talent. Young artists give up, disillusioned, while others flee to countries that respect their work.

As a country, we face a choice. We can side with short-term commercial interests, or we can build a system that values creativity as a pillar of socio-economic transformation. The Copyright Amendment Bill offers us a historic chance to choose the latter.

Uganda cannot talk of job creation, innovation, and digital transformation while refusing to empower the very sector that fuels digital consumption. The day we decide to value creativity fairly is the day Uganda’s creative economy will stand tall. Until then, the real “enemy” of the creative industry will remain not outside, but inside, in the policies and attitudes that keep creators unpaid.

 

Interested in Copyright law? WATCH as Mr. Charles Batambuze explains Copyright law in Uganda.
A Tribute to Hon. Mary Karoro Okurut By Charles Batambuze — NABOTU & URRO

Uganda’s literary skies are dimmer this week, for we lost one of our brightest lights, a guardian angel for writers, a midwife of stories, and a fierce believer in the power of words.

I will always remember her signature kitenge dresses, not merely a fashion choice, but a vibrant declaration of her inner spirit and her commitment to African storytelling. She wore her identity as proudly as she championed our voices.

Through her regular column in the New Vision newspaper, she reached Uganda’s intellectual circles with courage and grace, provoking thought, inviting debate, and giving readers permission to either frown or praise. She was fearless in her opinions, yet generous in spirit.

On 30 January 2020, just weeks before the world shut down for COVID-19, Hon. Mary Karoro Okurut graced the Uganda International Book Fair at Constitution Square as our Chief Guest. It was one of the many occasions she stood in the gap for books, literature, and the dreamers behind them.

My first real exchange with her was many years ago. She had presented a paper on protecting folklore from a creative writer’s perspective. I argued that writers who use folklore should share proceeds with the communities that own it. She disagreed, gently but firmly, pointing out the creative labour and sweat of the writer. It was one of those moments you realise you are in the company of a mind that both challenges and enriches you.

Her reputation preceded her and she lived up to it. She became one of Uganda’s most prolific authors, her works filling shelves from Kampala to the furthest corners of our country. Fountain Publishers remained her faithful publishing home, ensuring her voice reached generations.

Perhaps her most enduring legacy is the Uganda Women Writers Association, FEMRITE, which she founded as a safe and nurturing space for women’s stories to be born and thrive. FEMRITE became a cradle of voices that would rise to win awards, travel the world, and inspire countless others. To the girls she mentored, she was a mother hen. To us at the National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) and the Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation (URRO), she was the visionary behind one of our most cherished and dependable member organisations, a beacon for discovering and nurturing new talent. We also recognise with gratitude Goretti Kyomuhendo, the founding Director of FEMRITE, and Hilda Twongyeirwe, the current Director, for faithfully carrying forward her vision and ensuring that FEMRITE remains a living testament to the founder’s dream.

We will miss you deeply, Mary. You lived as a custodian of stories, a believer in the written word, and a champion of the storyteller’s place in our culture.

Rest in power, dear friend. Your words live on.

 

Masterclass on Enforcing and Protecting Copyright for Writers

At the Kampala LitFest held at Onomo Hotel last year, I was with writers who attended the Masterclass on Enforcing and Protecting Copyright for Writers, there was insufficient time to address all the questions raised about copyright. This year, we plan to create more opportunities to ensure every writer and publisher can master copyright monetization strategies.

THE NEW ELECTED BOARD OF URRO AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON 12/4/2023

The new Board of URRO pose for a photo with the representative of the Registrar General L-R: Dr. Julius Biryomumeisho- Senior Lecturer Gulu University and member UTANA; Mr. David Kasozi Kibuuka- the new Board Chair and CEO of Roots Publishers and member UPA; Mr. Ronald Lutunda- representative of the Registrar General at the AGM; Mr. Martin Okia-out going Chairman of URRO and now Ex-officio; Ms Fortunate Tusasirwe FEMRITE; Ms Eva Mutongole Wamala Chairperson of Uganda Children’s Writers & Illustrators Association; Johnson Maganja a children’s writer, journalist and teacher; Mr. Charles Batambuze Executive Director URRO; Ms Crystal Rutangye Publishing Director at Scribe House; and Mr. John Kateregga aka John Kay President Uganda Songwriters Association. Congratulations to the new team.

The Annual General Meeting of the Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation (URRO) which was held on 12/04/2023 at the National Theatre.

UPDATES ON ELECTION PROCESS TO URRO BOARD

Dear Members,

As we gear up towards the forthcoming URRO AGM due 12th April 2023 at the Green Room, National Theatre, here are some updates on the election process to the URRO Board.

Category 1:

Candidates nominated to represent Rightsholder associations on the Board are as below:

1. Uganda Publishers Association (UPA)-  David Kibuuka, CEO of Roots Publishers; formerly Country Director for Pearson and Longhorn Publishers.

2. Uganda Children’s Writers and Illustrators Association (UCWIA)- Eva Mutongole Wamala, Chairperson of UCWIA

3. Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE)- Fortunate Tusasirwe, Board member at FEMRITE

4. Uganda Textbook, Academic and Non-fiction Authors Association (UTANA)- Dr. Justus Biryomumeisho, a Lecturer at Gulu University

5. Uganda Songwriters Association (USWA)- no person yet.

Category 2:

Candidates that have expressed interest in representing Individual members of URRO

1. Crystal Rutangye, Publishing Director at Scribe House and Publishing Commonwealth Scholar-Publishing Studies (2014-15). 

2. Johnson Maganja, A children’s writer, teacher, and Journalist

Charles

————–

Charles Batambuze

Executive Director

Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation (URRO)

National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU)

tel 0414 235264

Mob 0772580287

POSTPONMENT OF URRO AGM TO 12TH APRIL 2023

Dear Member,

This is to inform all our members that URRO AGM which was due to take place on Wednesday 29th March, 2023 has been rescheduled to  Wednesday 12th April, 2023 at the National Theatre. The reason for the postponement being that a substantial number of URRO members have been called at short notice for a meeting with the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports to resolve  textbooks issues that have been outstanding since 2021. 

We regret any inconveniences caused as a result of this change and look forward to hosting you on 12th April, 2023. Thank you. 

Charles

————–

Charles Batambuze

Executive Director

Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation (URRO)

National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU)

Tel 0414 235264

Mob 0772580287

NOTICE OF ANUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice of election of Rights holder association representatives to the URRO Board

17th February, 2023

Uganda Publishers Association (UPA),

Uganda Children’s Writers and Illustrators Association (UCWIA),

Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE),

Uganda Textbook, Academic and Non-fiction Association (UTANA),

Uganda Songwriters Association (USWA)

Dear Members,

Notice of election of Rights holder association representatives to the URRO Board

This is to notify you that elections of rights holder association representatives to join the Board of Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation (URRO) have commenced on this Friday 17th February, 2023. You are requested to make arrangements for your associations to vote for suitably qualified persons with experiences of corporate governance, management of voluntary organisations and with interest in copyright and literary sector development to join the Board of URRO for a term of two (2) years effective 29th March 2023 as follows:

  1. Uganda Publishers Association (UPA)              one (1) representative  
  2. Uganda Children’s Writers and Illustrators Association (UCWIA) one (1) representative
  3. Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE) one (1) representative
  4. Uganda Textbook, Academic and Non-fiction Authors (UTANA) one (1) representative
  5. Uganda Songwriters Association (USWA) one (1) representative

Each rights holder association is expected to furnish URRO Secretariat with information of successful candidates elected as soon as the election is finalized but in any case not later than Thursday 23rd March, 2023.

Note:

  1. Clearance of outstanding annual membership fees is a requirement for accepting your representative on the Board of URRO.  Annual membership fee is Shs 50,000 (check your invoices to ascertain the amounts owed to URRO).
  2. Rights holder associations that have not returned signed copies of their reviewed Memorandum of Understanding or Mandates are reminded to return them as soon as possible.

Signed For and on Behalf of the Board of URRO,

Charles Batambuze

SECRETARY