Uganda will host a regional intellectual property symposium next week, bringing together African copyright regulators and creative industry representatives to discuss digital piracy, royalty payments and ways to increase the economic value of creative works.
The seventh African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Symposium on Copyright and Related Rights Management will take place from Oct. 19 to 21 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, organised by ARIPO in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
The symposium, themed “Empowering Creativity: Harnessing IP for Sustainable Development in Africa,” comes as Uganda seeks to strengthen copyright protection and improve opportunities for artists and other creators to earn income from their work.
“Copyright must function not only as a legal right, but also as an economic asset that generates income, creates jobs and attracts investment,” URSB Acting Registrar General Mustapher Ntale said at a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre.
Uganda’s Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Act, No. 8 of 2026, introduces reforms addressing copyright protection in the digital environment, orphan works, collective management organisations and administrative procedures for resolving copyright complaints.
URSB established a dedicated Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Department in April 2025 to provide specialised services to the creative industry.
Commissioner for Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Miriam Nabatanzi said effective copyright systems could help creators benefit financially from their work while giving businesses greater confidence to invest in creative industries.
The symposium will examine licensing, royalty administration, enforcement, digital piracy and cross-border cooperation among ARIPO member states.
Edrisa Musuuza, a musician popularly known as Eddie Kenzo and Uganda’s Senior Presidential Adviser on Creatives, said stronger copyright awareness and fair compensation were essential for artists seeking to build sustainable livelihoods and reach international audiences.
The meeting will also build on regional efforts to improve copyright cooperation, including the Kampala Protocol on the Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights, adopted at a diplomatic conference hosted by Uganda in August 2021.
The symposium forms part of activities leading to ARIPO’s 50th anniversary in December 2026.
Its outcomes could help shape regional approaches to copyright administration, although the effectiveness of reforms will depend on implementation, enforcement and transparent systems for collecting and distributing royalties.
