In late July, the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF) in partnership with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS), begun engagements in a rigorous nationwide sensitization tour dubbed ‘Copyright Management System and Copyright Awareness Sensitization Tour.’

Spanning 18 UNMF sub-regions across the country, including recent heavily attended workshops in West Nile, Karamoja, Moroto, Tororo and Luweero sub-regions, the tour is designed to equip musicians, artists and other creative industry stakeholders with practical knowledge about copyright protection, neighboring rights, intellectual property, licensing and royalty management.

According to UNMF, the initiative will reach several other regions, including Teso, Busoga, Bunyoro Kitara, Rwenzori, Kigezi, Ankole, Masaka, Mpigi and Mukono, among others.

 A New Legal Shield for Artists

 The drive aims to educate local artists on the newly passed Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act, 2026.

Under the strict framework of the 2026 amendments, Ugandan creators are gaining stronger protection mechanisms, such as:

• Higher legal penalties for copyright infringement.
• Enhanced administrative takedown powers by the URSB.
• Restated boundaries for licensing and contract assignments.

During the local outreaches, legal teams break down these complex statutory provisions into accessible language. They emphasize asset protection, ownership retention, and the financial critical need for documenting clean, structured music catalogues.

Digital Tracking via Pearl Creatives:

The centerpiece of this countrywide modernization effort is the rollout of the Uganda Copyright Management System (CMS), powered by the digital platform Pearl Creatives.

Pearl Creatives is a centralized technology tool designed to eliminate transparency issues that have historically plagued royalty tracking in the country. The application supports collective management by providing:

• Music Registration & Cataloguing: A direct portal for creators to formally record their intellectual properties.
• Public Performance Monitoring: Automated tracking of music logs across public venues, media houses, and broadcasting stations.
• Transparent Royalty Distribution: Clear data analytics that calculate payouts based on actual airplay, ensuring artists ‘earn from every play.’

While the formal full platform launch date will be communicated in due course, the registry systems are completely operational for updates and onboarding.

“UNMF will collaborate with Government institutions, including relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Governments, cultural institutions, private-sector partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen Uganda’s copyright ecosystem,” John Kateregga, Director of Legal and Compliance at UNMF, said.