🎶 UPRS Engages Hotel Owners on Fair Tariffs for Music Use 🎶
📅 23rd September 2025 | 📍 Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB)
The Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) held a strategic engagement with hotel owners to review and negotiate fair copyright tariffs for the commercial use of music in hotels. Since music plays a central role in entertaining guests—whether through background play, live shows, or events—this initiative ensures hotels contribute to sustaining the creative industry.
UPRS emphasized the importance of fairness and compliance, highlighting that songwriters, composers, performers, and producers deserve proper compensation for their work. The dialogue marks a significant step in building stronger partnerships between the hospitality sector and music creators, reinforcing respect for intellectual property while supporting the growth of Uganda’s creative and tourism industries.

UPRS Negotiates Fair Tariffs with Broadcasters.

Date : 22nd September 2025
Venue : Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB)
The Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) recently engaged radio and television broadcasters in a significant initiative aimed at reviewing and negotiating fair copyright tariffs. This engagement is part of UPRS’s ongoing efforts to enhance compliance with music copyright licensing across Uganda.
The negotiations were guided by a commitment to ensure that all music creators—including songwriters, composers, performers, and producers—receive fair compensation for their work and investment. Broadcasters were actively consulted throughout the process, promoting transparency, fairness, and collaborative decision-making.
This milestone represents a crucial step forward for the sustainable growth of Uganda’s music industry, reinforcing the value of intellectual property and strengthening partnerships between creators and music users.

UPRS Celebrates Africa Copyright & Collective Management Day 2025

On 12th September 2025, UPRS joined the rest of the continent in celebrating Africa Copyright & Collective Management Day, an annual event founded by ARIPO in 2017 to highlight the value of copyright and the vital role of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) in supporting Africa’s creative economy. Marked under the theme “Empowering Creative Industries Stakeholders – Building a Sustainable Future for Copyright and Related Rights”, the day emphasized fair compensation for creators, strong copyright policies, and stakeholder collaboration. UPRS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting creators’ rights, ensuring fair rewards, combating piracy, and fostering a sustainable future for Uganda’s creative industry.

UPRS Strengthens Service Delivery with Customer Care & Management Training

On the 25th June, UPRS conducted a comprehensive Customer Care & Management training session aimed at enhancing service delivery. The initiative underscores the organization’s commitment to service excellence, recognizing that empowered teams are key to ensuring member satisfaction.

Regulators visit to UPRS

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the regulator of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) in Uganda, recently visited the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) as part of its efforts to enhance supervision and improve service delivery. The visit focused on assessing UPRS’s operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and strengthening systems for royalty collection, membership management, and rights administration. URSB reaffirmed its commitment to supporting UPRS in aligning with global best practices to better serve music creators and stakeholders.

🎶 Bringing the Industry Together
On May 20th, 2025, UPRS convened a vital mediation meeting with key music stakeholders, including UMPA, Omziki, OPUS Music Africa, and representatives of legendary artists’ estates. The session focused on improving dialogue between music rights holders, publishers, and digital distributors to resolve ongoing disputes in Uganda’s music industry.

🤝 Commitment to Change
UPRS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting creators’ rights, streamlining membership and documentation, and ensuring equitable royalty distribution. All parties pledged to prioritize transparency, integrity, and collaboration—paving the way for a more accountable and professional Ugandan music industry.

🎵 On May 16, 2025, UPRS hosted URSB officials, who oversee Collective Management Organizations, at our offices to ensure compliance with the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2006. Together, we’re advancing our vision of a Uganda where creators are empowered and musical works are valued, protected, and fairly rewarded. Committed to our mission of protecting, promoting, and monetizing our members’ economic rights! Thank you, URSB, for your vital support in empowering Uganda’s creative industry!

📍 On April 23, 2025, at Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), key stakeholders from Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS), URSB, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) gathered to enhance industry collaboration and compliance.
🎶 Broadcasters, including TV and radio stations, were reminded to obtain music licenses from UPRS, as outlined in Section 46 of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006, to ensure fair compensation for music creators.

🎼 ATTENTION MUSIC PUBLISHERS! 🎼
Here’s what went down at the UPRS x UMPA Meeting on 16th April 2025:

The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration and ensure fair royalty distribution for all publishers. A key focus was on improving the accuracy of work registrations and addressing the gaps that are currently costing publishers their rightful earnings.

Publishers are reminded to register all works with the correct ownership percentages. Many are missing out simply because their works are not properly declared when submitted to UPRS. To avoid disputes and ensure transparency, rights holders are strongly encouraged to sign clear agreements with artists. Additionally, it’s crucial to submit all rights contracts to UPRS so they can be officially documented and verified.

UPRS Chairman Mr. Martin Nkoyoyo shared a powerful message: “Protect your rights. Declare your works. Let’s clean the database and grow the industry — together.”

In summary, publishers should make sure their catalogues are up to date, their memberships are active, and their royalties are fully protected. These steps are essential to building a fairer and more efficient music industry for all.

Meeting Between Songwriters and UPRS – March 25, 2025 at UPRS Office

On March 25, 2025, a productive session was held between songwriters and the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) at the UPRS office to discuss good governance and rebuild trust in the organization. During the meeting, songwriters were encouraged to declare all their works, ensuring that the rights owners and their percentage shares are clearly outlined for each registered song title. This transparency will allow UPRS to accurately calculate and distribute royalties to members whose works are used by licensed commercial music users.
The meeting, called by UPRS Board Chairperson Mr. Martin Nkoyoyo, also highlighted the importance of joining UPRS. Mr. Nkoyoyo advised songwriters to become members if they want to benefit from their music being used in public spaces, businesses, broadcasters (radio, television), and other commercial platforms.
Together, we can ensure fair compensation and foster a thriving music industry in Uganda! 🎵💼!m

Music Producers should join UPRS

Record labels and music producers in Uganda are encouraged to join UPRS and declare their works to secure rightful royalties. By presenting agreements with artists, performers, composers, and other creators that clearly indicate percentage shares, UPRS can accurately calculate and allocate earnings when music is played in licensed businesses. During a sensitization meeting on 17th March 2025, UPRS Chairman, Mr. Martin Nkoyoyo, urged all music creators to declare their works to avoid missing out on royalties. Register with UPRS today and ensure your creativity pays off!

Music UPRS Stakeholder Engagement with Cover Bands – February 4 2025

 On February 4, 2025, UPRS hosted a stakeholder engagement session at its Kansanga offices, bringing together representatives from various cover bands, including Vipi Band, Abeeka Band, and others. The session provided a platform to discuss industry best practices, copyright compliance, and the role of cover bands in Uganda’s music ecosystem. Together, we are shaping a fair and sustainable music industry! 🎵