OPINION: Copyright Reforms Matter Beyond the Entertainment Industry

In April 2026, Uganda made important progress with the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act when it was signed into law by the President. Stronger penalties for infringement, enhanced digital protections, and improved royalty mechanisms mark a meaningful step toward modernising the country's Intellectual Property (IP) framework. However, to fully realise the law's potential, we must broaden the national conversation. Copyright reform is not just an issue for the creative and entertainment sector, it is a critical enabler of innovation, economic growth, education, technology, and sustainable development across Uganda. Too often, discussions about copyright remain limited to just music, films and television, overlooking how robust IP protection underpins progress in virtually every sector of the economy. A well-functioning copyright system stimulates investment and job creation far beyond the screen. It encourages the production of high-quality local content, supports talent development and builds industries that contribute significantly to GDP. When piracy flourishes due to weak enforcement, it not only reduces revenue for rights holders but also discourages investment in local production, skills development and long-term innovation. Recent reports from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau show that digital piracy alone costs Uganda's creative and broadcasting industries over USD 100 million annually with government tax revenue dropping by USD 25.3 million. What do these numbers mean for creators who invest their talent, broadcasters who invest in quality programming and telecommunications operators who spend significant amounts on digital infrastructure every year? The damage discourages investment, stifles innovation, distorts fair competition and deprives the country of essential tax revenue. But how would reformed copyright laws contribute to the country's GDP? Stronger copyright laws attract foreign investment and facilitate technology transfer. Companies are naturally more willing to bring advanced tools, software and knowledge into the market when they have confidence that their intellectual property will be respected. This dynamic has been observed across developing economies where improved IP regimes correlate with increased licensing, trade and local innovation. As Uganda advances toward universal digital access by 2030, copyright should provide the foundation for software development, digital platforms, databases, and emerging technologies such as AI. Clear, modern rules to build investor confidence and enable start-ups and tech entrepreneurs to scale sustainably. Without copyright protection, young innovators stand to face threats to their work. Teachers and universities have less control over their research work and how it is reproduced with the threat of facing backlash if it is reproduced maliciously resulting in heavy damage to their credibility. At the same time, copyright law recognises that society benefits from access to knowledge. Many countries therefore include exceptions often called fair dealing or fair use that allow limited copying for purposes such as teaching, research, criticism, or news reporting. Libraries have specific rights to preserve works or provide limited access. These exceptions are designed to strike a balance between rewarding creators and ensuring that education and public interests are served. This helps ensure provisions for education, research and small businesses' access to knowledge without undermining incentives for creation. Piracy continues to undermine these opportunities. Recent forums hosted by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) highlighted losses to jobs, innovation, and government revenue. Illegal distribution of content harms not only creators and distributors but also the broader ecosystem that relies on a healthy digital economy. For many broadcasting companies in Uganda, illegal content distribution directly reduces their ability to invest in premium local productions. But the damage extends further, it discourages risk-taking across industries and erodes trust in digital platforms. Building on the 2026 amendments, Uganda should prioritise investing in efficient digital monitoring systems, expedient take down processes and stronger inter-agency enforcement collaboration. Fostering partnerships between government, regulators, creators, broadcasters and technology platforms while educating stakeholders, including the judiciary and businesses on the role of IP in national development are additional steps the country can adopt to strengthen copyright reform in other industries as well. Copyright is far more than a legal mechanism for protecting songs and movies. By championing comprehensive reform that extends beyond entertainment, Uganda can strengthen its innovation ecosystem, enhance competitiveness in the digital age and empower local talent to thrive. Article by Rhonah Nuwakunda, the Regional Regulatory Compliance Manager for Eastern region at MultiChoice, a Canal+ Company. Related