Kampala, Uganda – November 24, 2025 – On November 23, 2025, Ran 09 African Creatives, in partnership with the Songwriters Association of Uganda, hosted the inaugural Composers Brunch—a historic sensitization gathering designed to empower Ugandan songwriters and their counterparts across Africa.
Attendees at the Composers Brunch, held November 23, 2025, in Kampala. From left: Representatives from URSB, UPRS, Uganda Musicians Federation, and members of the Songwriters Association of Uganda.
The event brought together key stakeholders from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) , the Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS) , and the Uganda Musicians Federation (UMF) in a unified effort to address the systemic challenges affecting music composers across East Africa.
A Gathering of Minds
The Composers Brunch served as a critical meeting point for both professional and emerging songwriters, offering a platform to discuss the structural barriers that have long hindered composers from earning fair compensation for their creative works. Attendees engaged in frank conversations about copyright enforcement, royalty collection, metadata management, and the need for stronger legal protections.
Key Stakeholder Engagements
URSB: Strengthening Copyright Infrastructure
Representatives from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) , the government body responsible for copyright administration, reaffirmed their commitment to modernizing Uganda’s intellectual property framework. URSB officials highlighted the ongoing Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to domesticate several international copyright treaties, including the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty .
Key provisions of the Bill discussed included:
- 60% ring-back tone royalties for authors and performers, up from current rates
- 20-year reversion rights, allowing creators to regain control of their works
- Mandatory written contracts registered within 60 days of conclusion
- Stronger online protections against digital piracy
URSB has been actively collaborating with Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) to implement targeted sensitization programs, emphasizing that monetizing creative work begins with a clear understanding of intellectual property rights .
UPRS: Collective Management and Royalty Distribution
The Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS) , a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers, musicians, and music publishers, outlined its mission to license and promote members’ music while obtaining fair compensation for public performances . UPRS representatives stressed the importance of:
- Proper registration with Interested Party Information (IPI) numbers
- Accurate metadata and ISRC codes for royalty tracking
- Engagement with CMOs to ensure fair royalty distribution
Recent UPRS engagements have focused on transparency and the future of Uganda’s creative industry, with the theme “Make Music Pay” driving their 2025 Annual General Meeting .
Uganda Musicians Federation: Advocacy and Unity
The Uganda Musicians Federation (UMF) , led by President Eddy Kenzo, brought the voice of practicing musicians to the table. The Federation has been actively involved in pushing for copyright reforms, with Kenzo recently meeting President Yoweri Museveni over the Copyright Amendment Draft Bill . UMF representatives emphasized the need for:
- A centralized registration database for all copyrighted material
- Usage tracking systems for licensed venues and broadcasters
- A revenue sharing model based on actual airplay
Continental Context: The Bigger Picture
The discussions at the Composers Brunch took place against a sobering continental backdrop. According to recent studies by Connect for Culture Africa (CfCA), East African countries spend less than 0.2% of their national budgets on culture—far below the African Union’s target of 1% . Uganda’s creative industries contribute just 0.15% of GDP despite employing hundreds of thousands of people, and cultural financing remains scattered across multiple ministries, making coordination nearly impossible .
As one Ugandan musician recently told CfCA researchers: “We’ve already proven we can make the music. What we need now is a system that pays for it.”
A New Era for Ugandan Composers
The Composers Brunch marked a turning point in how Uganda’s creative community engages with its regulators and collective management organizations. The event demonstrated that when songwriters, composers, and industry stakeholders come together with a unified voice, meaningful progress is possible.
Ran 09 African Creatives remains committed to serving as a hub for these critical conversations, ensuring that the business of music works for those who create it—not just those who distribute and consume it.
For media inquiries, please contact:
RAN09 African Creativez Limited,
Balaba Hub Kalungu Bunga, Kampala – Uganda
