The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has achieved a significant milestone in the protection of intellectual property rights, the gazettement of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Regulations, S.I. No. 73 of 2025. The amended Regulations, which came into effect on 26th September 2025, remove the long-standing requirement for applicants to gazette their applications before obtaining certificates of registration for their copyrights or neighbouring rights.
Previously, creators of literary, artistic and scientific works had to publish their applications in the Uganda Gazette before receiving certificates of ownership. The process was lengthy and expensive. Many creatives in the music, film, literary, art and craft, and software solutions viewed this requirement as an additional obstacle that delayed the swift protection of their works.
With the removal of this requirement, copyright registration in Uganda has become more efficient and cost-effective. Applicants can obtain certificates of ownership without undergoing the gazetting process, significantly cutting down both the time and cost of securing legal protection for their intellectual property.
Speaking on the reform, the Registrar General, Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho, emphasised the importance of this change in fostering creativity and innovation in Uganda.
“The removal of the requirement to gazette applications is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to supporting the creative industry and making Uganda a more competitive and innovative economy. We listened to the concerns of creators, and this reform will now enable artists, writers, software developers, and other innovators to protect their works faster, without barriers. As the Registrar of Copyright, URSB’s goal is to provide services that not only safeguard intellectual property but also encourage economic growth through innovation and creativity.”
This development will benefit Uganda’s growing creative sector, musicians, authors, filmmakers, designers, and digital entrepreneurs by easing access to copyright protection, enabling commercialisation, attracting investment, and safeguarding against piracy
URSB urges all creative economy stakeholders to take advantage of this reform and register their works, secure ownership, gain recognition, and confidently access local and international markets
