Uganda will host the 7th Symposium on Copyright and Related Rights Management organised by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) from October 19–21, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The three-day meeting will bring together regional and international stakeholders to examine how intellectual property can support sustainable development and strengthen Africa’s creative economy.
Organised in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the symposium will run under the theme, “Empowering Creativity: Harnessing IP for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
The event is among the activities leading up to ARIPO’s 50th anniversary celebrations in December 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre, URSB Acting Registrar General Mustapher Ntale said the symposium would provide an opportunity to strengthen copyright administration and improve the economic returns creators receive from their work.
Ntale observed that although Uganda and the wider African continent possess significant creative talent, stronger systems are needed to protect intellectual property and enable artists and other creators to earn from their output.
He said copyright should be viewed not merely as a legal entitlement but also as an economic resource capable of generating income, creating employment and attracting investment.
Ntale added that URSB is working to improve Uganda’s copyright administration through specialised services, public awareness campaigns, regulation of collective management organisations and legal reforms.
In April 2025, URSB established a dedicated Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Department to provide specialised support to the creative sector.
The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Act, No. 8 of 2026, also introduces changes addressing copyright protection in the digital environment, orphan works, collective management organisations and administrative procedures for handling copyright complaints.
Copyright Protection Key to Creative Industry Growth
URSB Commissioner for Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Miriam Nabatanzi said effective intellectual property protection was essential to strengthening the creative sector and supporting national economic development.
She noted that creative industries contribute to cultural identity, innovation and economic opportunities, adding that functional copyright systems enable creators to benefit financially from their work while giving businesses greater confidence to invest.
Nabatanzi said stronger copyright administration would help position the creative economy as a more significant contributor to Uganda’s development.
The symposium will bring together policymakers, heads of copyright offices, collective management organisations and other representatives from ARIPO member states.
Discussions will focus on practical approaches to copyright licensing, royalty administration, enforcement, digital piracy and cooperation across national borders.
Representing Uganda’s creative industry, Senior Presidential Adviser on Creatives Edrisa Musuuza, popularly known as Eddie Kenzo, called for stronger protection of artists’ work and fair compensation for their creative output.
Kenzo said Ugandan artists and other creatives had the potential to reach international audiences, but emphasised that protecting their intellectual property and ensuring fair payment were essential to making creativity a sustainable source of livelihood.
He also stressed the need for greater public awareness, respect for copyright and effective systems that enable creators to earn from their talent.
Building Regional Cooperation on Copyright
The meeting will build on regional initiatives aimed at improving cooperation on copyright and related rights, including the Kampala Protocol on the Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights.
The protocol was adopted during a diplomatic conference hosted by Uganda in August 2021.
URSB has called on creators, businesses, digital platforms, policymakers and the media to support copyright awareness initiatives, respect intellectual property rights and contribute to the development of a sustainable creative economy.
The symposium is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore practical measures to ensure that creators across Africa receive greater protection and economic value from their work.
