Veteran musician and National Cultural Forum chairperson Ragga Dee (Daniel Kazibwe) has it clear that anyone using music commercially must pay for it even if they are not playing Ugandan Music, this comes in on the ongoing debate surrounding the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Speaking during a recent discussion on the proposed reforms, Ragga Dee emphasized that the law will apply broadly whether one is playing Ugandan music or international tracks.
“Even if you play Ugandan music or western music, you’ll have to pay for the copyright certificate,” he said.
The veteran artist explained that the requirement is based on a simple principle: if you are using something that does not belong to you, you must compensate the owner.
To drive his point home, he compared the proposed system to mandatory vehicle insurance.
“It’s just like third party. You paid third party for your car. When you get an accident, who pays?” he explained.
Ragga Dee’s remarks suggest that businesses such as bars, media houses, and event organizers will be required to obtain a blanket or corporate license to legally play music in public spaces, regardless of its origin.
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Even if you don’t play Ugandan music, you still have to pay for the copyright license – Ragga Deee(Musician) #UBCNews | https://t.co/yuyK27h14g pic.twitter.com/OjuZ0nLCXs
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