By Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has called for stronger protection of creators in Africa’s booming audio-visual sector, warning that piracy and weak enforcement continue to rob artists of their rightful earnings.
Speaking at the opening of the Fourth African Regional Seminar on Copyright and Related Rights in the Audio-visual Sector in Kampala, Mao said governments must align their laws with international standards to ensure that creators benefit from their work.
“This seminar is about awareness of copyright and related rights,” Mao said. “Today, through ARIPO and other partners, it is our duty to make all creators aware that the laws we are creating are on their side and that when they register, they can benefit.”
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The conference, running from September 10–11, 2025, is hosted by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) in partnership with Fundación AISGE, the Global Audio-visual Alliance (GAVA), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Delegates from across Africa are discussing copyright registration, collective management of royalties, tariff-setting guidelines, and the challenges posed by digital piracy.
ARIPO’s Director of Intellectual Property, David Njuguna, said the moment was ripe for Africa to leverage the audio-visual sector for socio-economic transformation. “This is the time to take advantage and leverage the audio-visual sector for sustainable growth of our creatives and countries,” he noted, urging states to ratify treaties such as the Kampala Protocol and the Beijing Treaty on Audio-visual Performances.
Registrar General of URSB, Mercy K. Kainobwisho, also stressed the need for regional cooperation. “By working together, we can build a robust copyright ecosystem, empower creators, and unlock Africa’s creative potential. Together we can also tackle key challenges, including piracy and low awareness,” she said.
For Uganda, hosting the seminar affirms its growing role as a regional leader in creative rights protection, while giving local artists an opportunity to learn how to safeguard and monetise their works.
As delegates continue deliberations, the key message from Kampala is clear: protecting intellectual property is not just about law—it is about protecting livelihoods, preserving culture, and unlocking Africa’s creative economy.
