Julius Kyazze warns copyright reforms could hurt investment in music industry

What the report says

Music executive Julius Kyazze has cautioned that Uganda’s recent copyright changes could make the country’s music sector less attractive to investors, even as they give artists greater control over their work. Kyazze, the chief executive of Live54+ and co-founder of Swangz Avenue, said the public discussion around the reforms has focused mainly on what creators gain, while giving less attention to the businesses that finance recording, promotion and distribution.

According to Sqoop Uganda, Kyazze’s remarks come after Parliament passed the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill in March 2026. He said he supports updating the law, but questioned whether the new framework sufficiently considered the people and companies that pay upfront costs and depend on time to recover their investment. He pointed in particular to shorter periods before copyright returns to owners, arguing that this could weaken incentives to fund music projects if investors see a higher chance of not recouping their money.

Kyazze also linked the copyright debate to separate tax regulations affecting the creative sector, saying both developments received too little public scrutiny. He argued that tighter documentation and tax compliance requirements could add pressure to businesses that often earn through royalties, licensing and irregular income streams.

His central message was that copyright reform should be judged not only by how well it protects artists, but also by whether it keeps the industry commercially viable. The issue matters because Uganda’s music business depends on both creative rights and access to capital to build long-term careers.