Daudi Kabanda fires back at King Saha over copyright bill, calls singer ignorant

• Daudi Kabanda defends his role in shaping the Copyright Amendment Bill.

• King Saha criticized the MP, sparking a public dispute.
• New provisions include automated royalty tracking and a 20-year rights limit.

Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda has hit back at musician King Saha following a heated exchange over the recently passed Copyright Amendment Bill 2025

The bill, which has dominated conversations in Uganda’s entertainment industry, aims to ensure artists earn from the use of their music across media platforms, bars, and public spaces. Kabanda was among the lawmakers who actively contributed to shaping the legislation.

However, tensions escalated after King Saha accused Kabanda of attempting to frustrate the bill’s progress—claims the legislator has strongly dismissed. In response, Kabanda criticized the singer’s understanding of legal processes, arguing that the concerns raised were misplaced.

“You cannot speak authoritatively on matters you do not fully understand. This law required careful structuring to benefit all stakeholders.”

Kabanda went on to explain his role in refining Clause 9 of the bill, noting that it now requires the minister to work with agencies such as the Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau to determine how royalties will be shared.

“We needed a system that tracks usage. An artist cannot manually know which bar in Mubende or elsewhere has played their song.”

According to Kabanda, the introduction of an automated tracking system will ensure fairness and transparency in royalty collection, making the law more practical and enforceable.

He also highlighted a key reform limiting music rights sales to 20 years, as opposed to the previous lifetime arrangements that disadvantaged many artists. This, he noted, will protect both current and future generations of musicians.

Despite the improvements, the debate has exposed widespread misunderstanding about the law, with calls growing for more sensitization among artists to fully grasp its implications.