TAKEAWAYS

• Spice Diana says she accepted a Shs1.4 million UPRS royalty payment, unlike a previous Shs20,000 payment she returned.

• She revealed she will release several new collaboration songs later this year, including potential international projects.

• The singer also explained why she chose not to respond to Uncle Chumi during their recent public encounter.

Musician Spice Diana has revealed that she received a significantly higher royalty payment from the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) this year compared to previous years, but insists the amount still does not fairly reflect the success of her music.

UPRS has in recent days been distributing royalties to Ugandan artists for the 2025 collection period, a process that has sparked debate across the music industry over the amounts paid to different musicians.

Speaking about her payment, Spice Diana recalled rejecting a previous royalty payment of just Shs20,000, saying she found it insulting. This year, however, she received Shs1.4 million, which she accepted because she needed the money, although she believes more transparency is still required.

“At one time I received Shs20,000 and I returned it because I felt disrespected. This time I got Shs1.4 million, so I accepted it because I needed the money, but I still don’t think it’s enough. There are still many questions that UPRS needs to answer.”

Beyond the royalty debate, the singer revealed that fans should expect new music before the end of the year, hinting that her upcoming releases will largely be collaborations with top artists.

“I have some of the dopest songs coming out this year. Most of them will be collaborations because I wanted to create something different for my fans. International collaborations are not easy because artists’ schedules, especially for video shoots, don’t always match.”

Spice Diana also commented on her recent encounter with fellow singer Uncle Chumi, whose remarks at a public event reignited speculation about their strained relationship.

The singer said she deliberately chose not to respond because she respected the occasion and did not want to create unnecessary drama.

As conversations continue over the latest UPRS payouts, many artists are calling on the society to provide greater clarity on how royalties are calculated and distributed, with Spice Diana among those urging more transparency.