• Karole Kasita believes the window for musicians to influence copyright reform has closed.

• She suggests Eddy Kenzo may have sacrificed parts of his career while lobbying government.

• Political interests from NRM and NUP are seen as slowing progress on the law.

Ugandan musician Karole Kasita has expressed deep frustration over the prolonged delay in passing a strong copyright law to protect musicians and creatives, saying she believes the moment to push for it has already passed.

Speaking during an interaction with a local content creator, the Chekecha singer said musicians no longer have the influence they once had over those in power, arguing that government goodwill toward artists has steadily faded.

According to Kasita, there was a time when musicians could speak and be heard, but that window appears to have closed. She claims creatives have since been taken for granted and largely used for political convenience rather than being meaningfully supported.

“There was a time when the government listened to us and took us seriously, but that time passed. Now they just use us, and when it comes to what really matters to us, nothing moves,” Kasita said.

She added that, speaking for herself, she has little hope that the long-awaited copyright law will be passed anytime soon, noting that if the government truly wanted to hand it to musicians, it would not have taken this long.

Kasita also commented on the role played by Eddy Kenzo, suggesting that the celebrated singer may have sacrificed parts of his career in pursuit of broader gains for musicians. Kenzo, who heads the Uganda National Musicians Federation, has in recent years grown closer to government circles, frequently performing at NRM events and rallies addressed by President Yoweri Museveni.

While she admitted it was unclear whether Kenzo anticipated finding himself in such a powerful position, Kasita said she hopes his efforts eventually pay off for the wider music industry. In a joking aside, she added that if they do not, she would personally “look for him and beat him up.”

The copyright law debate has dragged on for years, with musicians and creatives repeatedly calling for amendments that would improve protections and earnings from their work. Last year, a group of artists met Members of Parliament, raising hopes of progress, with Kenzo himself assuring musicians that developments were underway.

However, frustration has continued to mount, particularly amid claims that political interests from both NRM and NUP, led by Bobi Wine, have complicated the process. Many creatives believe the issue has not received the attention, transparency, and urgency it deserves.

For now, some in the industry are waiting to see whether progress will be made after the election period, though voices like Kasita’s suggest patience among musicians is wearing thin.