Will Uganda’s new copyright bill leave some musicians behind? Dr. Hilderman speaks out

• Musicians who sold their catalogues won’t benefit from the new bill
• Existing contracts remain legally binding and unchanged
• Artists urged to stop selling music rights before the law takes effect

Singer and Mawokota North MP Hillary Kiyaga, popularly known as Dr. Hilderman, has issued a sobering warning to musicians celebrating Uganda’s newly passed Copyright Amendment Bill 2025.

While the law has been widely welcomed as a long-overdue solution to help artists earn from their work, Kiyaga says not everyone in the industry will benefit.

According to him, musicians who previously sold their music catalogues to promoters and businessmen—such as Kasiwukira, with some rights later transferred to Salim Saleh—will miss out on any financial gains under the new law.

“These agreements were legally entered into and they still stand. The new law will not reverse contracts that were signed years ago,” Kiyaga explained.

“Artists who sold off their catalogues already gave away their rights. Even when the law comes into force, the earnings will go to whoever currently owns those rights,” he added.

The legislator further clarified that the bill/law is not yet operational. It must first go through Cabinet processes and receive presidential assent before being implemented.

In the meantime, he advised musicians to be cautious.

“For now, artists should stop selling their music. Once the law is fully in force, such contracts will not be recognized in the same way,” he cautioned.

For decades, many Ugandan musicians sold their music rights due to limited industry structures, only to later regret losing ownership. With the new law promising stronger protections, Kiyaga’s remarks highlight a painful reality—some artists may have already signed away their future earnings.