In a significant policy move, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has eliminated the requirement for applicants to publish their copyright applications in the Uganda Gazette before obtaining registration certificates.
The change follows the enactment of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Regulations, S.I. No. 73 of 2025, which came into force on September 26, 2025.
Previously, individuals and organisations seeking to protect literary, musical, artistic, software and other creative works had to endure the time, cost and procedural delays associated with gazetting their applications before formal issuance of ownership certificates.
With the removal of the gazette step, rights-holders can now secure certificates more quickly and at lower cost, without the administrative barrier of publication.
Registrar General Mercy K. Kainobwisho said the reform reflects the government’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s creative sector and building a more competitive, innovation-driven economy. She noted that creators will now be able to protect their works faster and with fewer barriers.
The URSB is calling on authors, musicians, filmmakers, software developers, designers and other creative economy stakeholders to take advantage of the simplified registration process to secure ownership rights, guard against piracy and infringement, and commercialise their works more confidently.