KAMPALA – The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is convening a high-level regional symposium on copyright and related rights management in Kampala in a bid to translate Africa’s creative potential into economic opportunity.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The three-day Symposium on Copyright and Related Rights Management, running from 19 to 21 October 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, brings together policymakers, intellectual property experts, rights holders and industry stakeholders from across the continent.
The event is organised in partnership with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the theme “Empowering Creativity: Harnessing IP for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
The symposium is designed to explore practical approaches to strengthening copyright administration, improving royalty management and promoting the commercialisation of creative works.
Speaking at the opening of the symposium on Monday, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, stressed that legal frameworks must deliver real benefits to the people they are meant to protect.
He said copyright protection should deliver tangible gains for creators, enabling artists, writers, filmmakers and other innovators to safeguard their work, earn from their talent and contribute to national development.
“Copyright protection must translate into tangible benefits for creators. Our legal and institutional frameworks should enable artists, writers, filmmakers and other innovators to protect their work, earn from their talent and contribute meaningfully to national development,” the Minister said.
ARIPO Director General Bemanya Twebaze underscored the value of continental collaboration in building robust intellectual property systems that protect and commercialise creative works.
Twebaze noted that stronger cooperation among intellectual property offices and stakeholders would help Africa expand opportunities for creators across the continent.
“By strengthening cooperation among intellectual property offices and other stakeholders, Africa can build more effective copyright systems that protect creative works, promote commercialisation and expand opportunities for creators across the continent,” Twebaze said.
URSB Board Chairman Rt. Hon. Ambassador Francis K. Butagira described intellectual property as a key engine of economic transformation capable of driving enterprise growth and investment.
He said protecting and commercialising creative works can create employment and ensure that Africa’s rich cultural and creative resources contribute to sustainable development.
“Protecting and commercialising creative works can support enterprise growth, attract investment, create employment and ensure that Africa’s rich cultural and creative resources contribute to sustainable development,” Butagira said.
Ambassador Butagira added that the symposium reflects the Bureau’s commitment to helping Ugandans understand, protect and derive value from their intellectual assets.
During the engagements, participants are expected to examine pressing challenges facing the creative sector, including piracy, licensing frameworks and the exploitation of digital content.
With the creative economy projected to grow significantly across the continent, the outcomes of the symposium are expected to shape copyright policy and practice across ARIPO member states for years to come.
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