UPRS Chairman Hits Out at Ugandan Artistes Demanding for Royalties

By Gloria

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Early last week, Ugandan dancehall female artist Cindy Sanyu expressed her disappointment at the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) for abandoning artists in these hard times.

According to Cindy, UPRS, a collecting society in Uganda mandated to collect royalties on behalf of audio and visual rights owners should come out and help artists during this period while their shows are still on hold.

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Her point of view was echoed by several other artistes who urged UPRS to pay their royalties, to help them survive during these tough times.

Reacting to the call by the artistes, UPRS Chairman Travis Kazibwe said the organization only collects money on behalf of artistes registered under it.

Dr Tee as he is popularly referred to, noted that the agency had already paid artistes their royalties, adding that most of the musicians complaining are not members of the association.

"We collect this money on behalf of artists and we give it to them. The time of this pandemic, we had just distributed royalties to the members. Secondly, we have a method we use to collect and give out this money, and URSB put up caretakers for that. Being an artist does not give you a right to the association money. You can be an artist but without registering under UPRS. The association only collects money on behalf of its members. All those begging for money might not be members of UPRS and do not qualify for this money.

"Besides all members had been given money, artistes like Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, Silver Kyagulanyi, all of them got their royalties last year. At this point, I encourage all artistes to make sure that they are registered because If they had done so, at this time there would be enough money to help them out,” the chairperson said.

The Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) was formed in 1985 by authors (mainly musicians) to advance the cause of copyright administration in Uganda.

It is registered with the Registrar of Companies as a Company Limited by Guarantee having no share capital as it belongs to all of its members.

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