UPRS announces sh216m royalty payout to Ugandan musicians

The Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) earlier today, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, announced the distribution of sh216 million in royalties to musicians and rights holders across the country.

The announcement was made by Board Chairman Martin Nkoyoyo, popularly known as Yoyo, at the society's head offices in Kansanga, Kampala. He confirmed that payments will be made to artists' mobile money and bank accounts starting tomorrow, Thursday.

"Beginning this week Thursday, the money will start reaching artists through mobile money accounts and bank accounts registered in their names," Nkoyoyo said.

He emphasized that UPRS does not issue cash payments, a policy designed to ensure transparency and accountability in royalty distribution. "We do not give out cash to individuals," he noted.

Nkoyoyo described the payout as another milestone in Uganda's long effort to ensure musicians earn from the commercial use of their work. The latest distribution marks an increase from the sh127 million paid out last year. However, officials admitted the amount remains limited when shared among thousands of creators.

UPRS collects royalties from businesses and institutions that use music commercially, including bars, hotels, restaurants, radio and television stations, banks, casinos, and event spaces. Increasingly, digital platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok are also contributing.

"We are still facing challenges of compliance," Nkoyoyo said, noting that discussions with broadcasters are ongoing and a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of Broadcasters is expected to improve the situation. Another major hurdle is monitoring music usage across the country. Uganda currently lacks a fully developed tracking system, forcing UPRS to rely on sampling methods and available data.

"We do not yet have the capacity to monitor every place where music is played," Nkoyoyo admitted.

The society has over 4,500 registered members, but only about 200 qualified for this round after meeting all requirements. Some members failed to complete registration by paying the sh50,000 subscription fee.

Nkoyoyo also revealed that royalty disputes are being managed separately, citing ongoing disagreements between artists such as Cindy and Omega 256 over earnings from the hit song "See You Tonight."

UPRS maintains that music copyrights are protected for a creator's lifetime and 50 years after death, ensuring long-term value from creative work.