The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has vowed to take tougher action against piracy in Uganda’s film and creative industry, warning that the illegal copying and distribution of creative works is hurting filmmakers, actors, technical crews and investors.
UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said piracy remains one of the biggest challenges facing Uganda’s growing creative economy because it takes away income from people who spend time, money and skills producing films and other content.
Thembo made the remarks on Friday while speaking at the Uganda Film Festival in Kampala, where he stressed the need to protect intellectual property if Uganda is to build a strong and profitable creative industry.
He said the commercialisation of Uganda’s creative sector cannot succeed when artists and producers continue losing money to people who illegally copy and sell their work.
“Commercialisation, as all of us know, cannot succeed without protecting intellectual property. Piracy remains one of the greatest threats facing Uganda’s creative economy,” Thembo said.
According to the UCC boss, the impact of piracy goes far beyond the person who produces a film. He explained that every time a movie is illegally copied or distributed, several people who contributed to its production lose an opportunity to earn from their work.
“Every illegal copy of a film is money taken away from the producer, the actor, the editor, the writer, the sound engineer, the investor, and ultimately the Ugandan economy,” he said.
Thembo warned that pirates are therefore not only hurting filmmakers but are also taking away opportunities from thousands of young Ugandans who depend on the creative sector for employment.
He also challenged consumers who knowingly buy or watch pirated content, saying they contribute to the problem by creating a market for illegally obtained films and other creative works.
The UCC Executive Director further highlighted the importance of local content in the wider communications industry, saying that technology and communication infrastructure have little value without quality content to fill them.
“Hardware is useless without software… without content, your phone will be useless. Without content, your TV screen will be useless. Without content, spectrum would be useless,” he said.
Thembo explained that UCC’s responsibilities under the Uganda Communications Act go beyond licensing broadcasters. The Commission is also mandated to regulate broadcasting and audio-visual content, promote local content and support communication as an important driver of Uganda’s social, cultural and economic development.
He said UCC wants to see Uganda develop a complete creative ecosystem where talented people can receive the skills, financing and infrastructure needed to turn their creativity into sustainable businesses.
“We want to build a complete creative ecosystem, one that supports skills development, film financing, production facilities, regional production hubs, distribution networks, digital platforms, intellectual property management, international market access… and sustainable employment,” Thembo said.
The push against piracy comes at a time when Uganda’s film and creative industry is attracting more young people who see entertainment, film, music and digital content as potential sources of employment and business.
For the sector to grow, however, creators need assurance that their work will be protected and that they can earn from the content they produce.
UCC’s renewed focus on piracy is therefore expected to put more pressure on individuals and businesses involved in the illegal copying, sale and distribution of creative works, as the Commission seeks to create a safer environment for Uganda’s filmmakers and other content creators.
