UPRS Chairman Martin Nkoyoyo has responded to Eddy Kenzo’s criticism of the proposed royalty distribution, stating that it is a step towards building a more sustainable copyright economy for Ugandan creatives and that the Society is committed to transparency in both collections and distributions.UNMF shames UPRS’s Royalty DistributionWhile at a UNMF press briefing a few days ago, Eddy Kenzo criticized the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) over its planned distribution of Shs216 million in royalties, arguing that the amount is far too little to benefit musicians across the country.UPRS had earlier announced that the royalty distribution to its members was an important milestone in the body’s ongoing journey to rebuild and strengthen the collective management system in Uganda.Kenzo, however, described the proposed payout as “a shame,” questioning the transparency of how the money was collected and how it would be shared among artists.According to the award-winning singer, the figures simply do not add up. He argued that if Shs216 million is to be distributed among all Ugandan musicians, individual artists would end up receiving negligible amounts.It’s a shame – Eddy Kenzo questions UPRS shs200M payout to Ugandan musiciansUPRS RespondsIn response, the UPRS Chairman, Board of Directors, Martin Nkoyoyo, has issued a statement in which he acknowledges that, despite the royalties being below expectations, it is just the start of a more sustainable copyright economy for Ugandan creatives, and it should be appreciated rather than ridiculed.UPRS TAKES NOTE OF COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2026 ROYALTY DISTRIBUTIONThe Uganda Performing Right Society (UPRS) has taken note of comments made regarding the Society’s distribution of UGX 216 million in royalties to eligible rights holders.First and foremost, UPRS agrees that the royalties currently available for distribution remain below the expectations and aspirations of Uganda’s creators. Every musician, composer, publisher, and rights holder deserves to earn more from the use of their works. Indeed, the fact that we are distributing UGX 216 million should not be viewed as the destination, but rather as one step in a much larger journey towards building a stronger and more sustainable copyright economy for Ugandan creators.However, it is important to appreciate the environment within which collective management operates in Uganda. For many years, copyright compliance has remained low, enforcement mechanisms have been limited, and a significant proportion of music users have operated without licenses.Against this backdrop, every increment in collections represents progress in expanding respect for creators’ rights and ensuring that music users contribute towards the value they derive from copyrighted works.UPRS wishes to clarify that royalties are not distributed equally among all musicians. The Society operates under established Distribution Policies approved by its governance organs and implemented in accordance with the principles of collective management.Royalties are distributed based on the available usage data, repertoire information, and applicable distribution rules. Consequently, some members may receive relatively modest amounts, while others whose works have enjoyed greater levels of documented use may receive substantially higher payments.The purpose of royalty distribution is not to reward membership but to compensate rights holders proportionately for the use of their works. It is therefore entirely possible for some members to receive a few thousand shillings while others receive several million shillings, depending on the extent to which their music has been utilized within the period under review.UPRS remains fully committed to transparency in both collections and distributions. The Society has consistently published information regarding distributions and continues to engage members on the methodologies applied. We welcome constructive scrutiny and stakeholder engagement as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen confidence in Uganda’s collective management system.Most importantly, UPRS remains focused on the bigger task ahead: increasing compliance, improving monitoring mechanisms, expanding licensing coverage, and growing royalty collections so that future distributions are significantly larger and more meaningful for all creators.The Society calls upon all stakeholders in the music industry to support efforts aimed at strengthening copyright protection and increasing revenues available to Ugandan creators, as this remains the most effective path towards improving artists’ earnings in the long term.Martin NkoyoyoChairman, Board of DirectorsUganda Performing Right Society (UPRS)The post It’s a step in the right direction – UPRS responds to Eddy Kenzo’s slamming comments on royalty distribution appeared first on MBU.