ISO CERTIFICATION

Chief Guest Dr. Mary Teopista (Center), Amb. Francis Butagira, Registrar General Ms. Mercy K. Kainobwisho and URSB board members pose for a photo at the URSB ISO Certification External Stakeholders celebration

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Justice Minister Mao Backs Creative Sector at African Copyright Seminar

Uganda has highlighted its efforts to enhance copyright protection and promote the creative sector while regional and global participants convened at Onomo Hotel Kampala for the Fourth African Regional Seminar on Copyright and Related Rights in the Audio-visual Sector.

The two-day seminar, hosted by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) in partnership with Fundación AISGE, the Global Audio-visual Alliance (GAVA), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), brought together policymakers, copyright offices, collective management organisations (CMOs), and observers from Nigeria and South Africa.

Presiding as Guest of Honour, Justice Minister Norbert Mao urged African leaders to “prioritise knowledge over money” in global partnerships, stressing the importance of empowering creators through strong copyright laws.

“Through ARIPO, it is our duty to make all creators aware that the laws we are creating are on their side. When they register, they can benefit,” he said, pledging government support for amending legislation.

Speakers called for the ratification and implementation of key treaties, including the Kampala Protocol, the Beijing Treaty on Audio-visual Performances, and the Berne Convention. ARIPO’s David Njuguna underscored collective efforts as vital for unlocking the socio-economic potential of Africa’s creative industries.

The Kampala seminar follows successful editions in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Lusaka, marking another step toward positioning Africa’s audio-visual industry as a global competitor.