PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA, Kampala

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has put some smile on the faces of performing artistes, creatives and allied workers on the state of the contested Copy Right Act.

Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga while deliberating in the house, proposed that Government establishes a Ministry to cater for Creative, Performing Artistes and Allied Workers, especially on implementing the Copyright Act.

Kadaga who received a petition from comedian Hannington Bujingo and singer Halimah Namakula, said: “Today’s petition is from national union of performing arts and creatives and allied workers on the failure by government to implement the copy rights act.”

She stated: “Government was supposed to establish a commission to guide the industry. That act is more than 15 years old.”

Kadaga noted: “It is also true that the creative industry has no line minister, on more than one occasion.”

She revealed: “I have received complaints from the musicians, artistes, fashion designers, film actors, the writers. They don’t have a political head, and when they have problems in their industry they have nowhere to go.”
She narrated: “Sometimes they go to ministry of gender, sometimes they go to Nema, sometimes to KCCA, sometimes to the speaker.”

Kadaga suggested: “So the matter is of grave concern. I want to propose government establishes a ministry. So that there is somebody to speak for them in cabinet, and where they can go to solve their issues.”

The speaker said: “But for now some instructions come from Nema, KCCA and some from UCC. There is a particular concern of the recent directives from UCC and which were laid before this house.

She went on: “Contain very oppressive restrictions, which I would like the committee of ICT to examine and handle in the same way they did with the telecom sector to examine and handle the excesses that were invaded in the regulations.”

Kadaga revealed: “So I hope the committee will look at that. But I also want to hear from the government. I really want to hear when the Copy Rights committee will be appointed. And I will be writing to the president to appoint a sector minister.”