By Josephine Kayaga
Uganda has started installing a new locally developed device called “Nyange” to track music played in public and commercial spaces. According to Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Uganda National Musicians Federation (UNMF), the devices are already being set up in venues like hotels, bars, and media houses.
The technology identifies songs played in real time and sends the data to a central system, helping track where and how often music is used.This initiative follows the signing of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Act by Yoweri Museveni, aimed at ensuring artists are fairly paid.
Under the new law, licensed Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) will collect royalties from businesses and distribute them to musicians. The Nyange system is expected to improve transparency and accountability, marking a major step toward better earnings and protection for artists in Uganda’s music industry.