By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Regional
Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has called for stronger copyright
protection, fair remuneration and improved commercialisation of intellectual
property to ensure African creators capture a greater share of the economic value
generated by their work.
ARIPO Director-General
Bemanya Twebaze made the call following the Symposium on Copyright and Related
Rights Management, held in Kampala, Uganda, from October 19 to 21, 2026.
Organised by ARIPO and the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with the
Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the symposium brought together
policymakers, copyright administrators, collective management organisations and
industry stakeholders to advance practical solutions for strengthening
copyright management across the region.
“ Africa’s creativity is
winning global audiences. But global recognition means little if African
creators are not capturing a fair share of the economic value,” Twebaze said.
He said the next frontier
for Africa’s creative economy was not simply greater visibility, but ownership,
fair remuneration and the ability to turn creative talent into sustainable
economic power.
Among the key priorities
identified at the symposium were accelerating the implementation of
international and regional copyright instruments, including the Kampala
Protocol, and developing guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) that protects
creators while enabling innovation.
Participants also emphasised
the need to strengthen collective management, digital licensing and regional
cooperation to ensure fair, transparent and timely royalty payments, supported
by institutional accountability and measurable action.
The symposium further
reinforced the importance of advancing the Kampala Protocol on the Voluntary
Registration of Copyright and Related Rights, adopted in 2021. Its entry into
force and effective implementation could strengthen rights management and cross-border
commercialisation.
As ARIPO marks its 50th
anniversary, Twebaze challenged stakeholders to consider whether intellectual
property systems were merely protecting rights or enabling Africans to build
wealth from their intellectual assets.
“For the next 50 years,
protection and commercialisation must go hand in hand,” he said, adding that
strong institutions should empower creators, build competitive enterprises and
help retain greater economic value within Africa.
Twebaze thanked the
Government of Uganda, URSB, WIPO, the International Federation of Reproduction
Rights Organisations (IFRRO), ARIPO member states and participants for
contributing to the symposium’s success.
He also expressed
appreciation to the Guest of Honour, Norbert Mao, Uganda’s Minister of Justice
and Constitutional Affairs; Francis Butagira, Board Chairman of URSB; Mustapher
Ntale, Acting Registrar General of URSB; and Emmanuel Rugomboka, WIPO representative,
for their leadership and commitment to regional copyright cooperation.
The discussions come ahead
of the Africa IP Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Lusaka,
Zambia, from December 7 to 9, 2026.
Twebaze said the ARIPO
Golden Jubilee agenda should mark a shift from measuring progress primarily by
the intellectual property frameworks established to assessing the economic
opportunities those frameworks unlock.
“Africa has the creativity.
Our collective responsibility is to ensure that Africa captures its value,” he
said.
