Government drafts new laws for publishers

Kampala. The government is in advanced stages of tightening the law on copyright for publishers, authors and artists; a problem they have grappled with for a long time.
“Government is working on this law and the problem will soon be solved,” Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.
He was presiding over the 30th anniversary of the founding of Fountain Publishers Ltd at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.
Mr James Tumusiime, the group manager of Fountain Publishers in Kampala, raised the issue when he said: “The problem of piracy is our major challenge among other problems. We hope the government and other stakeholders will take up this mantle to help the situation.”
Science and Technology minister Elioda Tumwesigye said the move to change the current law on piracy is already in advanced stages.
Currently, he said, the law is very loose and the punishments are not strict.
“In the new law, any person who publishes any work will have to register it with government to ensure whoever uses it passes through the right channel of government so that they can be authorised,” Mr Tumwesigye said.
Mr Tumwesigye said the police should enforce the law to make sure publication in the country grows.
“Police has not done much, we hope that when the new law comes out, there will be enthusiasm in enforcing it,” Mr Tumwesigye said.
At the same event, Mr Rugunda hailed Fountain Publishers Ltd for standing tall in promoting Ugandan literature and history over the 30 years of operation.