Musician Ibrahim Mayanja, popularly known as Big Eye, has openly criticized fellow artist Eddy Kenzo over the recently introduced Copyright Management System, arguing that it is a waste of taxpayers’ money and an ineffective solution to artists’ long-standing struggles for fair compensation.
Speaking during an interview, Big Eye dismissed the initiative spearheaded by Kenzo, stating that the focus should have been on amending the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act (2006) rather than introducing a system that lacks legal reinforcement.
"Kenzo should get serious. He should stop fooling artists with this copyright management system. We asked for the amendment of the copyright law, and then you are bringing machines? That's a waste of taxpayers' money, and I can't even congratulate him on something like that," he stated.
According to Big Eye, the primary concern among artists has been the absence of a strong legal framework to protect their intellectual property. He believes that even if the system monitors music usage, without proper legal amendments, enforcement remains a challenge, rendering the system ineffective.
The government, together with Kenzo’s team, launched the Copyright Management System to track how artists’ music is used, aiming to ensure they receive fair royalties. However, critics argue that without proper legislation, there are no clear legal repercussions for media houses, DJs, or establishments that fail to comply.
Big Eye has urged policymakers to prioritize legislative amendments that would empower musicians to take legal action against copyright infringement rather than focusing on technological implementations without legal backing.
Despite the criticism, Kenzo and his team remain optimistic that the new system will revolutionize the Ugandan music industry, ensuring that artists earn from their creative works.