Kampala, Uganda – Ugandan singer Quex, best known for his hit song Kachumbali, has publicly criticized the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) after receiving a meager Shs40,000 in royalties for his music.
Quex, whose music has dominated airwaves, nightclubs, and events across Uganda, expressed frustration over the unfair distribution of royalties when he visited the UPRS offices to inquire about his earnings.
"I dropped one of the hottest songs in Uganda, but when I went to UPRS, I was offered only Shs40,000, yet my song was played everywhere. It felt unfair, yet on the list, there were artists with payments in the millions, which didn’t make sense at all," he said in an interview.
Quex described the lack of transparency in UPRS’s royalty distribution as exploitative and called upon the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to intervene and establish a fair system for artists.
"Artists need protection from such exploitation. We put in a lot of effort to make music, and it’s only fair that we get properly compensated when our work is consumed by the public," Quex emphasized.
This is not the first time Ugandan musicians have complained about UPRS’s flawed royalty system. Several artists have questioned how royalties are calculated and why some artists receive millions while others earn next to nothing.
Beyond royalties, Quex also weighed in on the role of record labels in Uganda’s music industry. He commended labels like Swangz Avenue for their contribution to nurturing talent and growing the industry, but he strongly criticized unfair contracts that some artists are forced to sign.
"Record labels have played an important role in the industry, as seen with Swangz Avenue, which has done commendable work. However, the contracts that some artists are made to sign are exploitative. This needs to change," he noted.
As the debate on royalties and record label contracts continues, Quex’s statements have reignited the conversation on artists’ rights, fair pay, and music industry reforms in Uganda.