The Impact of Piracy on Uganda’s Film Industry: A Call for Action

Local broadcasters are undermining Uganda’s film industry through the airing of pirated content, significantly harming local filmmakers and stunting industry growth. The Uganda Communications Commission has flagged numerous offenders, while legal cinemas and streaming platforms suffer due to piracy. Immediate regulatory intervention is essential to protect the creative economy and encourage investment in Uganda’s film sector.

While navigating through local Free-to-Air channels, I encountered an alarming sight— a Hollywood blockbuster, bypassing licensing, was being aired on a Ugandan TV station. This blatant act of piracy crystallized the pressing issue of piracy within Uganda’s broadcasting landscape, posing a significant threat to the country’s creative economy.

Globally, piracy is rampant, costing the film industry an estimated $40 billion each year, according to the Motion Picture Association. The tracking firm MUSO also noted over 230 billion visits to illegal streaming sites annually, cementing this as a remarkable challenge that extends to Uganda.

The Uganda Communications Commission has identified several local TV stations broadcasting unlicensed content, harming filmmakers by depriving them of their rightful earnings. This reality compounds the already strenuous survival conditions faced by creatives in the Ugandan film industry.

Local filmmakers have long lamented the pervasive challenges posed by piracy and the insufficient legal enforcement against it. This crime dampens creativity, discourages investors, and puts immense financial pressure on those striving to produce unique content as piracy strips essential royalties from creators.

Moreover, piracy emits a deterrent signal to prospective international investors. Uganda could thrive as a film production destination; however, rampant piracy fosters a volatile market where studios and streaming services hesitate to invest. Without such support, the industry remains disadvantaged in the global arena, limiting opportunities and growth.

Legal cinemas and streaming platforms are equally affected, as they rely on consumers willing to purchase tickets and subscriptions. The unrestricted airing of pirated films on television jeopardizes their business model, decreasing both ticket sales and subscription rates, harming local cinemas, and stalling potential expansions by major streaming services in the region.

To address this predicament, it is imperative that strong regulatory measures be enforced. The UCC must administer penalties to broadcasters engaging in piracy—this should include substantial fines, the revocation of licenses, and rigorous legal action to deter further violations. Collaboration among all stakeholders is vital to eliminate unauthorized channels and raise public awareness about the detrimental effects of piracy.

Piracy within local broadcasting stands as an economic catastrophe that jeopardizes the creative prospects of Uganda. If the film sector is to fulfill its potential, immediate and decisive action is necessary. The pressing question is not if piracy is problematic, but whether we possess the resolve to halt its detrimental impact before it incurs irreversible harm.

The issue of piracy in Uganda’s film industry calls for urgent attention and robust regulatory actions. Local broadcasters must be held accountable to protect the creative sector, as piracy not only harms filmmakers but also deters potential investors and disrupts the entire industry. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders offer a pathway to mitigate these challenges and foster a sustainable creative economy.

Original Source: www.independent.co.ug