Eddy Kenzo Launches NYANGE Device to Track Music Royalties in Uganda

• May 1, 2026

Uganda’s music industry is entering a new era of accountability and innovation following the rollout of a locally developed copyright management system known as NYANGE. The announcement was made by Eddy Kenzo, who currently serves as President of the Uganda National Musicians Federation.

According to Kenzo, the NYANGE devices are already being installed across the country in hotels, bars, media houses, and other public spaces where music is played for commercial purposes.

“These devices will support music royalties collection and distribution. Installation is now underway. The device name is NYANGE,” Kenzo revealed.

What is NYANGE and Why It Matters

NYANGE is a Ugandan-made digital monitoring system designed to track music usage in real-time. For years, artists and rights holders in Uganda have struggled with the lack of transparency in how their music is used commercially—and more importantly, how they are compensated.

The introduction of NYANGE aims to solve this long-standing problem by:

• Monitoring songs played in public venues
• Recording data for accurate royalty calculations
• Ensuring artists are fairly paid for their work

This system aligns Uganda with global best practices in copyright management, where technology is increasingly being used to enforce intellectual property rights.

For musicians, this could be a breakthrough moment. Many artists have long complained about earning little to nothing from their music being played in clubs, hotels, and on radio or TV stations.

With NYANGE:

• Revenue streams become more transparent
• Royalty distribution becomes data-driven
• Artists gain better control over their intellectual property

Industry observers believe this could significantly improve the livelihoods of creatives and encourage more investment in music production.

The devices will be installed in strategic locations where music consumption is high. They will automatically detect and log songs played, creating a centralized database that can be used to calculate royalties owed to artists.

This initiative is being spearheaded by the Uganda National Musicians Federation, which has been pushing for stronger copyright enforcement mechanisms in the country.

While the innovation is promising, its success will depend on:

• Widespread adoption by businesses
• Compliance from venue owners and broadcasters
• Effective management and transparency in royalty distribution

There may also be resistance from some stakeholders who are not used to structured royalty payments.

The rollout of NYANGE signals a major shift in how the Ugandan music industry operates. If successfully implemented, it could restore trust between artists and stakeholders while ensuring creators are fairly compensated for their work.

For Eddy Kenzo and the Uganda National Musicians Federation, this marks a bold step toward protecting artists and modernizing the industry.

As installations continue nationwide, all eyes will be on how effectively this system transforms music royalties in Uganda.