The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), has suspended two top officials Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS).
The two are the Chief Executive Officer Mr. James Wasula and the Compliance Officer Mr. Dickson Matovu over mismanagement of funds and remittance of royalties collected from rights users.
Their suspension follows a number of complaints raised by various members of the society with allegations of mismanagement of finances and remittance of royalties corrected from rights users.
“On this day July 29th 2019, Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) acting under powers contained in Section 75 of the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act, 2006 as Uganda’s National Intellectual Property Office and the National Copyright Information Center suspended the following officials of the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS). These persons are the Chief Executive Officer Mr. James Wasula and the Compliance Officer Mr. Dickson Matovu”.
The suspension of the above officials is to allow for an effective ongoing Inquiry into the Constitution, Workings and Financial Conditions of the Society in accordance with the above provision of the law. There have also been a number of complaints from members of the society with allegations of mismanagement of finances and remittance of royalties collected from rights users which URSB would also like to look into critically.
Further, in accordance with the section 75 (4) of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2006, independent professional caretakers, Mr.Kabiito Karamagi and Ms. Rita Baguma Birungi of Ligomarc Advocates have been appointed in consultation and with the cooperation of the Board of Directors of the Society to temporarily oversee the management of UPRS. The activities of the Caretakers shall be supervised by URSB and the Members of the Board of UPRS.
During this period, URSB is going to be in constant engagement with all stakeholders and urges them to cooperate with the Caretaker. The regular activities of the Society are expected to continue smoothly and URSB calls upon all stakeholders and Ugandans generally to support this process.
