How structured compliance can open opportunities for local content creators

By Rhonah Nuwakunda

In recent years, Uganda’s creative industry has grown into a vibrant force of storytelling, entertainment and cultural expression. From film sets to the rising stars in music and comedy, our country’s talent continues to inspire audiences both at home and abroad.

Yet behind every screen that lights up with local content lies an often overlooked, yet critical factor, that determines whether these creative expressions can thrive, structured regulatory compliance.

Structured regulatory compliance addresses the systematic adherence to legal and regulatory standards governing content creation, distribution and monetization.

In Uganda, this encompasses various Laws, Regulations and guidelines from the broadcast sector regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

For many, compliance is regarded as a rigid set of rules that restrains innovation and practically ruins all the fun. But in reality, when applied effectively, compliance becomes a framework that protects intellectual property, guarantees fairness and fosters sustainable growth for filmmakers and other content creators.

In the pay TV and digital entertainment space, it is the backbone of trust between regulators, broadcasters, creators and audiences

Far from being a bureaucratic hurdle, the regulatory compliance framework provides a foundation for legitimacy, sustainability and protection.

For instance, registering intellectual property (IP) under the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) ensures creators retain ownership of their work, shielding it from the rampant piracy that plagues our sector and ensuring a pathway for them to earn from their creativity.

Piracy remains one of the biggest threats to local content. A filmmaker who invests time, talent and resources into producing a film often finds their work circulating freely online or in unlicensed formats within days.

Without structured compliance frameworks ranging from content licensing agreements to anti-piracy enforcement, this cycle discourages investment and erodes livelihoods

Through structured compliance, pay TV providers like MultiChoice enforce strict anti-piracy measures, ensure contracts are transparent and protect the content creators’ intellectual property.

This means that filmmakers can be confident that their work will not only reach audiences but will also generate the returns needed to reinvest in future projects.

Compliance is also a gateway to scaling local content beyond Uganda’s borders. Regulatory alignment whether with the UCC standards or with other continental frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area’s intellectual property policies allow local productions to be distributed on regional and international platforms.

For local creators, this means more than just exposure, it means exporting Ugandan culture to the world while tapping into diverse revenue streams. Through compliance distribution agreements, a short film made in Kampala can find audiences in Lagos, Johannesburg or even on global streaming platforms

Furthermore, viewers are more likely to embrace local content when they are assured of quality control and accountability.

Compliance frameworks governing advertising standards, content classification and broadcasting rights all feed into building this trust. When a family tunes into a local production on a regulated pay TV platform, they know it has met both creative and ethical standards.

This assurance builds loyalty and strengthens demand for homegrown productions. The more audiences support local films, the more opportunities arise for creators to produce new work.

Structured compliance is also a magnet for investment. International studios, funding bodies and corporate sponsors are more likely to support projects in markets where laws are clear, contracts are enforceable and creators’ rights are respected.

Uganda’s filmmakers stand to gain significantly from this. With a complaint ecosystem, investors are not deterred by risks of piracy or regulatory uncertainty but instead view the industry as a credible and promising field for collaboration.

Ultimately, structured compliance is not the responsibility of regulators and broadcasters alone, it is a shared responsibility. Content creators must view compliance not as a hurdle, but as a value-adding tool in building credibility and sustainability. Regulators must continue to evolve and consider proactive policies that balance consumer protection with creative freedom, while ensuring viewers receive the best of local content.

Uganda’s creative industry is standing at promising crossroads. With structured compliance as its foundation, the industry has the potential to not only entertain, but also empower, create jobs, shape narratives and showcase Uganda’s unique identity to the world. The story of our country deserves to be told, and compliance ensures it echoes far and wide.

The writer is the Regional Regulatory Compliance Manager for Eastern region at MultiChoice