Uganda Licenses in Public Discussion

The Ugandan version 3.0 license is currently closed. Please visit the public discussion page to see the license draft and discussion notes.

CC Uganda Roadmaps

http://wiki.creativecommons.org/File:CC_UGANDA_-STRATEGIC_PLAN_OF_ACTION_2013.pdf CC Uganda Roadmap for 2011-2012

Uganda Affiliate Team

NATIONAL BOOK TRUST OF UGANDA

The National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) was founded in 1997 to promote authorship, publishing and the development of a culture of reading. Its membership is composed of both copyright holder associations of publishers and authors as well as users like libraries, education institutions and some local authorities.

NABOTU implements a Book Development Program whose aim amongst others is to promote greater access to quality reading materials to the Ugandan public. NABOTU also runs a copyright development program that is two pronged. It spearheaded the founding of the Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation whose main aim is to license, collect fees and distribute royalties resulting from copying activities by users.

NABOTU pioneered research on how the application of flexible licenses with a proper mix of new business models could promote access to learning materials in Africa. This was the Publishing and Alternative Licensing Models for Africa (PALM Africa) project, funded by IDRC with comparative studies carried out in both Uganda and South Africa. A follow-up study on the feasibility of establishing a free-to-publish web platform for CC licensed materials across East Africa, begun in 2011.

NABOTU is in partnership with CEHURD- the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development itself a Ugandan non-profit, to further the goals of CC Uganda. CEHURD focuses on the legal issues of human rights, intellectual property and access to learning materials and is committed to the advancement of the Creative Commons Initiative in Uganda through playing an advisory role on utilising flexibilities in the copyright related laws.

The partners have together steered a legal team headed by Moses Mulumba a Director at CEHURD working together with Paul Asiimwe a Partner at Sipi Law Associates, Dr. Kakungulu Mayambala a lecturer at Makerere University, Kabanda David an ADVOCATE working with Center for Health, Human Rights and Development, and Primah Kwagala a lawyer currently coordinating the Team while working with CEHURD. The team has recently introduced more lawyers and information scientists to the Team. There is Mr. Tony Kakooza an IP lawyer currently persuing his PHD at the University of Illinois' college of law in the USA, Mr. Daniel Kasuuti a lawyer working with the presidential initiative on banana varieties and Ms. Stella Muheki a trade lawyer and IP specialist working both as a consultant and lecturer at Makerere University Business School, Mr. Javie Ssozi an ICT consult with the Open society Foundations as the the now CC Tech Lead, Mr. Micheal Nyitegeka an ICT professional and lecturer, Mr. Mugume Collins and Ms. Ruth Aine all ICT professionals. Dr. Dick Kawooya an information scientist with the University of south Carolina, Ms. Florence Mirembe representing the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries on the Team, Ms. Juliana Nantaba, Mr. James Zeere, Ms. Florence Nabweteme, Ms. Joy Asasira, Ms. Noor Nakibuuka, and Mr. Nsereko Ibrahim all lawyers at CEHURD.

The group managed to successfully draft the Uganda CC License version 3.0 and launched it for public use in December 2012. The public relations lead for CC Uganda being Charles Batambuze NABOTU’s Executive Secretary.