FUFA president Moses Magogo has called for stronger protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Ugandan sport, saying creators can only unlock commercial value if their work is properly registered and safeguarded.
Magogo made the remarks after taking part as a panellist at the World Intellectual Property Day 2026 event organised by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) on Friday.
The event focused on the growing importance of intellectual property in sport and the need for deliberate efforts in registration and enforcement.
Speaking after the engagement, Magogo said sport should be recognised as a creation that deserves legal protection.
“The law recognises what has been registered as intellectual property. It is good that URSB has found this theme very important to be brought here, that look guys, sport is a creation, sport is something that is owned by those who create it,” Magogo said.
He noted that major assets in sport, including broadcasting rights, image rights and trademarks, can only generate commercial returns when properly protected.
“So whatever you are going to talk about as intellectual property, you are going to talk about broadcasting rights, you are going to talk about image rights of the athletes, you are going to talk about trademarks. All of these can only make commercial value if they are protected,” he added.
Magogo urged stakeholders across the sports industry, including federations, athletes and creators, to take deliberate steps to register their intellectual property.
“So I think it is a good theme to encourage every participant, every creator in the sports industry to register their intellectual property, because that is the only way the law is going to protect us,” he said.
The FUFA president also highlighted the gap between legislation and implementation, saying enforcement remains a major challenge despite existing laws.
“Of course, we have also discussed issues of the law versus enforcement, indicating that yes, the laws are in place, registration has been done, but still there are areas where enforcement is not being applied. We still have very many counterfeit jerseys in the market, despite the fact that the federation has already registered its intellectual property,” Magogo noted.
He described the discussion as an important first step and expressed hope that enforcement mechanisms will improve.
“But I think for me it is a good beginning, that eventually we are recognising that sport must be protected by registering intellectual property and the laws are in place, and we hope the enforcement will come as well,” he said.
Magogo reiterated that protecting intellectual property will be key to the sustainable growth and commercial development of sport in Uganda.
