For Nigerian film makers, this is a big boost to the fight against piracy as the Association of Nollywood Core Producers(ANCOP), has signed a pact with the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry(UFMI) and the Uganda Film Publishers Guild, in the bid to eradicate the thriving business of pirating Nigerian movies in that country.
The MoU signed on the 30th of June, in Kampala, according to the leader of the seven-man delegation, Mr. Alex Eyengho, is reciprocal. Nigerian film makers, he said are equally duty-bound to protect any Ugandan film that is illegally smuggled into the country.
Eyengho disclosed this cheering development to HVP during the week. He said among other things that the agreement is geared towards promoting and protecting the intellectual property of both countries. He added that the agreement allows for co-production, through initiating of training and retraining programmes that will benefit both countries.
Already, the association has put machinery in motion towards implementing the agreement to the letters. jointly have our products promoted and protected,”
Eyengho advised other Nollywood film makers to key into the project, stressing that “it’s time, we start cooperating and networking because no one guild alone can solve all the problems that are confronting the industry. When one association bring something good to the industry, other guilds should learn to key into the project.”
According to ANCOP president, while Ugandans prefer to watch Nigerian movies to their own local movies, the country is one African country where Nigerian films are pirated at no cost. “ Nollywood films, he disclosed, are sold on the streets of Kampala for less than $1. “20-in- one DVD is sold for less than $1. The pirates are the publishers who are known as the marketers in Nigeria.” he added.
He said, Ugandan film makers are seriously lamenting the influx of Nigerian films in their country, alleging that the pirated films are killing their own film industry.
Eyengho disclosed further that the delegates resolved henceforth to attach security stickers to any DVD, leaving the shores of the country as way of differentiating the DVD from the pirated copy. Also speaking at the event, Dr. Nsubuga Eddie, the UFMI chairman said “we want our industry to grow, that’s why we are working with Nigerians because they have a large market here and we also want to penetrate their market.
