Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-29-2023

Abstract

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled, is a WIPO administered treaty on copyright that was adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 27thJune 2013. The year 2023 therefore marks 10 years since its adoption. It is therefore an ideal time to do some stock taking as to how effective the treaty has been, thus far, in creating avenues through which blind or visually impaired persons can have easier access to published works.

This article looks at the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty specifically in Uganda where it was ratified and domesticated in 2018. The article explores the regulatory landscape in Uganda in matters related to access to education and the right to research for blind or visually impaired persons. In evaluating the relevant legislations in this area and the shortfalls therein, the article delves into other jurisdictions and analyzes how they have been able to navigate through the challenges affecting the right to research for blind and visually impaired persons. Lessons learnt from successfully maneuvering through such challenges are used to inform the direction that Uganda should take in the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty where similar challenges abide.

The article relies heavily upon interviews from various stakeholders to portray the extent to which Uganda is walking its talk in fulfilling its obligations as a Contracting State of the Marrakesh treaty. By synchronizing the views generated from the field research, together with secondary information from scholarly work, the article fronts proposals as to how Uganda can do much better in practicing what its legislation is preaching.

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