Author: Johnson Thembo

As government preaches Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU), a policy geared towards promoting use of locally manufactured goods and use of local skills/personnel, Dott Services Limited’s track record and supremacy continues to give foreign firms sleepless nights. This is much depicted through the high quality projects recorded over time, a move that has made them raise through the ladders as one of the most trusted construction companies in Uganda. Dott Services Limited has its roots back to 1994 and since then, the firm has never looked back. JOHNSON THEMBO held a lengthy discussion with Dott Services contracts manager Engineer Jamesone…

Media Challenge Initiative with support from UNESCO will engage 50 young journalists in trainings on fact checking aimed to build the capacity of participants to produce reports “debunking” false stories. The goal from the trainings is to create a new army of fact-checkers able to expose false claims, as well as exaggerated or half-true claims and clarifying the truth to audiences. Whether members of civil society, policymakers or the general public, people make decisions based on the information available to them. During the Covid-19 initial spread waves, information overflow lead to the rise of what WHO coined “infodemics”. More often…

The UK Department for International Trade (DIT) has today launched its ‘Tech for Growth’ Programme to enhance the role technology can play in expanding access to financial services, and support future trading opportunities between the UK and emerging economies. The first year of the programme will be piloted across Africa, where access to financial services remains low. There are further plans for the programme to expand globally across South East Asia and Latin America. In its first year, ‘Tech for Growth’ will deliver three pillars of activity: Establish a UK-Africa ‘Tech for Growth’ community: Designed to expand access to financial…

Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) has today launched the ‘No Merchant Surcharge’ Campaign dubbed “Pay with your Card @ No extra Cost”. The campaign aims to raise awareness on the Card payment system. The campaign aims at eliminating the practice of merchants levying extra fees for electronic payments made using Point of Sale (POS) machines. Speaking at a Press Briefing this morning, UBA Executive Director Wilbrod Owor said, “In August last year, Bank of Uganda issued a directive that prohibits merchant surcharging at POS terminal and the fixing of minimum/maximum transaction amounts on electronic payment cards. This was in a bid…

With the shutting of arcades during the Covid19 lockdown, many traders who resumed working recently are struggling to clear their outstanding rent arrears. But that is no longer a problem for Janat Katende Namakula who won a whooping Ugx 4,200,000shillings with the on-going MoMoNyabo Together promotion. MTN Uganda through its MoMo Nyabo promotion has come out to stand with its customers as it offers them an opportunity to win money up to 5,000,000 Uganda shillings to help them rebuild their lives and businesses following the Covid19 financial disruptions. To enter the draw, MTN customers simply have to use the MyMTN…

Uganda has a sea of opportunities that leaders should tap into to serve their communities, President Museveni has said. The President’s counsel was made on Friday at State House Entebbe as he launched two books authored by the Secretary to the Judiciary, Mr Pius Bigirimana. The books are; ‘The Corona Lockdown Chronicles’ and ‘Abundance Mentality’. ‘Abundance Mentality’ is a story of Bigirimana’s rise from a barefooted boy in remote Kisoro to become a permanent secretary (see attached book review). ‘The Corona Lockdown Chronicles’ is a compilation of experiences and lessons of the Bigirimana family from April to May when the…

The Mastercard Foundation today announced its Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which has set a goal to enable more than 3 million young people in the country to access dignified and fulfilling work opportunities by 2030. Under Young Africa Works, the Foundation has committed $200 million to ensure young women, men, and refugees in Uganda have access to economic opportunities. Presiding over the virtual launch of the strategy, His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni noted Young Africa Works’ alignment to the government’s national development plan. “I commend Mastercard Foundation for your efforts towards youth empowerment and transformation in Africa over the…

Shareholders of British American Tobacco Uganda (BAT Uganda) have in today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) ratified Ushs 15.7 billion (Ushs 320 per share) as a first and final dividend for the year ended 31st December 2019. Paid on 19th June 2020, the dividend is in line with the Company’s 100% dividend pay-out policy and was a timely income injection for Ugandan shareholders amidst economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The AGM was held electronically owing to COVID-19 Government restrictions on public gatherings. Additionally, this year marks 20 years of the Company being listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE). BAT…

Just over 8 months ago MTN Uganda appointed Joseph Bogera as the General Manager Sales and Distribution. Joseph is a seasoned sales professional who began his career with MTN Uganda as a Business Account Manager, moved to MTN Rwanda as a Corporate Sales Manager, Uganda Breweries as a Divisional Sales Manager. Joseph progressed to work as the Country Manager for Brightsarcorp Limited covering 11 countries including Zambia, Botswana, Mauritius, Kenya and DRC and more recently before returning to MTN Uganda as General Manager – GOtv Uganda. We caught up with Joseph to understand his role as GM – Sales and…

MTN Uganda has in partnership with SIMFY AFRICA, launched a SuperApp called ‘ayoba’ that will enable customers to access more affordable communication. ayoba is an instant messaging app available for now for Android devices and soon for iOS and works with any network. What makes it different from other messaging apps is that you can still chat (app to SMS and SMS to app) with anyone regardless of whether they have the ayoba app or not. MTN customers can reply to these messages on SMS even when they don’t have the app. ayoba lets you securely send and receive text…