By Our Reporter

The first World Conference on Public Relations in Emerging Economies will be held in Nairobi next week from the 15th to 18th. Renowned communications experts led by Lord Peter Selwyn Chadlington from the United Kingdom and Paul Holmes (of the Holmes Report) will be trainers at the event. The conference is organized by the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) in conjunction with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.

The conference is expected to bring together the international communication community to deliberate on important issues that are affecting emerging economies such as jobs and growth, health, sustainability and climate change.

PRSK Chairperson Jane Gitau said the conference will attract notable speakers and panelists who will include global entrepreneurs in the communication industry, Public Relations scholars and heads of renowned global corporate brands among others.

“Apart from the conference plenary and parallel sessions, there will be a careful blend of academic discourse, mentorship and skills set workshop for students pursuing studies in PR as well as master classes targeting professionals who are working in diverse economic sectors,” she said.

Gitau noted high demand in emerging economies of Africa, Asia and South America will create a lot of interest in developed economies and this will change the business model in the world.
Lord Chadlington, a senior client advisor of Huntsworth plc, will speak on Aligning Public Relations/Communication to support Countries’ Visions. His firm Huntsworth is the largest independent international consultancy group operating from 72 principal offices in 31 countries around the world. Previously, he founded the PR firm Shandwick in 1974 developing it into the largest PR consultancy in the UK, a position it held for 17 years. After he sold it in 1998, he went on to found Huntsworth that includes the PR Company Grayling Ltd.

Another industry leader Paul Holmes will speak on Achieving sustainable development in emerging economies through effective public relations’. He is the CEO of the Holmes Group that assesses the state of Public Relations and communications globally and publishes it in The Holmes Report. The group also manages the prestigious industry awards the SABRE Awards competition.

Other key speakers during the conference include; Gregor Halff, Chair of the Global Alliance, a faculty member and director at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT, Berlin) and also a professor at Singapore Management University (SMU), Esther Cobbah, chief executive officer, Strategic Communications Africa, Dr. Bala Muhammad Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University in Nigeria, Dion Benetatos Director, Africa, Weber Shandwick South Africa among other distinguished professionals.

By Our Reporter

Uganda has been endorsed to receive US$ 50 million by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) under its dedicated fund for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program (SREP).

The funding will go towards advancing geothermal exploration, solar photovoltaic net metering, the building of mini-grids and the development of wind power in the east African country.

James Baanabe, Uganda’s Commissioner of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Department in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development said, “Uganda is placing energy at the forefront of its social economic development. Right now, only 17% of the population has access to electricity. In rural areas, that figure drops to 7%. Energy is the driver of social economic development so adequate and reliable renewable energy is vital to our vision of becoming a prosperous country within 30 years.”

He noted Ugandans have the potential to change the energy sector in the country and attract investment from other sources in the long-run.

“Uganda is blessed with a number of renewable energy sources. SREP will contribute to the development of our renewable energy for the social and economic development of our country,” Baanabe added.

SREP senior program coordinator Zhihong Zhang said, “With a population of 35 million, more than 29 million people in Uganda do not have access to electricity. This funding will help tackle this challenge by supporting Uganda in developing indigenous renewable energy resources and will offer opportunities for development even in remote areas of the country. Aside from hydropower, geothermal, solar power and wind all offer lots of potential for Uganda.

By Our Reporter

Etihad Airways in partnership with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and Yas Island Rotana, sponsored a delegation of senior representatives from the 10 top-selling travel agencies in Uganda for a four-day visit to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

The trip, organized to familiarize them with the city’s most popular attractions. These included a tour of Ferrari World, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and a visit to Yas Marina Circuit, home to the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The trip also included a tour at the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an architectural marvel and one of the world’s largest mosques, with a capacity for over 40,000 worshippers. To complete the tour the delegation experienced an evening safari to the desert where they enjoyed the spectacular desert landscape during sunset.

“Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the UAE and home to more than 200 islands. We wanted the delegation to experience it for themselves – a destination that intrigues and captivates the international traveler. We are committed to working with our partners in promoting Abu Dhabi to the world and, as a result of this trip, we believe these travel agencies are now more informed and in a better position to advise and support guests on their travel requirements when visiting or passing through Abu Dhabi to other destinations on our global network,” said Toyin Alaran, Etihad Airways’ General Manager Uganda.

The airline launched its direct four-times-per-week service between Entebbe and Abu Dhabi in May 2015. It links Uganda to key destinations in Europe, Indian Subcontinent, North Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia.

By Silvia Nyambura

As the climax to its innovation agenda for this year, MTN Uganda has recognized Uganda’s outstanding innovations and innovators. Selected by a panel of judges, the eight winners were recognized under the inaugural MTN Innovation Awards at a gala, presided over by Uganda’s State Minister of ICT, Hon. Nyombi Thembo.

The MTN Innovation Awards is a platform created by MTN to recognize outstanding mobile and desktop applications developed locally. It also identifies outstanding individuals and organizations that are leading the development of ground breaking innovations in the country.

The awards, grouped into eight categories, recognized outstanding applications in the fields of health, education, financial services and SME solutions. In addition, recognition was given to ‘Enterprise effort to support for Innovation’, Outstanding Woman in Innovation, Most innovative Mobile App, and the Innovation Achiever of the Year.

Speaking at the Awards dinner held at the Kampala Hotel in the week ending 13th November 2015, The MTN Chief Marketing Officer, Mapula Bodibe said, “The success of digital innovations lies in their relevance, accessibility and a seamless customer experience. MTN’s strategy is to partner with pioneering individuals, entrepreneurs and organizations to introduce the most innovative customer solutions, accessed through our affordable Smartphones, delivered on a World Class Internet experience.”

According to MTN Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Gouldie, the awards are part of MTN’s commitment to enabling and supporting a technology-driven economy.

“Today is the climax of our innovation journey for 2015, which started in the first quarter with the MTN App Challenge. This saw a number of new entrants into the industry showcasing their innovation capability and later the MTN Juniors’ Robotics Camp. MTN Uganda strives to be a key development and enabling partner using technology and innovation, to shape a digital economy in Uganda,” he said.

Gouldie explained in addition to enabling youth to innovate, the company has also been focused on providing solutions that offer world-class experience to our customers.

“The MyMTN app, for example, has completely revolutionized the way our customers interact with Mobile Money. MyMTN is a recently launched mobile application that offers simple and easier access to MTN Mobile Money services for Smartphone users,” he added.

Minister for ICT Hon. Nyombi Thembo commended MTN Uganda for its role in enabling local innovation.

“I would like to commend MTN for its continued support for ICT and Innovation in the country. The Government of Uganda recognizes the importance of innovations as a way of solving societal challenges and creating jobs for the youth. I am delighted to note that the awards have been endorsed by the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the two industry regulators. As government, we are always pleased to partner with players in the private sector in their efforts that spur the industry forward,” he said.

This year’s Awards were organized with the endorsement of National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

1. Best Health Application
-Clinic Master

2. Best Education Application
-Brain Share

3. Best Financial Services Application
-Yo Uganda

4. Best SME Application
-School Management

5. Best Enterprise Effort to support Innovation
-Outbox

6. Most Innovative Mobile App
-Fezah

7. Outstanding Woman in Innovation
-Finix International

8. Innovation Achiever of the Year
-Fundi Box

By Our Reporter

This months’ everjobs Uganda Career Report takes a closer look at the Ugandan job seeker market. According to a World Bank report, 70% of Ugandan fresh graduates are deemed unemployable. In 2012, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics exposed that the share of unemployed youth, which is the group aged between 18-30 years, among the total unemployed individuals within Uganda was 64%. This is also seen among the Job seekers, as the majority are under 30 years of age.

According to everjobs Marketing Manager Andreas Schühly the company takes this into account as a marketing strategy.

“We know that the young generation is highly tech savvy and that we can find them on the different Social Media channels. Consequently we get in touch with them on portals like Facebook and Twitter. We try to motivate them and provide relevant information to support them in career building. Through these channels we can engage with the audience and get direct Feedback. As a consequence, we just recently started to engage our audience on Instagram – which we believe to be the latest tool among young Ugandans. It is really motivating to get grateful comments on social media,” he says.

The report also notes the Ugandan workforce is highly skilled and experienced.

“Around 30% of the employees carry at least one university degree, with many Post-Graduates. We are very happy to have a representative sample of the Ugandan society in our database. We can provide companies with a huge variety of highly motivated employees, from Accountants to Web Developers. We can connect nearly anything,” says everjobs Country Manager Julian Schulz.

The October report reveals that most job seekers are male and live in the capital Kampala. Entebbe, Mukono Jinja, Gulu and Mbarara are the following top locations. According to everjobs Business Growth Manager Hellen Nakyeyune, the company is aiming to expand the offers up-country to attract more companies and more job seekers.

By Silvia Nyambura

KCB Bank Uganda has launched the market’s most innovative credit card riding on the back of a growing middle class and their appetite for convenience and real time transactions wherever they are across the world.
The Chip and Pin credit card, according to Joram Kiarie the bank’s Managing Director, is the lender’s response to a market that is gradually moving away from cash based transactions to a cashless economy.

“Today’s transactions are moving away from ‘hard cash’ to ‘plastic money’. With the credit card, we are offering value, convenience and security to our customers as they transact,” Kiarie says.
The card offers a 45-day interest free period once a purchase is done.

“Our customers can now enjoy exclusive treatment and benefits around the world without worry of accumulated interest in the first 45 days of making a purchase,” he added.

The chip & pin card which comes in two categories – VISA Classic & VISA Gold- is accepted at all VISA access points worldwide and will cater to both middle income and high-end consumers.

“This card marks an important step towards offering our clients a wide-range of services that enhance their experience and can be used at all VISA Access points worldwide. While we continue to spearhead the drive for increased financial inclusion we also realize that there is a section of our customer switching to cashless transactions. We assure our customers that we are giving them a convenient and safe means of making transactions,” he explained.

Although, the use of plastic card to purchase goods and services in the country is yet to fully take root as most people still prefer cash transactions, mobile banking has revolutionized the way people do business slowly taking people away from using cash to transact.

According to Kiarie, the chip and pin feature ensures maximum security since they are harder to duplicate than the magnetic strip.

“The advent of new technologies has made the digital transfer of funds much easier and secure,” he says.

However, even with a dominant cash economy, the demand for plastic cards has in the recent past continued to increase. This is a factor that has been attributed to a growing middle-income level generation that is exposed to technology and cashless economies, while preferring to avoid the inconvenience and risks of cash based transaction like theft.

By Alix Murphy

Mobile money is on a journey. What started as a simple way of paying people using a phone is on the cusp of becoming the next global communications platform. Not just a means of buying goods and services, but a way of connecting with other human beings.

To understand what is coming next, we need to look back at where this journey began.

Long before coins and paper money existed, people exchanged handwritten notes that contained a promise to pay, including details of how that payment would be made, the timescale and other terms. The dialogue was far richer than we see on today’s banknotes.

Eventually nations developed their own formal monetary systems. However, they remained fundamentally local dialects. Some countries opted for Dollars or Dinars, while others knew only Francs or Shillings.

When the time came to move money between countries, it was a messaging company – the telegram operator Western Union – that took care of the movement and the ‘translation’ from one currency to another.

The arrival of mobile money services in the early 21st century marked another step forward, but these too were local. Today there are more than 260 different mobile money services internationally, and few are interoperable.

Our company, WorldRemit, is performing the role of translator – enabling people around the world to send money instantly from their smartphone to EcoCash, M-Pesa, MTN Mobile money, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa, Zaad and others. Transfers to most countries are instant because we make it possible for people to send money like an instant message.

The speed and convenience of a true mobile to mobile service has proved incredibly popular with diasporas sending money home. More than half of all WorldRemit money transfers to Africa now go to mobile money accounts.

And we are seeing fascinating behavioral trends emerge. People are using mobile money transfers more like they use instant messaging than traditional remittance services.

In those countries where we offer both cash pickup and mobile money transfer, people send smaller amounts to mobile money (average between US$ 100), but they send much more often (average 3 times per month).

Why these radically different sending patterns? Our customers have answered that question. Rather than sending lump sums once or twice a month for general expenses, they are sending money to mobile wallets in response to specific requests – buying groceries, a household bill, a meal – following conversations with their recipient.

They do this, because they can. With WorldRemit, the money is transferred instantly and costs as little as US$ 1.50.

As one WorldRemit recipient, Stellah in Uganda said, “It feels like someone is just next door to you, just in case you need something.”

We call this phenomenon the ‘WhatsAppification of money’, where financial support becomes part of a constant conversation between sender and recipient.

The rest of that conversation is taking place on mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber and Facebook Messenger. In a recent WorldRemit customer survey, 42% of people said they discussed their transfers over instant messaging.

So instant messaging is both a metaphor for the way people now send money internationally and a companion app to WorldRemit.

Alongside this, we are seeing the appearance of a mobile money ecosystem – local at first, but gradually internationalizing. People are building products and services connected to and working with mobile money.

M-Changa, a social giving service, allows people to donate to good causes using their mobile money account. Recipients collect their funds in the same way.

Off-Grid Electric is a California and Arusha-based company providing affordable solar energy to rural communities in Tanzania. Their service is made financially viable because, rather than sending agents door to door to collect payments, customers can take advantage of flexible payment plans via their mobile money account.

Increasingly, this mobile money ecosystem will include international participants. We will see more innovative startups adding greater functionality and global reach to mobile money.

Meanwhile, local telcos will expand the reach of their brands overseas. Our partner EcoNet in Zimbabwe already co-markets itself with us using the EcoCash Diaspora name.

All of these services have one thing in common – they use mobile money as a means of better connecting people, bringing them closer together and improving lives. What is that, if not communication?

The writer is Senior Mobile Analyst, WorldRemit

By Our Reporter

Bharti Airtel Africa has announced a partnership with Facebook that will see the launch of Free Basics in Africa. Free Basics is a set of basic websites and services to introduce people to the internet and demonstrate how it adds value to their lives. They include providing free health, education and finance-related information to people in developing countries so that they can make informed choices and decisions to improve their lives.

In the first phase, Free Basics will be launched in Airtel Nigeria, DRC, Gabon and Niger followed by other Airtel Africa markets. Customers with an Airtel mobile connection will be able to access all the services that form part of Free Basics without paying extra for data charges or rental.

Commenting on the latest partnership with Facebook, Christian de Faria, Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Africa said, “With Africa’s widest 3G network, Airtel has been at the forefront of the data revolution in Africa. We are cognizant of the power of internet in changing lives of communities and this partnership with Facebook will aid in bringing more people online and reduce the digital divide.”

Airtel Africa had already been working with Facebook since 2014 in enhancing accessibility to the internet in an affordable manner through the launch of Free Basics in Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Seychelles and Rwanda. With the launch of Free Basics, these markets will also now have access to more free services and the Free Basics platform.

Commenting on the launch, Chris Daniels, Vice President of Internet.org said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Airtel in bringing more people online. More than one billion people have access to Internet.org’s free basic services across Asia, Africa and Latin America today. Our intention is to help the people in Africa access relevant basic services that will help them improve their lives and also lead to more adoption of the internet.”

He expressed his delight at the fact that the platform encourages developers to create local content which helps customer’s access services in a language they understand and also keeping them connected online.

Airtel customers currently using the app and mobile website will be able to continue using the Android app, though it will now be called Free Basics by Facebook in Google Play. The mobile web version, which will redirect from the previous URL, can be accessed at FreeBasics.com.

By Anja van Beek

Isn’t it strange to still use a 21st century phrase to describe the complex and delicate art of trying to get the best from the people who drive our businesses?

The terminology is rooted in industrial age thinking – leftover from a time that organizations thought of their workers as commodities, at worst and as assets, at best. It reflects a bureaucratic mindset of enforcing policies and shuffling paperwork.

It’s furthermore out of line with the dynamic modern working world where leading companies see their employees as stakeholders, even as partners, in their success. This is why we are seeing so many progressive organizations start to move away from talking about ‘human resources’ towards talking about ‘talent’ and ‘people’.

This is more than just a superficial change of language – it’s about changing mind sets. It is about shifting the substance of the conversation from compliance, costs and red tape towards outcomes, growth, and development. People are not expenses on the income statement or assets on the balance sheet – they are the living DNA of the business.

A war for talent demands a more people-centric approach

Corporations are under pressure to take a more human – and less ‘resource’ – centric view of people management for three major reasons. The first is that the labor environment has evolved and governments, communities, regulators and others today expect companies to treat employees with respect and fairness. That’s not just about pay and meeting minimum standards in working conditions – it is also about embedding a genuine concern for people into the business.

The second is that even with the current economic turmoil; the balance of power has shifted to employees when it comes to roles and industries that demand specific technical, business, management or engineering skills. Companies that don’t offer opportunities for growth or give employees purpose, will struggle to attract and hold on to the best people and thus be at a competitive disadvantage.

Thirdly, leaders are beginning to understand the links between employee satisfaction, company culture, and organizational performance. By addressing employee engagement in a constructive way, organizations can better align employees’ goals with the corporate purpose. That helps nurture a motivated workforce and a culture of innovation and high-performance.

Practical implications of thinking about people rather than HR

Against this backdrop, many HR departments face a significant challenge. They need to rethink how they do things; some will even need to re-conceptualize their reason for existence. Rather than asking how to manage red-tape, they may need to ask how they can enable people to perform at their best and support them in driving business performance.

Recent research in the Deloitte’s 2015 Human Capital Trends Report for South Africa indicates that many business leaders and HR departments are starting to think about these issues in the right way. Respondents to the Deloitte research ranked engagement and culture as the number one priority globally, followed closely by leadership, then learning and development.

For many HR professionals, one key issue is how they can refocus on strategic talent management, skills development, building the employer brand and performance management when compliance demands so much of their time. The answer, for many, lies in automation of routine processes so that they can free up hours for the more strategic aspects of their job.

Automated systems also capture rich data HR managers can use for talent analytics that give insight into trends such as staff churn, the costs of training and development and the skills they may need to attract and develop to support the business’s future growth. Another important step is to look at how effectively the company is using technology to engage employees.

Tools such as Employee Self-Service can reduce paperwork for the HR department while delivering better service to the workforce. Employees – especially Millennials – want dealing with an employer to be as easy as banking online or via a mobile app. When people can apply for leave, fill in expense claims and pick up pay slips online, everyone wins from the gains in efficiency and convenience.

Closing words

People management today is about aligning the company’s people, with the vision of its leadership and the culture of the company. That demands that CEOs, HR Directors and other members of the executive suite start thinking about people in a more strategic and holistic manner. It’s not just about costs and productivity – it is also about innovation, unlocking human potential, and creating organizations that people are truly inspired proud to work for.

The writer is Vice President, People, Sage International (Africa, Australia, Middle East, Asia and Brazil)

By Oliver Facey

In the lead up to the festive season, consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping portals instead of visiting physical stores due the convenience that these platforms offer. While local consumers are embracing the shift towards e-commerce, many are still not aware of the regulations involved with importing products purchased online from international retailers, which could lead to consumers incurring unexpected expenses. These charges also apply when receiving gifts from international origins.

Consumers are often caught off-guard when their shipments and gifts arrive from international origins with unexpected additional charges. These are incurred when going through Customs where, depending on the type of goods being shipped, parcels may be subject to duties and taxes.

All shipments transported across international borders must be cleared through Customs and gifts are not necessarily exempted from duties and taxes.

Import duties and taxes differ in each country and are usually calculated as a percentage of the item value but in certain instances they could also be a flat fee, depending on the product type. Import shipments may also be subject to interventions by Customs where the price, contents and country of manufacture are often investigated to mitigate a wide range of risks. This could result in delivery delays as well as additional costs.

Many consumers make use of e-commerce platforms to purchase and send gifts over the holiday season. They need to take note of the receiving country’s regulations to avoid the recipient being liable for additional charges. For example, customs bureaus in Angola have legislated tax-free exemptions for gifts to an individual as long as the value is less than US$ 350 and in Zimbabwe, the limit is US$ 50. In South Africa, the value is R400, while Tanzania’s threshold is US$ 15.

With the weakening currencies in the region, this needs to be top of mind for shoppers should they not want to incur additional charges for gifts purchased online. It is also important to note that each South African citizen may only receive two gifts, up to the value of R400 each year without incurring additional customs charges – i.e. the third or fourth gift will not be exempt from customs charges.

In the European Union, customs charges have been relaxed over the festive season to stimulate trade during the period. This highlights the varying limits for exemptions, and demonstrates the importance of checking local regulations prior to making online purchases.

Online shopping offers convenience and in many instances, cost savings, so once consumers become familiar with their local regulations, they will be able to reap the rewards. Customs duties and taxes are unfortunately beyond the control of shipping companies and are regulated by the Government of the relevant countries.

It is always peak season for parcel shipments during the lead-up to the festive season. As a logistics company, DHL is always ready to support and shed light on applicable additional charges on shipments.

Oliver Facey, is the Vice President Operations for DHL Express Sub Sahara Africa

By Silvia Nyambura

There is little meaningful use of social media for interaction in the ongoing campaigns. Currently, Ugandans are only spreading memes ridiculing the candidates but are yet to make full use of the social media platform. In addition, politicians lag behind in engaging the youth-who are the biggest consumers of these platforms- in the decision making process. This leads to disengagement, lack of interest in participating in the elections and lack of news consumption by this age group which makes up the largest number of voters.

One of the memes being circulated on social media to ridicule candidates. Abdulahi believes Social Media should be used for better purposes.

According to Fatuma Abdulahi the Country Director for Internews Somalia and founder of online news wire Warya Post, Africans are too patient with politicians and their poor delivery of services.

“Despite this, there is an emerging power house that demands for more than tribal affiliations while making political decisions. The current electorate demands for more services, jobs, efficient use of taxes, better infrastructure, better security, more opportunities and so on,” she said.

Abdulahi was speaking at the 2nd annual public lecture held at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala and organized by the African Centre for Media Excellence. She highlighted the role of media in politics explaining why social media is the way to go especially during this election period.

“Traditional media is usually one way, too formal with passive involvement, communication is controlled and the content polished. Social media however is more interactive. It is two way, open, transparent, uses informal unstructured communication and is user generated instead of producer generated.This allows for active involvement in community decision making ,” she added.

Giving examples of Libya and Egypt, Abdulahi highlighted the power of technology in giving a voice to the people and bringing about radical political changes.

“The way news is produced and consumed is changing and so is the speed of producing it. Today, over 2,200 tweets are posted every second. Mobile phones have changed the way people communicate and the very nature of political discourse and debate can now be held on such platforms. The idea that government is too big to be criticized is what has held Africa back. Media houses should learn to be consistent and use high quality content on the social media sites so as to be relevant to the electorate,” Abdulahi advised.

However, the debate on traditional versus new media rages on. According to the AMISOM Spokesman Major General Barigye  Ba hoku , social media has done more harm than good in Africa.

“New media is about headlines and it lacks details. It is unrealistic for a well researched investigative piece to come through social media. Media houses should learn to use the two types of media concurrently. Traditional media works well for deep analytical pieces while social media can be used to draw the attention of the readers,” he said.

Researchers however believe the future is in digital communications. They predict internet users on Mobile Phones will increase 20 fold in the next 5 years. In addition, declining prices of handsets and costs of data along with faster speeds will usher Africans into the digital age. In Uganda for example, there are about 23 million mobile phone users. 10.4 million of these are accessing the internet while about 5.6 million of these are using the internet through their mobile phones.

By Silvia Nyambura

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have handed over the management of the US$ 300,000 (Ushs 1 billion) Flood early warning system in Butaleja District to the Office of the Prime Minister. This will be under the Ministry of disaster preparedness which will then transfer ownership to the Butaleja District Local Government.

Addressing the media at UCC Offices in Kampala this morning, the Company Executive Director Godfrey Mutabasi said, “For many years, the district has been ravaged by the persistent floods given its location in basin area and thereby receiving a lot off runoff water from the Wanale hills, Bududa hills and the imposing Mt Elgon. Because of the raised topography, the area receives a lot of relief rainfall. On a positive note, the flooding and high rainfall supports the extensive rice growing in the area.”

The system, uses a siren notification system to warn people about raising water levels. The siren is mounted on a wooden pole with solar panel.

Set up of the Flood early warning system

“Once the water levels reach a certain point on the sensor, a signal is sent to the control command centre to activate the siren. The siren noise is then followed by a message in English and Lunyole that will alert the communities about a possible flooding or to require them to shift to safer grounds if the river has flooded. The siren can be heard within a radius of five kilometres,” he added.

Mutabazi explained one year down the road since it was implemented, the system has proved to be a reliable solution to ending not only the floods, but also minimizing the endemic loss of life and property.

By Our Reporter

The annual Social Media Summit is set to be held next month on 3rd December, under the theme ‘Social Means Business’.

According to Collins Mugume the Summit Director, the event will this year focus on the business of social media, how it can affect the organization or businesses bottom line while generating tangible and measurable value.

“Social media has continued to grow and take center stage in many organizations.This year the discussion will focus on how Social Media is affecting communication strategies, how brands are engaging with the consumers in real time as well as how it is impacting on expansion and growth of companies,” he says.

This year the summit is a partnership with the best of industry leaders that will create a space where best practice sharing, learning and networking can happen. It also aims to identify, share, train and advance the use of social media in corporate, businesses, public and non-profit sectors.

“The expected participants range from government, businesses, civil society, sports franchises, leading hotels, health practitioners, SME’s, tourism and private sector with a target audience of 300 attending delegates,” he adds.

The keynote speakers include Brownen Auret, Head of digital operations at Metropolitan Republic, Philip Ogola, digital humanitarian, Mark Kaigwa, Forbes 30 under 30 and Marvin Bisanga digital content curator.

The summit has attracted a total of 25 speakers and panelists and will have 10 sessions across the day.

By Our Reporter

A total of 1065 students have graduated with various qualifications from Cavendish University during its 5th graduation ceremony held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday. The students were awarded degrees, diplomas, and certificates in varied disciplines such as Business, Information Technology, Economics & other Social Sciences.

774 students received Bachelors degrees- 15 of whom received first class honors, 86 were awarded with Masters, 8 received Post Graduate Diplomas while 55 received Diplomas.

The Minister for Education, Jessica Alupo recognized the significant part played by Cavendish University and other private universities in meeting the demand for higher education in Uganda. She commended Cavendish University for its progress in harnessing the capabilities of technology and designing programs that have an international touch which is good for regional integration and international exposure.

In a speech read by Timothy Ssejjoba, Principal Education Officer at Ministry of Education, the minister said, “New Technologies are enabling communication with far greater ease at creating virtual global opportunities. We need to ensure graduates will not be limited by non-trade barriers that are hidden behind standards such as accreditation, language of instruction and scope of study. A graduate from Cavendish university- Uganda should not have challenges being accredited by the South African Qualifications Agency or the Health boards in the United Arab Emirates for professional employment.”

The University has heavily invested in ICT-enabled learning in a bid to provide students with a global learning environment. It has various IT laboratories for practical skills like software development and hardware repair and maintenance, research lab and a Law lab specifically equipped with e-resources for law students.

“We should note the two most quickly growing areas of transnational education are IT and education management. Among the professions, the most rapidly globalizing are those related to engineering, construction, accounting, medicine, specialized nursing and international law,” he added.

The graduation was officiated by H.E Benjamin Mkapa, the former Tanzanian President who is also the University’s Chancellor.
He urged the graduates to be innovative when they go out in the field as they apply the skills acquired in order to add value to the development of the East African region.

Cavendish education was introduced to Uganda in 2008 after obtaining an operational license from National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). It was authorized to award degrees and diplomas where the pioneers graduated in November, 2011.

In 2014 October, Cavendish University Group partnered with Maarifa Education after Emerging Capital Partner (ECP) took up ownership of Cavendish University Uganda and Cavendish University Zambia.

Maarifa Education largely aims at making the University committed to offering world class education in the region which is relevant, affordable, and accessible using world class infrastructure and ensuring that the adherence to the Higher Education quality assurance parameters is at the highest level.

By Our Reporter

Hellofood Uganda has handed out 70 kilograms (kgs) of maize, 60 kgs of Sugar, 30 kgs of Flour, 50 kgs of Beans and 60 kgs of Rice to the 40 days 40 smiles organization to deliver to the Elohim Child development center.

This is as part of the ‘You say We give’ campaign the company launched last month where customers posted their wishes of the items chosen through commenting on the Facebook in honor of World Food Day.

Ron Kawamara the Managing Director Hellofood Uganda said, “We want to remind the general public that the plight of hunger is still a major issue even in our own backyard. We live in a world where we have the capacity to feed everyone who needs food. We produce enough to feed all those who yawn. What is lacking is not resources, as hunger is not for the poorest nations, but looms large even in the most advanced economies.”

He noted the only missing link is the re-awakening of what connects humanity.

“When we go back to the core of who we are, it is not acceptable to enjoy a meal when your neighbor is hungry. To be human is to act – as individuals, communities, companies, and governments. Hunger is no match for the human spirit,” he added.

Benjamin Rukwengye the Head of programs and operations at 40days 40 smiles said, “World Food Day is important to us because it is a reminder that millions are still trapped in hunger. It serves as an inspiration for those that have to sustainably ensure the most vulnerable amongst us have a meal and good health to break the cycle of poverty.”

The 40 days over 40 smiles organization provides a platform for others to contribute and create decent lives for poor and vulnerable children in the communities.

“Partnerships like the one with Hello Food enable us to get closer to our objects and we are happy for the continued support in our effort to build communities,” Rukwengye added.

By Silvia Nyambura

Ugandan businesses have been advised to turn to the capital markets for cheap financing instead of carrying bad debt from banks. This according to the Capital Markets Authority CEO Keith Kalyegira will help them increase profitability and strengthen their businesses. He urged retail investors to take up government securities as they are solid and their interest rates are higher than those of banks. In addition, Kalyegira emphasized the need for companies to keep proper books of account in order to attract the right investors.

“These are difficult economic times when inflation has hit a high and bank interest rates are shooting up. Financing business through bank loans is therefore expensive and unsustainable. Investing in the capital markets provides cheap financing while helping your business grow. For that to happen however, investors need to see accountability if they are going to put their money in a business. Proper financial reporting ensures there is transparency and boosts investor confidence,” he said.

Kalyegira was speaking at the 5th annual Financial Reporting awards held at the Kampala Serena Hotel  yesterday and organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants Uganda (ICPAU).

Stanbic Bank Uganda emerged Gold winner of the report of the year award. The bank was recognized for its transparency in keeping books of accounts and upholding the right financial principles. Power utility company Umeme came in second with the silver award while DFCU Bank scooped the bronze award.

Making his remarks, ICPAU President Ben Patrick Kagoro said, “We are happy to recognize financially compliant companies for the 5th time running. Over the years we have seen growth in terms of participation from 37 in 2011, 45 in 2012 and 64 in 2013. Last year the number remained constant we had a participation of about 70. This is a clear indication that companies are becoming more transparent with their financials, a move that builds investors’ faith in the industry’s regulatory environment.”

He however noted there were minimum disclosures relating to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Kagoro urged companies to make significant improvements in the illustrative value of their reports.

Giving the keynote speech on behalf of the Prime Minister, Lawrence Kiiza an official from the ministry of Finance said, ” We need to uphold the right principles in this industry. Transparency exposes the risks companies and investors are exposed to and builds confidence. Proper books of accounts also allow investors gain an understanding of what the business is trying to achieve and therefore make sound decisions based on integrity.”

By Silvia Nyambura

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has introduced a new electronic system aimed at helping customers verify the legitimacy of the products they consume through their mobile phones. This innovation called the E-tag system has been put in place primarily to support e-verification of agricultural inputs in a campaign supported by USAID Feed the Future Uganda Agricultural Inputs Activity.

The main objective of the campaign is to educate farmers about the system so that they are able to use it to guard themselves against substandard and counterfeit agro-inputs. This will ensure they make informed choices while purchasing agro inputs, enhance their yields and food security.

The consumer uses Electronic Verification by scratching the silver panel on the product to reveal a unique code and then sending that code to the number provided on the scratch panel through their mobile phone. A message is sent back to the consumer informing them of the key product details and clarifying whether it is genuine or not.

Speaking during the launch event earlier this week, Patricia Ejalu the Deputy Executive Director-Technical at UNBS noted proliferation of substandard agro inputs in the Ugandan market is now as high as 30% across the country.

“This is not only causing economic loss but also leading to destruction of livelihoods. We are pleased with the good working relationship between our Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, UNBS and the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). The importance of this partnership is vital for systems such as the E-Verification to be effectively adopted. The E-tag System has been developed to work across all production sectors in Uganda. The agricultural sector has taken the lead with the support of USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Inputs Activity,” she said.

Ejalu explained UNBS will continue to fight the production and distribution of substandard goods in the country while supporting and encouraging manufacturers across all sectors to use the new system.

“The agro dealers (stockists) who interface with farmers every day will also be encouraged to use this innovation to market themselves as distributors of genuine products. In addition, the campaign will encourage all manufacturers to use the system to protect their brand against illegal competition and regain market share through customer loyalty and trust,” she added.

By Silvia Nyambura

Growing internet penetration, spread of mobile technology and improvement of payment and delivery infrastructure in Africa are factors that are boosting E-Commerce on the continent.

Today, transactions are fast moving from traditional wallet to mobile phones, from laptops to tablets and so on. With a fast growing middle class across the continent, there is need to provide convenience, better prices and quality products and services.

Of the active internet users in some markets in Africa (those who access the internet at least once a week), 54% shop online in South Africa, 36% in Egypt while Nigeria and Kenya are behind them in 3rd and 4th places respectively. Uganda is 9th.

The biggest challenge with E-Commerce however is on delivery and mode of payment. There is need to reassure the consumers on fraud, product quality, the perception of higher costs, longer delivery times and making mistakes in payment.

These were some of the issues discussed at the 3rd Vodafone Power Talks held at the Kampala Serena Hotel today. The event which was themed ‘How online marketing is transforming Ugandan businesses’ had panelists from Uganda’s corporate scene who are running their businesses on the internet. They included Victor Ndlovu- Country Manager Visa Sub-Sahara Africa, Abdul Ssekalala- Enterprise Solutions Manager at MCash and Head of emerging products at CODE Sync, Evelyn Nakitende- Administration Manager at Game, David Gonahasa-founder and MD of Round Bob and Dickson Mushabe the Founder and CEO of Hostalite Ltd.

According to the panelists, integration of technologies in businesses today is inevitable. The use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) not only brings convenience to consumers but also helps management monitor their revenues and minimize losses.

“Using Point of Sale as a payment mode has helped us at Game Stores to minimize cash shortages as a result of avoiding counting bulk cash. We are also able to monitor customer traffic check on stock updates as well as reconcile our accounts easily,” said Evelyn Nakitende.

David Gonahasa of Roundbob said, “There is an emergence of virtual products and digital goods in Uganda. Our business uses web and mobile phone channels as platforms to sell travel destinations to customers. We also engage through social media and online advertising.”

Dickson Mushabe explained with 10.4 million internet users in Uganda and rising, there is need to tap into that market. Businesses need to define the product or service they offer, market it, develop supply and delivery channels and figure out how to get paid online safely.

“At Hostalite, we have authored online design and functionality of over 400 companies in East Africa and helped streamline the careers of young IT enthusiasts. The internet has helped grow our sales by 40%. In addition, we have tapped into foreign markets, increased efficiency and built customer satisfaction,” he said.

Also making his remarks at the event, the Vodafone Uganda CEO Allan Richardson said the internet has enable E-Commerce to catch up fast in Uganda and become more prevalent among businesses.

“Ugandans are still used to a cash economy and they want assurance that when they buy something they will get it. However over time as systems get better E-Commerce will be streamlined so that businesses can not only woo clients but also tap into a worldwide customer base. The cost of internet from my experience is a lot lower in Uganda than in other countries the challenge is access which again will be solved with time,” he said.

By Silvia Nyambura

Online food ordering company Hellofood has awarded 16 restaurants in the inaugural Kampala Restaurant Awards held at the Kampala Serena Hotel last night. The restaurants were recognized for their commitment to deliver exceptional service, quality foods, value for money and maintaining great industry standards.

Speaking during the event, the company MD Ron Kawamara said the awards are meant to recognize achievement in the industry.

“They set a credible benchmark for industry players to meet international standards and provide a platform for excellence and recognition for the best restaurants in their own category. The level of participation we have witnessed in this first event is a testament that people in Kampala appreciate good food,” he said.

Mediterraneo an Italian Restaurant located along Acacia Avenue emerged overall winner and was awarded 2 return tickets to go to Brussels. 15 other restaurants were recognized in different categories.

Kawamara noted most of the participants were young businesses between 2 and 3 years.

“Restaurants are increasing on a daily basis. This is a young industry with the potential to contribute greatly to the Ugandan economy. It is therefore important that we continue to encourage good standards,” he added.

In his keynote speech as guest of honor, the King of Toro Oyo Nyimba Kabamba said Ugandan businesses are faced with several hurdles.

“It is not easy to start and maintain a business in this country. Capital is hard to come by, registration is cumbersome and sustainability is low. There needs to be renewed focus on these processes. Despite these challenges there is always opportunities which Ugandans can take advantage of. People must find their niche and apply rigorous effort to succeed in their different fields just like these restaurants have demonstrated today. Success is walking from failure to failure without giving up,” he advised.

The event was organized in partnership with online services portal company Done Deal, MTN, Pepsi, Brussels Airlines, Shell Gas, Sanyu FM, and Robertson Winery.

Full List of winners

Restaurant of the year-  Mediterraneo

Best Asian Cuisine- Tamarai Restaurant

Best Cafe Deli- Endiro

Best Food on the go- KFC

Best Bar Food- Liquid Silk

Best Pizzeria- Olives

Best Beer Brand- Tusker Malt

Best Wine- Robertson

Best Value for money- Cafe Javas

Best African Cuisine- Lawns

Best Ugandan Cuisine- Shaka Zulu

Fine Dining Award- Pearl Restaurant Kampala Serena Hotel

Best Indian Cuisine- Khana Khazana

Best New Restaurant- The Great Indian Daba

The Hellofood Award- The Bistro

Best Customer Service- Lawns

By Our Reporter

Kampala based forest advocacy group, Support for Women in Environment and Agriculture (SWAGEN) has won the 8th ONE Africa Award walking away with US$ 100,000. The Award is bestowed upon civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and other groups based in Africa that have demonstrated a commitment and success in advocacy to promote the attainment of one or more of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

SWAGEN is a member based organization that uses indigenous knowledge to adapt, mitigate and improve environmental and sustainable development policies that impact forest dependent communities. Its work is based in the Rwoho Natural Tropical Forest of Uganda.

Handing over the award Nachilala Nkombo the ONE Africa Acting Executive Director said “Today, we join SWAGEN in celebrating their success in ensuring that members of forest communities in Uganda have a chance at a better life that doesn’t compromise the needs of generations to come.”

The organization’s impact in advocacy stood out from a pool of 252 applications from 33 countries across Africa. The organization is credited with negotiating a national policy reform on Forest Conservation in Uganda that recognizes the rights of the forest dependent communities. The members built on that reform to secure and develop a Collaborative Forest Management Agreement with the National Forest Authority of Uganda. So far, they have planted more than 2,000 hectares of the Rwoho National Forest buffer zone and establishing sustainable beekeeping and honey production businesses.

“SWAGEN has demonstrated what sheer commitment to securing systemic changes in natural resource management can do to benefit local communities in a way that lifts them out of poverty. As the world prepares to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030, it is the foundation of MDG success laid by such groups that will be the SDG game changer,” said Nkombo.

Gertrude Kenyangi, Co-Founder and Chairperson of SWAGEN said, “We are incredibly humbled by the selection and honored to be recognized for our work. On behalf of our members, our board and our community, I thank the ONE Campaign and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of those in forest dependent communities.”

Each year, The ONE Africa Award celebrates and highlights innovation and progress made by African led civil society organizations towards achieving the 2000 MDGs. The US$ 100,000 prize money is underwritten by an endowment from The Howard G. Buffet Foundation. The MDGs were replaced this year in September by the UN through the new global goals agenda called the Sustainable Development Plan.