Mrs. Beatrice Lugalambi, the General Manager Corporate Communications & Marketing at Centenary Bank and Mr. Kikungwe Umar, the Managing Director at Shaka Zulu Foods Limited present assorted kitchen equipment worth 20 million to the Cente SupaWoman groups.

By Our Reporter

Centenary Bank, the leading Microfinance institution in Uganda, in partnership with Shaka Zulu Foods Limited, a three-star restaurant in Bugolobi has rewarded Cente SupaWoman groups with assorted kitchen equipment worth Ushs. 20 million in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on 8th of March of every year, with the intention to honor women from different walks of life and who play an instrumental role in contributing to society in one way or another.

Beatrice Lugalambi, the General Manager Corporate Communications & Marketing at the bank in her remarks noted that women are taking more responsive roles in activities geared towards boosting the economy in various sectors which ties in tandem with this year’s International Women’s Day theme.

According to the 2018 Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) report, Uganda was ranked in 1st position out of the 58 Countries that were assessed globally as the country with the highest number of women business owners.

However, women in Uganda, have continuously been challenged with access to affordable credit and apt financial literacy to be able to fund their businesses, efficiently run them and enable them grow and realize their dreams.

“Centenary Bank has continuously invested in women empowering programs in Uganda including financial literacy, funding of corporate social Initiatives aimed at training and improving the livelihood of Women and the girl child through the Cente Supawoman product,” Lugalambi highlighted.

While addressing the media, Kikungwe Umar, the Managing Director at Shaka Zulu Foods Limited, revealed that “Our decision to partner with Centenary Bank was informed by our knowledge of the women-focused initiatives championed by the bank in offering financial inclusion and women empowerment since there are immense opportunities for such businesses to thrive, given requisite support.”

Over the years, the bank has registered over 17,000 Supa women members, with over 5,000 that have accessed the bank’s credit services to start or boost their businesses.

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By Staff WriterFortebet has further made its services better and simple after introducing Mobile Money Cash Out. With this new system, Fortebet customers nolonger have to walk to a centre to withdrawal their winnings because they can now directly transfer their funds on their Fortebet (www.fortebet.ug) accounts to their mobile money accounts.Talking about this new system, John Nanyumba, the company Media Manager said, “If you place your ticket via www.fortebet.ug and it wins, you can now access your winnings even if you are in your sitting room. Anywhere, any time, you can cash out your winnings.” He added, “We have done this in response to our customers’ request because virtually everyone wanted Fortebet to introduce this system, and now here it is. So, you can withdrawal your money even if you are in the deepest villages as long as you have a mobile money agent next you.”Nanyumba noted that this system will for the start be available to MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money subscribers. However, it will be available to other network subscribers because this is only the start.“If you do not have an account with Fortebet, visit www.fortebet.ug and register now to benefit from this new offer,” Nanyumba noted.

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MTN reports commercial momentum, strategic progress and strong financial results; CEO to step down next year, succession process underway

MTN Group today announced an encouraging set of results for the year ended 31 December 2019 and that group president and CEO Rob Shuter would be stepping down from his role at the end of his contract in March 2021.

Commenting on the results, Shuter said:

“In 2019, the 25^th anniversary of MTN Group, we delivered commercial momentum across our operations as well as great progress in our strategy and strong financial results, despite challenging trading conditions.

We added 18 million customers to reach a total of 251 million and increased our data users by 17 million to 95 million and our fintech customers by 7 million to 35 million. This growth is central to our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. We also saw improvements in customer experience, network quality and market share across the group.

On the strategic front, we launched our instant messaging platform Ayoba, which is now live in 12 markets with two million monthly active users. We launched MoMo in South Africa and Afghanistan and received our super-agent licence in Nigeria, registering more than 100 000 agents by year-end. We also delivered R14 billion of asset realisations within the first 12 months of our programme and MTN Nigeria listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. We recorded progress on various regulatory issues, including the AGF tax matter in Nigeria. Relationships with stakeholders across our markets improved, and we reported our highest employee sustainable engagement score yet.

On the financial side, we delivered service revenue growth of 9,8% with an acceleration in the second half. Our EBITDA margin improved and reported headline earnings per share grew by 62%. Our network rollout brought a further 69 million people into 4G coverage whilst reducing capex intensity.  Improved cash flows during the year supported stable balance sheet ratios.”

Operating environment

This outcome was delivered against challenging macroeconomic conditions, particularly in South Africa, with muted economic activity and the rand weakening against the US dollar.

Financial performance

In constant currency terms, group service revenue increased by 9,8%* to R141,8 billion and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) expanded by 13,6% to R53,4 billion. The holding company leverage ratio improved to 2,2x, which is well within the group’s guidance range of 2,0 to 2,5x, and we reduced our capex intensity to 17,5% from 19,3%, indicating greater efficiency in deploying assets. Driven by the strong earnings performance, operating cashflow increased by 18% and the ROE increased from 11,5% in 2018 to 14,3% in 2019 on an IAS17 basis.

The group’s results were supported by double-digit growth in service revenue by both MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana. The performance of MTN South Africa was impacted by economic pressure, new data usage rules and changes in recognition criteria for roaming revenue from Cell C due to delayed payments under the networking roaming agreement.

Management succession

MTN announced that the group president and CEO Rob Shuter will be stepping down from his role at the end of his contract in March 2021. The board thanks Rob for the contribution he has made, and continues to make, to MTN. The succession process will be concluded during the year, enabling a seamless handover.

MTN group chief technology and IT officer Charles Molapisi has been appointed to the group executive committee and the fixed contract of the group chief operations officer, Jens Schulte-Bockum, has been extended until 31 March 2022.

Looking ahead, Shuter says:

“We are well positioned for growth. Guided by our well-defined BRIGHT strategy, we are building our growth strategy on our digital operator model while optimising efficiencies, capex and cashflow.

Following data price reductions in South Africa and Nigeria in 2019, we expect price elasticity to improve data revenue growth in 2020, supported by expanded 4G coverage in Nigeria and across the group. We will continue to scale up our fintech and digital services as well as grow our enterprise and wholesale businesses.

We have maintained our service revenue, EBITDA margin, capex intensity and ROE targets and increased our asset disposal target by a further R25 billion over the medium term. We also now target a holding company leverage ratio at below 2x. We will use 2020 to implement our succession process and ensure a seamless handover to the new group president and CEO whilst maintaining our operational execution.

Inspired to harness the pioneering spirit that has built MTN over the last 25 years, we remain committed to delivering on our strategy in a more agile way in close collaboration with our many partners, with whom we are #GoodTogether.”

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By Staff Writer

Fortebet, Uganda’s betting giant has continued to show its commitment to helping Ugandans live a better life. In this line, Fortebet has committed a whole 15 million shillings to fighting the deadly sickle cell disease.

This money was handed over to Raising Hope International Friends, an organisation that works hand-in-hand with the government of Uganda to fight the scourge. The money was handed over in two phases.

One, 10 million went to boosting the Jinja Sickle Cell Marathon 2020 that took place over the weekend. Another 5 million was handed over to the Sickle Cell clinic. “Available information indicates that 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell every year.

Unfortunately, due to inadequate treatment and care, 80% of them die before the age of 5. This is very worrying and is the main reason we came on board to save lives,” said John Nanyumba while handing over the cheque shortly after the Jinja marathon. Isaac

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By Reporter

Ugandan celebrated singer Pius Mayanja aka Pallaso yesterday returned he after weeks in South Africa where he went to perform on Valentine’s day and suffered a beating from a said xenophobic group. A seemingly happier Pallaso said “To the South Africans who beat me, I forgive you. I have scars on my heart, on my mind and in my body. I will make the ‘baby step’ towards change in Africa.”

Pallaso was picked by a convoy at the airport and drove woth it to the city ventre before heading to Kamwokya at Sky Lounge where he addressed press. Pallaso returned with Goodwill Malinga better known by his stage name Dr Malinga, South Africa record producer and musician as well as Music Executive, Thomani Mawarela. the two recorded a song aimed at spreading love, unity and forgiveness among us Africans.

The duo are headed to Uganda to promote the song and show that we are together as one and no hate can bring Africa down.

“The attack on Pallaso was not necessary and I would not want it to happen to another person. We don’t have to hate each other, instead lets support each other in all areas. We are Africans,” said Dr. Malinga.

The post Pallaso returns home to heroic welcome appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Singer Volts MC has striked back on the music scene with his new song Champion Bubbler whose video he released on March 3rd. The singer who was a former member of Pallaso’s Team Good Music says he left the music label because he wanted a label where he is being managed alone and that was how he joined Icon Music.

The Afro dancehall singer says he has four songs but the latest being Champion Bubbbler. He goes on to say that as he tries to make it to the top, he is currently getting lots of criticism for his music. “Different people are biased about musicians and another challenge is that since I am a student at Makerere University I sometimes fail to balance music with books but I try my level best” Volts MC says.

Volts who started doing music back then in Primary school at Kawempe Muslim says he used to listen to music in his free time and going on, he started composing a few lines although he never recorded in studio but after realizing he had the talent and her cousin Naira Ali was also doing well in music he had to follow his dream.

Volts MC dreams of working with Beenie Gunter and currently, he has songs such as Pressure Ya Muziki, Wotali and Dat Gyal. Champion bubbler is the song currently on promo.

The post Meet Volts MC, former Team Good Music singer appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Our Reporter

Itel Mobile Uganda has partnered with Airtel Uganda to launch their latest smartphone device, Itel A56. The new smartphone was officially unveiled during a ceremony held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday.

According to Bruce Ainebyoona, the product consultant at Itel Mobile, the Itel A56 comes with a bigger screen, battery and memory in comparison with its predecessor, itel A55 which was released in July last year.

The A56 packs a 4000mAh battery, 16GB of internal storage and runs on Android 9 Pie (Go edition). It also boasts of a 6 inch IPS screen which will give users a bigger view and comes with an 8MP dual rear camera setup and a 5MP selfie camera to the front.

Speaking during the launch, Henry Sajjabi, the Sales Manager itel Mobile Uganda expressed excitement about their partnership with Airtel Uganda which will see customers who purchase the itel A56 also receive free 3GB data valid for one month.

“We are here to launch more than just a smartphone device. We have partnered with Airtel Uganda to give more value to our customers.” He said.

To activate the free data bundle, customers will dial *175*90#. Upon activation, they will also receive 100% bonus for any weekly or monthly data bundle purchased over the next three months.

Mr Amit Kapur, the Airtel Uganda Chief Operations Officer reaffirmed Airtel Uganda’s commitment to the digitization of Uganda.

“At Airtel, we are committed to promoting digital inclusion through affordable data and devices and we know that Ugandans spend a huge amount of their time using the internet. It is therefore prudent to partner with an affordable smartphone company,” he noted.

The itel A56 is retailing at UGX 239,000/- and already available on the market.

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By Staff Writer

The health and fitness industries are booming right now.

More and more people across the world are starting to realize how important it is to stay in good shape, for themselves and for their future. Whether it’s with diets, trendy technology or superfoods, there are more ways than ever to stay in shape.

This is especially true when considering movements like veganism, or other health movements that have flipped the status quo. Nowadays, things that were once associated with healthiness – like red meat or excessive weightlifting, for example- have been pushed to the side in favor of truly beneficial things, like plant-based diets, mental health care and yoga.

Some countries have been noted as being healthier than others, which is interesting. It shows that different kinds of people value different kinds of healthy practices, and that some countries still have a lot of work to do when it comes to keeping their citizens healthy.

Today, we’re going to be taking a look at Uganda- which has been noted to be the world’s fittest country. Here at Big Eye, we’re incredibly proud of our country and the progress that it has made in the fitness world, so we wanted to take a look at this in more depth on our blog and examine how Uganda has come to be so healthy.

How is Uganda the world’s fittest country?

As stated in this BBC article, Uganda was noted as the world’s most physically active country by the World Health Organization. This study was incredibly in-depth, and it tracked the physical activity of local people across the country. The findings showed that roughly 95% of Ugandan people were in good shape and sufficiently fit, which is great to see.

Will this continue into 2020?

It’s likely that we will continue to observe Uganda as being one of the fittest countries in the world as we move into 2020. Unless a sudden surge of fitspiration takes over other countries, it’s likely that Uganda will continue to foster a healthy community.

After all, one of the main reasons why Uganda is so healthy is that fitness is integrated into people’s daily routines, as this article points out. Many people have to commute a long way by foot or do a fair bit of manual labour at work, which is one of the main reasons why people in Uganda are in such great shape.

Manual work is an important part of fitness in Uganda. As there are less mechanized solutions to manual labour in areas such as agriculture, there is more manual work to be done. This encourages a higher level of fitness within the community.

According to Kate Huber at NJGamblingFun, who spent a semester abroad in Kampala in college, “Another reason why Ugandan people are in such great shape is that there’s a growing community of joggers. Nowadays, there are big groups of people heading out on almost a daily basis to go jogging. It’s a great source of cardio, and it’s also fantastic for socializing as it is helping to build a community.”

Generally speaking, Uganda is in fantastic shape- and we’re sure to see this continuing into 2020. This impressive level of fitness doesn’t mean that we won’t see other countries following suit, either. As we move further into the year, we’re sure to see more and more countries making waves in their own communities with fitness.

To sum up

It seems that the rest of the world has a lot to learn from Uganda. There are plenty of countries all around the world who don’t even come close to this country’s physical fitness.

There are so many physically fit and healthy people in the country, and it’s inspiring to see how active the community is. Whether it’s people staying active by commuting to work or getting involved with local sports and classes, there are so many Ugandan people who are in incredible physical shape.

It’ll be fascinating to see where the fitness industry goes in 2020. With introductions of products like CBD and unique lifestyles like veganism, we’re sure to see some incredible innovations in this world as the year progresses. This article shows how many great fitness gifts and tools are available on the market right now.

Looking for a source of the latest Ugandan news? Want to stay up to date on the developments and stories shaping our culture? Big Eye is the best place to head to for Ugandan news, pop culture and blogs. Take a look here to read more of our content- if you enjoyed this blog post then we think you’ll love the others.

The post Will Uganda continue to be the world’s fittest country? appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Staff Writer

Marijuana has risen in popularity immensely all around the world in recent years.

With more countries and states moving to approve it as a medical substance, the stigma surrounding its usage has been vanishing. Additionally, studies into its long term effects and potential side issues have been improving as well.

This is partially due to the rise in popularity of products that contain CBD. CBD products have been sweeping the world by storm, as they have been snapped up by the health, wellbeing, beauty and sports industries with ease. CBD is incredibly useful, with a number of healthy benefits that users can expect to enjoy.

In terms of cannabis as a whole, there have been some recent developments in the industry that are worth knowing about. One of these is the recent debate surrounding Uganda and marijuana. Could it potentially end up being a major export crop for the country, and how could this happen? That’s what we’ll be looking at today.

Here at Big Eye, we’re incredibly passionate about bringing our audience the latest and greatest in this fascinating country. In this blog post, we’ll be going over everything that you need to know about Uganda and cannabis.

What does the EU have to do with this?

To start off with, let’s take a look at what the EU has to do with the marijuana movement in Uganda. As this Daily Monitor article points out, the EU approved Uganda’s movement to get involved with the marijuana industry. This means that cannabis growers in the region can get involved with the global market, which is fantastic.

Could marijuana be a major export crop for Uganda?

So, could marijuana be a major export crop for Uganda? The short answer is yes.

There is a huge demand for cannabis, CBD and hemp related products right now. As the worlds of medical cannabis and CBD grow, there will be even more demand for cannabis to be flown across the world to support the market.

Of course, there are certain issues that Uganda is going to need to overcome. As this article points out, Uganda is still going over some legal aspects with the cannabis movement. There are limitations being put on the cannabis industry by the government, which could affect who gets involved.

The government gave their reasons for this, saying that they wanted people who were already financially stable to get involved with growing cannabis. The representatives stated that this would mean people only grew it for medical purposes, and that this movement would help to stamp out any illicit behaviour.

Important things to remember as a cannabis user

In general, there are a few important things to remember as a cannabis user- especially if you’re in a place like Uganda where it is still relatively new.

One of the most important things is to make sure that you’re aware of local laws or legislation that might prohibit you from growing, owning or using cannabis products. Don’t get caught out by being unaware of your local practices.

It’s also important to make sure that you’re using cannabis and other products safely. Research whether it could affect existing medications that you might be taking, and make sure to look into the legitimacy of your supplier as well.

To sum up

As you can see, the marijuana industry is never without controversy.

The EU has backed Uganda’s marijuana efforts, however there is still some debate and discussion surrounding who can get involved with it within the country. There is still a lot of progress to be made, but it’s great to see that the marijuana industry is thriving in so many different parts of the world.

Above all, it’s vital that the cannabis industry in Uganda is heavily regulated, and that local people getting involved with it are treated fairly. Regulation and legislation can help to make sure that no illicit practices are taking place, and that the products that are being put out are safe to use.

It certainly will be fascinating to see where the cannabis industry ends up by the end of the year. Will more countries and states move to accept it? Will there be even more innovative uses of CBD and THC in the industry? Only time will tell. Take a look here to read more about some of the best CBD oils that are available on the market right now.

Looking to read more about the latest news and developments in Uganda? Want to read more blog posts like this? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at our full website here, to read more of our content. We’re constantly updating and developing our work, to help to keep our readers ahead of the curve.

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By Staff Writer

The online gambling industry is growing quickly and becoming more popular every day. Online casinos make it easier than ever for people all over the world to play their favorite games or join in on wagers for sporting events.

While previously, most people did not have access to physical casinos to play the games they love, the convenience of playing on a computer or smartphone makes this pastime accessible to everyone. With the increased popularity, many countries have lifted bans and/or restrictions on gambling to allow their citizens to play online.

One place in particular that has fully embraced online casinos and sports betting is Uganda. Gambling was already a popular form of entertainment in this country before online casinos were an option. Land-based casinos in Kampala have been thriving for years. Now, even more people in Uganda are gambling and it has even become a cause for some concern.

To adapt to the increasing popularity of online gambling, Uganda’s government has passed several laws to ensure that citizens are playing in a safe way. The major concern in this particular situation is a rise in underaged gambling and gambling addictions.

Gambling Habits in Uganda

Gambling has been popular in Uganda for a long time. There are multiple cities within the country that are home to land-based casinos with over a dozen options combined. Gambling is legal in Uganda and has been regulated with laws like The National Lotteries Act and the Gaming and Pool Betting Act. Some of the most popular activities include sports betting, slot machines, and the lottery.

In fact, in Africa overall, the gambling industry is thriving. Casinos continue to see record-high revenues. Each year gambling also brings in increasingly large sums in federal taxes. In Uganda specifically, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board enforce a 35% revenue tax on all gambling activities.

Despite the financial success for the industry and the government, excessive gambling habits have been the cause of some serious concerns. The president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, is currently working to decrease gambling in the country.

One major way that he is attempting to slow things down is by banning sports betting. In 2018, Museveni declared that no new licenses would be issued for domestic sports betting companies. Those that were already issued would also not be renewed once they expired.

The major areas of concern that lead to this decision were an increase in underaged gambling, increased poverty, and gambling addictions. The impact that gambling has on the citizens of this country is not always positive. Many hear success stories and spend what little money they have trying to win a large jackpot. Because of the unhealthy mindset around gambling, the government has begun to take these measures in an effort to decrease the amount of time that its citizens spend gambling.

The Rise of Online Casinos

In the past few years, the number of people in Uganda who had access to the internet has dramatically increased. There is also a significant rise in smartphone usage. This increased connectivity, combined with the rise of online casinos, makes it easy for citizens of Uganda to continue with their gambling habits despite the discouragement from their government.

The ability to connect with online casinos from all over the world is, of course, one of the major draws of the industry. According to Lucian Marinescu of Online Casino Gems, “The industry shift from land-based casinos to online casinos is bringing in wider audiences than ever because it’s just so convenient.”

While there is growing concern from the government in Uganda, citizens won’t have to change their online gambling habits yet. The regulations that the government is sending down so far only interfere with domestic companies. Companies in other areas of the world will continue to offer services to the population of Uganda.

With such a simple alternative, it’s likely that the restrictions the government places on domestic gambling will only cause citizens to seek out other online casinos. So, these regulations will not necessarily discourage citizens from gambling, but it could decrease the amount of tax revenue that the government receives from casino games and sports betting.

Rules in Uganda

When it comes to rules that affect online gambling among Ugandans, the focus is mainly on safe and secure gambling. These safety checks are common across the entire industry, not just in Uganda, and include identity confirmation, age confirmation, and exclusion systems to reject those who are gambling illegally.

Currently, online gambling is legal in Uganda, though there was suspicion initially that the practice would be banned. However, this speculation comes from the fact that Uganda seeks to protect its own domestic gambling industry. It does not stem from any sort of fear or distaste for online gambling.

Right now, the only restriction to online gambling in Uganda that affects players is an age restriction. The legal gambling age for Ugandans is 25. In order for citizens to legally gamble, they must confirm their age and provide identification before playing.

The regulations that are in place today, specifically The Lotteries and Gaming Act of 2016 has more of an effect on the online casinos themselves rather than the players. This act repealed the National Lotteries Act and the Gaming and Pool Betting Act that were in place previously. This act ensures that the casinos are honest, trustworthy, and safe for the user. In this act, required operational licenses, capital requirements, and increased gaming tax laws are enforced on casino companies.

Conclusion

Gambling is a popular pastime in Uganda, and despite the efforts of government officials, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change anytime soon. The only rules to keep citizens from gambling online are focused on age requirements. As long as players are of legal gambling age, they can enjoy online casino games and sports betting to their heart’s content.

With increased regulations and a looming ban on sports betting companies, it’s likely that more citizens of Uganda will turn to online casinos over the next few years so that they can continue their gambling habits.

The post What Are The Rules About Online Gambling in Uganda? appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Our Reporter

DStv Uganda has unveiled a new promotional offer in which customers who upgrade to a higher package will be bumped up to an even higher package at no extra cost.

“In line with our mission to add value and enrich the lives of our customers, and with the positive response we received from the initial Step-Up deal to our customers, we wanted to up the stakes with an greater offer,” says Sauya Nakiyaga, MultiChoice Uganda’s Head of Customer Retention. “We understand that now that viewers have experienced the quality entertainment that sits on higher packages, there’s an appetite to view more of the top-class content that DStv has on its platforms.”

In this latest offer, Access customers can step up to Family and get Compact. Family subscribers can step up to Compact and get Compact Plus while Compact customers can step up to Compact Plus and get Premium.

Compact Plus customers will simply have to renew their subscription to continue to have access to the Premium package during this offer period.

Upgraded customers will be able to enjoy world-class sporting action together with original local content, international movies, series, telenovelas, music shows, news and kids’ entertainment on the Step Up Extra offer.

Meanwhile, GOtv customers have also not be left out. They will pay UGX 29,000 from UGX 39,000 for GOtv Max during this promotional period.

The Step Up Extra offer expires on the 30th of April 2020.

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By Reporter

Sylvia Wilson Allibhai in partnership with Talent Africa Group and TAG Studios, hosted some of Uganda’s celebrated young female personalities to an evening of Cocktails and Conversations. The invite only A-list party took place on the Eve of Women’s Day at the Talent Africa’s Rooftop Terrace and Studios in Kololo. After a welcome cocktail there was a dialogue under the theme “How influential are women in shaping society?”. A mixed rotating panel moderated by the host, Sylvia Wilson Allibhai, spoke about  range of topics pertaining today’s modern woman. Sylvia is the Former Miss Uganda 2011 who is married to Talent Africa CEO Aly Allibhai. She is a mother, professional model, social activist and an entrepreneur. The event celebrated women who are paving a way for the next generation of women aspiring to succeed & thrive in all kinds of disciplines. 

Notable personalities like Manuela Mulondo, Deedan Muyira, Brenda Nanyonjo, Anita Beryl, Eleanor Nabwiso, Nana Kagga, Cleopatra Koheirwe, Tinah Teise, Mwaj Ahmed, Flirsh Flavia, Peace Menya, Bettinah Tianah, DJ Vee, Michelle Omamteker, Roz Merie Atim, Cathy Mbabazi, Mathilda Kigozi were in attendance. The night also featured celebrity appearances by Big Tril, Navio, The Mith and Beenie Gunter amongst others. The attendees were also treated to a tour of the brand new Talent Africa Group Studios aka TAG Studios where they recorded empowering messages to commemorate women’s day. TAG studios is Kampala’s latest state of the art audio, video and digital content company.

The post Sylvia Wilson Allibhai hosts party Celebrating Ugandan Women Paving Equality  appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Iry Tina is a Burundian beauty who has made her name for her beauty aftrr being crowned miss planet. While one would think that was her climax, the beauty has sought to add on mkre glory by using her already blosommed fame to venture into music. Real name Irene Laura Uwimana, Iry Tina has hit studio to exploit her singing talent as well.

Iry Tina is a talented female Singer, Super Model, Actress, and Businesswoman and beauty queen, Iryn Tina the Miss Planet Burundi 2019 has revealed she is not yet ready to rest as she is ready to conquer the scene through the use of her voice.

Having participated in Miss Friendship International World Final pageant the same year, the Burundi born and raised Tina is currently pursuing her musical career in Uganda.

Previous, she has done songs like, Mida Ya Love, Always On My Mind, Emergency (feat. Barbi Jay), Switch (feat. Nutty Neithan), Femme Africaine, Uko Wangu, Nsisitira, among others.

The post Burundi’s Miss Planet Iry Tina aggressively pursues music, goes to studio appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Ntambi Jimsal

Ugandans have thirst of seeing their artistes performing in different parts of the world at the same time being nominated in bigger awards but what is keeping their artists behind?

Yes I believe we have good talent here and our artists with their art can make it to the top . Not only Musicians but even Comedians. We have seen artists like Eddy Kenzo , Annie Kansiime and Salvador trying to push to the next level. Recently we had Big Trial , his Parte Parte moved around high rate speed at continental level but still we are not satisfied.

Now my Question is , Which artists can we push to continental level in case there is a chance of doing this ?

I myself have been going through social media research and I have realized one thing. Our artists can make it bigger but we are all stagnant somewhere somehow and this has kept our industry behind.

At this moment Swangz Avenue, Eddy Kenzo have all connections that we can use to push Ugandan brands but no one among the above mentioned is willing to share the contacts with their fellow artists. This is being selfish and it’s the reason why we are still struggling.

People like Bushingtone , Douglas Lwanga and James Propa that can help our artists to push their music to bigger platforms have been kind disappointed by our beloved artists and I think they fear to get disappointed again yet they have all qualifications that we need or artists are looking for.

We have bigger media platforms here that are watched but artists have not utilized and supported them well . We need to prioritize our very own , we should put tour television and radio stations as our priories before Trace , BET and MTV base . The above mentioned television targeted West and South African Countries because those countries have numbers . However we should not fully ignore them .

We need to creat a strong art Unit . Hire intelligent people , I mean the stakeholders of the industry and we give them a task with the target.

Let us also try to use Digital platforms, the likes of Tidal , Apple Music , ITunes among other platforms before even thinking on the way of benefiting from them . We need the numbers first not the money .

We also need a serious strong Record labels . our artists should accept to be managed and advised too . It’s easy for record a label to look for companies that can help artists to fund their music than individuals. Nigerians have them , the likes of Mavin Records what else ?

These companies can be used to uplift out industry, Music Companies like Content Connect Africa have been trying much to push our artists here Radio & Weasle ,Eddy Kenzo , King Saha are one of the benefits but I don’t know what went wrong . Anyway we shall add on in our next content.

The post Why most Ugandan artists have failed To make it to Continental Levels? appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Comedy store is a platform that further shines talent, bith comedians and artistes. Thursday night was no exception as four of the country’s celebrated artistes exhibited at UMA. All King Saha, Feffe Bussi, Karo Kasita and Swangz avenue new kid on the block Azawi performed to the crowd.

Alex Muhangi the comedy store proprietor once again thanked the audience for always turning up and also announced his country wide comedy store tour which starts in Eatern Uganda this month.

Some moments from the show

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Salvado delivers a talk about self-startups and managing finances at YMCA.

By Our Reporter

Comedian Patrick “Salvado” Idringi has tipped University students on  entrepreneurship and managing personal finances. This after he was invited by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to speak at Nkumba University and YMCA during the NSSF Career Expo 2020.

Salvado was invited to give a talk about self-startups, how to manage finance by young people and common mistakes made by young in handling their finance.

YMCA students who did not hide their excitement upon seeing the seasoned comedian flooded the venue and before the lecture had started, they were begging for selfies with the comedian.

Salvado who is a Makerere graduate of Telecom Engineering started off the lecture with his story of how started his career as an Engineer in one of the biggest Telecom companies and ended up on stage as a stand-up comedian.

He resigned from his office job for comedy in 2010. He kick started his comedy career by auditioning for the Multichoice Stand-up comedy competitions where he emerged second, winning US$5000.

“I realized that I was doing serious things but getting unserious money but now I am doing unserious things but getting serious money,” Salvado said.

The father of two told the students that they should not be stuck to what they learnt in class because the society outside school is different and needs people with open minds, who can adjust to different the changing environment.

He added that most of the Uganda have failed to attempt to start any business because when they only see starting capital in terms of cash, mentioning that there is a lot of untapped human or social capital that is capable of starting and maintaining any business in the world.

Of course, comedy was his best way of delivering his lectures as he tried to emphasize the relevance of technology in searching for knowledge when he jokingly said that even you want to become the best night dancer in town , you can go to YouTube and get the most recent information.

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Vinka in studio with E Kelly.

By Our Reporter

Musician Vinka who signed to Sony Music last year is working on her first big project under the label, we have learnt.

Sources have intimated to us that the “Chips na Ketchup” hitmaker is working on a new music album.

We have further learned the label  has enlisted some of the best music producers on the continent for the project.

Vinka will be working with top producers  including Mr Eazi’s producer, E Kelly as well Diamond Platnumz producer Lizer.

This will be Vinka’s second studio album.

The post Vinka enlists Mr Eazi’s Producer for new album appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Mutebi Norman aka Phillip Ganja is a prominent film director, Producer, Actor, Comedian and studied Drama while in Uganda.

Born to Eddy Ganja, a Ugandan music legend, Soloist and vocalist with the Afrigo band with his six siblings. Nana, William, Vicky,Morgan, Colline and Milva.

 I was one of the best student in my drama school during that time and by then he managed to get a scholarship in high school, then after joined one of the best drama groups in Uganda the Bakayimbira Dramactors who featured in the film hotel Rwanda, i then later travelled to South Africa to promote my acting career.

Together with his brother, Norman, they started a music and films Production company under their father’s name “Ganja” music production to basically help upgrade talent.

 The two brothers have worked with some of the top South African Kwaito artists including Arthur Mafokate, the late Zombo, Purity and Penny Penny the Shangani music star.

 Their Film Company has produced movies like “welcome to south Africa” which sold up to 2 million copies in Uganda and 5000 copies in South Africa on the day of its release. They also produced “Buladina”, a tribute film about the life of fallen star Paulo Kafeero..

 In 2004, he opened a music company called GM Production which dealt in music events and actors after which he later started another company called Celeb Entertainment  which traded  in Celeb Movies in South Africa.

‘I produced a movie called Welcome to South Africa 1 and 2 which was later signed by Next Movies Company also in South Africa’.

 The movie was also recognized as the most selling Ugandan Movie ever on the market before I produced Bradina (1 and 2) and in both Movies am the main character and Producer. Adds Ganja.

 Am very flexible with any role that am assigned to play or act that’s why in the said movies above I managed to act as a traditional doctor and a farmer respectively.

 My current production is a Comedy/ drama piece called ‘The Bachelors’ and am also into charity activities with my ‘Streets Of Africa’ Program where I give back to the poor.

Besides films and commercials, I mostly spend my other time dealing in car spare parts as well as estate and properties.

The post Meet Phillip Ganja a Ugandan film actor and comedian based in South Africa appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Security personnel last night stormed General Tumukunde’s home in kololo and arrested his two sons, a reliable source has told this website. The two sons Phillip Tumukunde and Amanya Nduhura Tumukunde were arrested at around 10:45pm last night and detained at different Police station.

It is said that after the arrest of their father on Thursday night, the sons were also picked from home by Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force and were taken for further search. According to our source, like how General Tumukunde’s arrested still remain unknown to the general public, his sons arrest for further search also remains unclear.

General Tumukunde who was arrested with a total of 16 other people are said to not have been attended to by their lawyers and the dates for them to appear in court are yet to be disclosed. General Tumukunde last week joined the number of candidates ready to vie for the Presidential seat next year as he declared his bid for Presidency.

The post Why General Tumukunde’s sons were arrested last night appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Ntambi Jimsal

It is now Five years since the super talented Young dancehall artist one Emmertone Mayanja Also Famously known as Akay 47 Died .

Ugandans especially His fans and Friends still question the family, Team No Sleep boss Jeff Kiwa and Police what really took their star but up to now they haven’t received any reply from the above mentioned parties.

It should be noted that Akay 47 died from Nsambya Hospital after getting unknown attack at Team No Sleep Bar and club known as Deejavu in Kansanga which is currently rebranded as Dons club .

According to the allegations, they were some people at this Bar who were chilling with Akay 47 in this bar and one of the names mentioned is Mumbere who disappeared after the death of this youngster and rumours had it that up to now the guy is hiding in Kasese at the Border of Congo in the place known as Bwera.

This brings many questions to us , Why Mumbere who was a bouncer and at the same time a cleaner at Deejavu disappeared after Akay47 ‘s incident?

Why was he not arrested? And so many other factors .

Akay 47 got his breakthrough song Champion in 2011, he continued to release other hit songs like , Yono, Kaleba , Moving Star , Nalongo wange , Tukikolemu and he died after releasing his first gospel song dubbed as Ndimulokole .

Ugandans miss this talented boy and they really need to know what exactly killed their star.

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