By Reporter

Equity Group has returned strong quarter one results in a challenging environment amidst the multi-faceted Covid-19 crisis of health, economic disruption, and humanitarian challenges, giving hope of resilience and recovery.

“Our strategy; purpose-first, inclusivity, affordability, reach, agility and quality have proven resilient and sustainable” said Dr. James Mwangi, the Equity Group CEO while releasing the first quarter of 2021 financial results.

During the multi-crisis year, Equity focused on social impact investment in health investing Kshs.1.7 billion in social response to society, forgoing Kshs.1.5 billion in waived mobile transaction fees, waiving Kshs.1.2 billion in loan rescheduling fees and accommodating Kshs.171 billon (or 31%) of the loan book for up to 3 years of principal and interest repayment breaks to enable businesses to survive. “We kept the lights of the economies we operate in on, supported businesses to repurpose, retool and recover by supporting livelihoods of our customers during the crisis”, said Dr. Mwangi.

He added, “We have adopted a two-pronged strategy of being offensive and defensive. We strengthened our capital buffers by retaining profits and withholding dividend payouts, took long-term loan facilities that strengthened our liquidity buffers, supported host communities and our clients to mitigate the impact of the crisis on them by waiving fees and rescheduling their loans to match loan repayments to new cashflow patterns. Internally, we focused on risk mitigation and management in a challenging environment, enhanced our NPL coverage through provisions and sought collaboration with development financial institutions on credit and risk sharing guarantees. We evolved our organization structure through strong governance focus on risk management, diversity of skills and competencies to enhance our succession planning and mitigation of key person risks.”

Operationally, the Group focused on generating and growing non-funded income, treasury efficiency, geographical expansion and business diversification, business transformation through innovation and digitization, balance sheet optimization and agility, asset quality and risk mitigation while pursuing efficiencies and brand development through social impact investment underscoring the performance of the Group.

Interest income grew by 32% while non-funded income grew by 30% to contribute 42% of total income. Regional subsidiaries registered resilience and robust growth to contribute 40% of total deposits and total assets and 23% of profit before tax with Rwanda and Uganda delivering above cost of capital returns.

“Evolving economic, social, political governance reforms and environment have strengthened prospects for long-term sustained regional growth and investment, This coupled with development of physical and soft infrastructure enhance opportunities for private sector credit growth and productivity gains from cross border trade,” said Dr. Mwangi.

The Group registered a balance sheet expansion of 54% to reach Kshs.1.07 trillion driven by a 58% growth in customer deposits underpinned by Kshs.140 billion shareholders’ funds. A liquid balance sheet with Kshs.500 billion of cash, cash equivalents and government securities reflect the agility to redeploy funding seamlessly as the economies recover from the adverse impact of the Covid-19 multi-crisis.

The Group took advantage of consumers’ lifestyle changes that acted as a tailwind to human adoption of technology resulting into change in consumer lives and behavior. The Group changed its strategy to adopt to the changing environment and executed a rapid business transformation that saw 98% of all transactions being digital in count, and 65% of volume by value. “Over the last one year, we have witnessed firsthand as our customers adopted our mobile and internet technology channels on self-service devices making our financial services offering truly a 24-hour service and lifestyle,” said Dr. Mwangi.

“The business has seized the moment and fast-tracked transformation by investing and deploying fintech capabilities of biodata, artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and algorithms to support customer personalized product and services, offering wide lifestyle capabilities and global reach and presence,” added Dr. Mwangi.

Strong focus on asset quality saw the Group develop an investment portfolio mix that resulted in a market and sectoral diversification across currencies and different geographies. The Group reported a non-performing loan book of 11.3% compared to the industry average of 14.6%. Strong risk mitigation saw NPL coverage stand at 99% from a mix of provisions at 87% and 12% of credit risk guarantees.

Of the 31% of the loan book, or Kshs.171 billion Covid-19 accommodated or rescheduled loan book, Kshs.59 billion has resumed repayment with Kshs. 5 billion fully repaid and Kshs.3 billion behind schedule in repayment. Kshs.66 billion is expected to resume repayment within 6 months by 30th September 2021.

On efficiency and cost optimization, the regional subsidiaries continue to gain momentum with marked improvement in cost to asset ratio and cost to income ratio and significant balance sheet and revenue growth.

The Group’s brand popularity is soaring in trust on account of our social engagement through our purpose-first strategy of shared prosperity evidenced by Wings to Fly and Elimu scholarships, Equity Afia health services, environmental protection through tree planting and clean energy product offering, empowering wealth creation through financial literacy and entrepreneurship development services and social safety net programmes.

Boosted by market leadership position in terms of balance sheet; market capitalization; customer base; capital base; and reinforced by the accelerated adoption of technologies by customers, a society seeking multi-sensory engagement, shared prosperity, purpose-first business models, the Group has reviewed its 2021 performance outlook upward to a return on equity of between 25% to 30% and return on assets of between 3.6% to 4.3% in an environment predicted by the World Bank and IMF to recover quickly.

The experience over the last 3 years of adoption of IFRS9 and riding the tide of Covid-19 multi crisis has brought forth the strength of the Group’s strong risk management culture of boldness, decisiveness and prudence. On account of the differentiated management decisions last year, the Group has emerged resilient with a strong foundation that gives hope and confidence of strong future performance as reflected by strong top line revenue growth.

From the lessons of the disruption of its previously unbroken track record of paying out dividend since its listing in the stock exchange, the Group formulated a capital allocation, value creation and distribution policy that guarantees a dividend payout of between 30% to 50% of the Group’s profit after tax and institutionalized the policy by the creation of an executive position in charge of capital allocation and value creation.

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MTN’s Joseph Bogera hands over a cheque to His Grace, Bishop Serverus Jjumba to support the Martyrs Day preparations.

By Our Reporter

MTN Uganda has announced its partnership with the Masaka Catholic Diocese ahead of the upcoming Martyrs Day celebrations on the 3rd of June.

This year’s celebrations shall be led by the Masaka Diocese, having been cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that made it impossible for the Catholic church to organize the event that brings together close to a million people every year.

On Wednesday, the telco handed over a cheque of UGX 20 Million to Masaka as a contribution to help the diocese in its preparations for the upcoming celebrations.

While announcing the partnership, Joseph Bogera the MTN Uganda General Manager, Sales and Distribution said that MTN will ensure that all the people who might not be able to physically be part of the activities leading up to and the main celebrations at Namugongo are able to follow the proceedings on Bukedde TV.

“We have supported our Christian brothers and sisters over the years and this year is not any different. However, considering that this year’s celebrations are happening amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the pilgrims may not be able to attend the celebrations physically. As MTN, we have pledged our resources to support them follow the Martyrs day celebrations digitally,” Bogera said.

The Masaka Diocese Bishop, Serverus Jjumba thanked MTN Uganda for its continued support towards the church.

“We are honored that by the Grace of God, you have come all the way to support and stand with us as we commemorate this very important day on the Christian calendar. We also find great comfort in the fact that you will support the church in carrying the message and spirt of the celebrations to our brothers and sisters who might not attend the celebrations physically. I pray that God continues to give you the grace to be your brothers keepers,” said Bishop Jjumba who also recited a prayer of blessing upon the company.

Bishop Jjumba encouraged the pilgrims from Masaka and across the country, to maintain the SOPs as the country continues to navigate the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

The Uganda Martyrs Day that is observed every 3rd of June, commemorates the 45 martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga II, then King of Buganda between 1885 and 1887.

This year marks 57 years since the Uganda Martyrs were canonized and elevated to sainthood by Pope Paul VI on 18 October 1964.

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Airtel Uganda Managing Director Manoj Murali addresses media during the Airtel Uganda 2020 and Future Performance Media Round Table that was held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday.

By Our Reporter

Bank of Uganda has granted Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda Limited two payment services licenses which include; Payment Service Provider (Class A) License, and the Payment Systems Operator License (Electronic Money Systems).

This follows enactment of the National Payment Systems (NPS) Act, 2020 in September 2020 and the gazetting of the NPS Regulations on 5th March, 2021. This means Airtel Mobile Commerce will now conduct all Airtel Money services in Uganda while Airtel Uganda focuses on providing voice and data services to its customers.

The licenses were issued in line with Section 9 of the NPS Act, 2020 and Regulation 3 of the NPS Regulations. Airtel Mobile Commerce Uganda is a fully owned subsidiary of Airtel Africa plc.

Mr. Manoj Murali, Managing Director Airtel Uganda confirmed the news to journalists during a media roundtable on Wednesday at Kampala Serena Hotel.

“We now have been issued with licenses under the National Payment Systems Act by Bank of Uganda,” Mr Manoj said.

During the event, Mr. Manoj commended the media in Uganda for promoting the growth of the telecommunications industry and urged them to continue playing the vital role in empowering customers with the right kind of information that allows them make informed decisions.

Airtel Uganda is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa Plc. According to the Airtel Africa Plc financial results for the year ended 31st March 2021, Airtel Africa continues to post strong revenue growth, increased profitability and cash flow.

Airtel Africa’s financial performance for the year has been strong, with reported growth of 13.6% to $3,888 million in underlying revenue while underlying EBITDA grew by 18.3% to $1, 792 million.

“Our customer base grew by 6.9% to 118.2 million, with increased penetration across mobile data (customer base up 14.5%) and mobile money services (customer base up 18.5%),” the report reads in part.

The combination of bringing connectivity to underpenetrated mobile markets and improving financial inclusion through banking the unbanked, across Airtel territories of operation, together provide Airtel with a sizeable runway of sustainable profitable growth potential, and one it remains very confident of delivering.

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By Our Reporter 

Ride-hailing app SafeBoda, in partnership with the Ministry of Health – Uganda and Kampala Capital City Authority, will run a free COVID-19 vaccination drive for its SafeBoda Drivers and employees at the SafeBoda Academy in Kyebando, from Wednesday 26th May 2021 to Friday 28th 2021.

The drive is a continuation of SafeBoda’s commitment to its value proposition of safety to its community of drivers, employees and customers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first vaccination drive will prioritize SafeBoda drivers aged 50 and above, their spouses, and company employees categorized as a high risk given the nature of their job. SafeBoda drivers below the age of 50 years but with pre-existing conditions will also be eligible for the vaccine.

“We are proud to provide this opportunity for all our drivers in the SafeBoda community aged 50 to get the COVID-19 vaccine and are working hard to support efforts to curb the spread of this virus,” says Ricky Thomson Rapa, SafeBoda Uganda Co-Founder, and Director.

He adds that, “Even with more and more people getting vaccinated, we hope our SafeBoda drivers take advantage of the available resources to make their health a priority by continuing to test for COVID-19 as the virus still exists in our community.”

Since the pandemic outbreak in the country, SafeBoda has continuously supported Uganda’s efforts to combat COVID-19. It has been an active member of the National COVID-19 Taskforce, working with the Ministry of Health, KCCA, Ministry of Works and Transport, and key private sector leaders to support the efforts to combat the pandemic.

In August of 2020, SafeBoda provided free hand sanitizers to all SafeBoda drivers in partnership with Prosan sanitizer to ensure both driver and rider safety from the virus. This was in addition to a series of sensitization campaigns on COVID-19 SOPs across the SafeBoda driver community.

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By Our Reporter

MTN Uganda, in partnership with BBS Terefayina, has launched a bicycle racing competition amongst the 18 counties (Masaza) of Buganda. The launch took place at the Buganda Kingdom administrative headquarters in Bulange Gardens, Mengo, Kampala on Thursday.

Dubbed “Kengere ya BBS ne MTN”, the challenge is expected to revive cycling as a competitive sport in the kingdom and return the consequent social benefits to the people in Buganda.

Bicycling commonly known as Obugaali is a social event that was enjoyed in Buganda for many years. In the past, the kingdom organized bicycle races across counties; and following a lull, a Buganda Cycling Committee was launched last November to revive the sport in Buganda.

Following the partnership, BBS Terefayina agreed terms with event organizers Kibo Media, to organize the maiden Obugaali bicycle challenge under the name “Kengere ya BBS ne MTN” scheduled to take place on the 19th and 20th June 2021 in Buddu, Masaka.

Representation from all the 18 counties of Buganda will be mobilized and transported to Buddu where the challenge will take place. Each county (Masaza) team will comprise of 4 men, 2 women, 1 mechanic and the team manager. These teams have been selected by the cycling committee in consultation with the respective county sports committees, from the various local competitions they organize.

While launching the bicycle challenge, the General Manager, Sales & Distribution, Mr. Joseph Bogera, MTN Uganda, said that MTN is proud to be part of the revival of this sport in Uganda.

“As MTN, we are strongly grounded in the belief that we are good together. We only succeed if the communities in which we operate succeed. Being a partner in development also means that we have a responsibility to support the social economic opportunities in our communities like this we’re partnering on with BBS Terefayina as they celebrate 5 years of existence,” said Mr. Bogera.

Besides being a socially entertaining sport, cycling confers unique health benefits like improved strength, balance, and coordination, making it a great sport.

The Chairman of the Board of BBS Terefayina, Omukungu Fabian Kasi thanked MTN for reviving this loved sport in the Kingdom and for recognizing the value BBS Terefayina brings to the socio-economic development of Buganda and Uganda in particular.

“Bicycle racing used to be a major feature on Buganda’s social calendar. It is a sport that united our people. We are happy that once again, we shall be able to bring together all the 18 counties of Buganda and revive a healthy experience in the kingdom,” said Omukungu Fabian Kasi.

The rules and regulations governing the Kengere ya BBS ne MTN bicycle challenge, will be released ahead of the event next month.

The post Buganda bicycle racing competition launched appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

As the Covid aftershocks continue to pinch the entertainment industry, the issue of the government stimulus funds to the sector continues to spark controversy among artistes, the latest to voice his concerns being Alex Muhangi.

The Comedy Store Uganda proprietor is bitter that his business which has been a source of livelihood for many people – comedians, musicians and hundreds of service providers – has not been considered for the stimulus funds.

On Thursday, Muhangi posted on Facebook expressing anger that some people who claim to be events promoters shared the funds amounting to Shs 6.5bn amongst themselves. He did not mention names of who these people are.

“We hear a small section of people got this money (Shs 6.5bn) and shared it amongst themselves. Who are these people? None of the so-called Promoters who decide for us has a weekly nor a monthly event,” Muhangi’s post read.

He argued that Comedy Store as a business should have benefitted from the stimulus package since it was a source of livelihood for not only artists (comedians & musicians) but also other service providers, who were guaranteed income every week.

“The platform suffered losses from a cancelled upcountry tour which was due to begin when Covid struck. We had already spent significantly on marketing. All the requisite paperwork to support this was handed in to the authorities last year…. The show also incurred financial loss as we had booked artists from Wasafi (TZ) that were slated to perform in July of 2020,” Muhangi adds.

In addition, he pointed out the losses that his show and performers endured due to the travel restrictions brought about by Covid. Every year, Muhangi hosts the UNAA Convention in the U.S. as well as the UK Convention in the UK. Usually, it’s Comedy Store that books the comedians and musicians that perform on these shows.

Muhangi who has been running Comedy Store for 5 years says “as a business, we remit to URA monthly returns and there is evidence to back this up” and that this should qualify his business for the stimulus.

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By Reporter

Socialites have come and gone. Tycoons have littered the streets of Kampala with money, and disappeared as soon as they are known. And yet socialite Williams Bugeme alias Boss Mutoto has stood the test of time. He has established himself in Uganda as a timeless socialite. He has kept the cool without necessarily flaunting his money. The trick? He never tries so hard. But once in a while, something happens that reminds Ugandans of the big shot that he is.

And more recently, it has been how he and two friends flew out of the country on a private jet to attend a meeting. Of course the media didn’t jump onto it. Because they know that a private jet is a normal thing for Bugeme.

News reaching our desk has it that Williams Bugeme flew out of the country with friends and business partners Allan and Desh. Though it is not known where they were flying to, and why, rumor has it that the trio was flying to a business meeting with a Tanzanian government big wig.

Williams Bugeme also recently opened up a saloon that he named Boss Mutoto Saloon, his franchise name. The socialite also has a bar named Chezz Boss Mutoto in Bunga that has caught the eyes of many for its simplicity in elegance.

That he got onto a private jet to attend a business meeting is not as big a story as his journey from grass to grace. And yet it seems he is still growing, and it is too early to tell the rest of his story.We can only watch from a distance and wish him well.

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By Our Reporter

In commemoration of World Environment Day, Uganda Breweries Limited Staff in partnership with the Ministry of Water & Environment and Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU), have planted 5000 trees in Nakaseke District.

World Environment Day is commemorated on June 5th every year. This activity is also part of the initiatives to support the Running out of Trees Campaign.

In 2020, the Ministry of Water and Environment launched a National Tree Planting Campaign Running out of Trees (ROOT) to engage local stakeholders in both the public and private sector in making a contribution towards attaining national restoration goals. This year, the Ministry supported by Uganda Breweries Limited aims to plant over 40 Million trees.

Uganda Breweries Limited, on top of this 5000-tree planting initiative has already contributed 330 Million shillings to this initiative which is the equivalent of growing and maintaining 2,200,000(Two Million Two Hundred thousand) Trees.

Speaking at the Tree Planting activity, David Onyango, the Head of Communications & Sustainability, Uganda Breweries Limited emphasized the need to create good relations with our environment so as to fight the negative effects brought about by mismanagement of the ecosystem.

“Uganda’s catchment Areas are vital in providing livelihoods to millions of Ugandans through activities like fishing, trade and providing fresh water. It therefore has become a necessity for Uganda Breweries every couple of years to recommit to tree planting activities in these areas in order to continue to support communities that depend on the lake for their daily bread. We strongly believe that for effective environmental management, improving the livelihoods of people is the first step in the right direction to sustainable growth,” said David Onyango.

Tree Adoption Uganda came on board the Running out of Trees Campaign this year to ease ease monitoring, maintenance, transparency and most importantly accountability of the project and to ensure that the planted trees mature to full capacity.

The Running out of Trees campaign is a 5-year initiative that will run until 2025. This will see a total of 200 million trees be planted across Uganda. It is anchored around private sector joining development partners in supplementing government efforts on the conservation and protection of mainly indigenous tree species that are being lost to different human activities, resulting to an estimated 15million tons of carbon that would have adverse effects on our climate and wellbeing.

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By Our Reporter

Vivo Energy Uganda has announced a partnership with Unilever Uganda to promote safety across all Shell service stations for both staff and customers.

The campaign named ‘Clean and Safe’ will involve deep cleaning and thorough disinfection of frequently accessed facilities at all Shell service stations across the country.

“We are grateful for this support and partnership from Unilever through which we will receive hygiene supplies worth UGX10 million. Your health and safety whenever you visit us at Shell is our utmost priority. This partnership strengthens our hygiene protocols to ensure the health and safety of everyone who comes to Shell,” said Gilbert Assi, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda.

The Country Director, Unilever Uganda Limited, Joanita Mukasa Menya noted that partnerships such as these are needed now more than ever especially as the world is going through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The current pandemic has brought to the forefront the urgent need to prioritise sanitation and hygiene and the role that this can play in tackling preventable infections. I applaud Vivo Energy Uganda for their focus on health and safety of both customers and staff at Shell,” she said.

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By Our Reporter 

Known for its prestigious golf display and its luminous 19th hole fanfare, the Singleton Challenge was at it again as golfers kicked off Round One of this year’s tourney on Saturday at the Entebbe Club.

The day started off with grueling action-packed tee-offs on the green, as 62 pairs fought to stay afloat in the challenge and make it to the next round.

From the course, the golfers transformed into Old school hip-hop stars, clad in 80s’ and 90s’ themed attires, wigs; and anything to match the Oldies themed 19th Hole Experience.

Given the COVID-19 restrictions, the 19th hole experience was limited to golfers and only lasted within the stipulated curfew time.

Nevertheless, the evening that was hosted by teacher turned comedian Daniel Omara, was a bevy of fun, as his witty jokes and comedic remarks cracked up the golfers every time he took the stage.

Speaking at the event, Singleton Brand Manager, Paul Rwandekeye congratulated those that braved the gruelling course and sealed their spot in Round Two of the tourney.

“I want to say congratulations to those that have made it to Round Two, I know it hasn’t been easy, the green is always tough, but the 19th hole is always Singleton so why not toast to a great night ahead,” said Paul.

The 32 pairs that made it to round three will tussle it out on the green come June in a continued bid for the Championship.

The Challenge is a four ball – better ball format that is played within the course of seven months at the 71 par Entebbe Club with the finale slated for November 2021.

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By Reporter

The Gamers Empire on June 5, 2021 will officially launch and for the first time, Kampala will be introduced to such a futuristic gaming Arena.

Boasting of first-ever 9D gaming assets in Kampala, Gamers Empire will be the new gaming haven where fanatics of Virtual Reality, Predator Machines and 9D gaming will converge to enjoy the ultimate best that gaming technology has to offer. The state of the art arena is fully attended to by expert gaming guides who will give you a few tips and make sure that all your gaming needs are satisfied.

Gamers empire will also hold the biggest gaming tournaments in the country, seasonal competitions and award winners, to promote the gaming culture in Uganda.

“Here at Gamers Empire we have games and consoles for people of all ages. We believe that no one is too young or too old to enjoy video games,” said Brian Lister Kansiime the marketing manager.

Unlike before when gaming centers were an instant hit and Customers would pay as low as 500shs for 10 minutes of FIFA, PES or Mortal Kombat among other tech-led video games and they would enjoy every cent of their money.That culture had slowly started fading away as people started buying their own gaming consoles to enjoy from the comfort of their homes or hostel rooms. This the game changer.

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By Our Reporter

The Bottomless Brunch held at Le Chateau restaurant in Nsambya on Sunday was an ‘all-you-can-eat’ affair, giving Kampala’s foodies a flavorsome experience.

The event was well attended by a host of Kampala’s foodies and fine dining lovers. It ran on from midday till kitchen closing time at 4:00pm.

Guests were treated to a banquet fit for Kings and Queens with DJ Slim Lion
playing hit songs that left many merrymakers beaming in bliss over their meals and company.

“The Sunday brunch days are the perfect escape from the normal routine days we have throughout the week and to top it all, nothing beats a relaxing chill like a nicely blended Tanqueray Gin and Tonic and a fine meal,” said Annette Nakiyaga, International Spirits Manager, UBL.

The Bottomless Sunday Brunches, sponsored by Tanqueray, are an intimate favorite hangout spot for elite members of Kampala’s social scene pulling guests like Helen Lukoma, and Anita Fabiola amongst many others.

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By Reporter

Menstrual Hygiene day, a global platform that brings together voices and actions of nonprofit organisations, government agencies, individuals and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene.

Friday last week was a day for the whole world to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene day and Shyaka Lwanyaaga Farid the Founder of Wellbeing Foundation, an organization that advocates for Menstrual Rights and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights held a Menstrual themed fashion show. The fashion show dubbed Menstrual Shebang Fashion show was held at MoTIV located on Old Portbell road.

With the whole event production handled by Joram Muzira of JMM, the event that was hosted by Malaika Nyanzi started on a low with a panel discussing Menstrual Health and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights before taking it to the run way.

The models who were mixed gender showcased outfits from different fashion designers like Yasmin Kalungi of Yasmin K, Claire Asiimwe and Kirabo of Bantu Fashion, Aliad Hadija of Aliad Zoe, Margarete Namutebi of Rays Design, Jamila Brown of JB, Shurea Yasmin of House of Shurea Fashion and Musema Robert of Musema Culture.

Before modeling for the guests who were already waiting to cheer them up, the models all had their hair done by Hair by Zziwa whose employees were also seen backstage to make sure the models not only look great in the outfits but also the hair.

According to Robert Musema one of the designers of the evening, his collection was about menstrual periods which is a normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of the woman’s monthly cycle and it had most of his outfits having a touch of red to represent blood. Another designer Aliad Zoe says the designs of her collection was inspired by the shape of tampons. Tampons is a plug of soft material inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood.

Lwanyaaga the organizer of the event said that the inspiration of the show is to fight for equal enjoyment of participation in day to day life and rights. Lwanyaga believes that menstruators are most of the times affected by beliefs and myths connected to religious and cultural meaning which makes them feel worthless.

The event that observed S.O.Ps from sitting arrangement to wearing masks and sanitizing started at 4pm and ended at 8:30pm giving the revelers time to beat the curfew time that was imposed by the Ministry of Health to fight the spread of Covid.

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By BigEyeUg Team

After the popular ‘Sango’ song featuring BET award winner, Eddy Kenzo, versatile singer Martha Mukisa is yet again proving her worth in Uganda’s entertainment industry with a new banger dubbed ‘Tebatukyawa’.

Earlier last month, Martha Mukisa via her record label, Black Magic Entertainment announced on social media that fans should expect a project called ‘Tebatukyawa’.

Never did we know that it was an entire package of African amusement.

Last week, the highly anticipated song audio was released and accompanied it with an alluring music video yesterday.

We have listened to the song and seen the music video and here is our review.

The song:

‘Tebatukyawa’ is a love song that starts with a powerful Afro-beat track produced by Brian Beats (Beats House) and mastered by Ugandan born, British-based producer, Herbert Skillz.

Martha Mukisa seconds it with her new signature slogan in Luganda language that says, “Martha Mukisa Sisagga!”

She then delivers a seductive intro as she cries foul of love from her dream man.

The audio flaw:

The song has an upbeat tempo that almost implores the listener to dance. But I think this was probably done to make the song interesting and fascinating to the listeners while successfully passing its message.

Also, the catchphrase (Tebatukyawa) in the song is fine to elevate Martha’s inspiration behind the song.

The Music Video:

Directed by Elly V. Mugisa (Black Magic Films), it comprises of a breathtaking intro of Martha Mukisa in a romantic session with the main model.

The video was shot in one of the best hideouts with captivating sceneries.

The choreography was more than enough and you would never fail to grab at least one move especially from the bootylicious artist herself.

The costumes are just on point from the entire appearances in the video.

Tebatukyawa is her second project in 2021 following the hit song ‘Sango’.

Watch Tebatukyawa video by Martha Mukisa here;

We will keep you posted

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By BigEyeUg Team

Last weekend, Ugandan multi-genre female artist, Cinderella Sanyu and longtime boyfriend Prynce Joel Okuyo Atiku made impressive progress towards their matrimonial vows with a ‘Kukyala’ ceremony (maiden visit).

The humble maiden visit is said to have been held at Cindy’s parental home in Muyenga, Kampala.

According to the video Cindy shared on her social media platforms, the ceremony was only attended by relatives and a few close friends to the couple.

Cindy and Prynce Joel have dated for over 5years now.

It should be recalled in January 2020 after her maiden concert, Cindy was asked for a hand in marriage by Prynce Joel.

Months later she was reported pregnant though she nullified the reports and revealed that she would only think about having babies after her introduction ceremony.

Cindy has had such a rough journey in her love life as some of her ex-boyfriends include; Italian Mario Brunette with whom they got a daughter together, South Africa-based Ugandan businessman, Kenny Muyisa, fellow singer Byaxy, among others.

However, this time around self-proclaimed ‘King Herself’ has over time proved satisfied and not ready to let go of Prynce Joel.

Joel Okuyo Atiku Prynce, 37, is a Ugandan filmmaker, actor, model, photographer, and lecturer at Uganda Christian University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration (BSWSA) plus Makerere University.

See more photos from Cindy and Prynce Joel’s Kukyala;

Congratulations to Cindy and Prynce Joel!

The post Photos: Cindy Sanyu matches hubby Prynce Joel to a private Kukyala ceremony appeared first on BigEye.UG.

L-R: Mr. Edgar Byamah, the KCB Bank Uganda Managing Director; Mr. Manoj Murali, the Airtel Uganda Managing Director; Mr. Mackay Aomu, the Bank of Uganda Director National Payments and Settlements; and Mr. Amit Kapur, the Airtel Uganda Chief Commercial Officer during the official launch of the partnership at Kampala Serena Hotel.

By Our Reporter

Airtel Uganda has partnered with KCB Bank Uganda to roll out new mobile financial solutions for customers on their Airtel Money platform. They include; Instant Unsecured Mobile Loans, Regular Savings and Fixed Deposit Savings Accounts that enables customers borrow mobile loans for as low as shs300 and earn interest on savings for as high 9%, respectively.

In his remarks at the launch, Airtel Uganda Managing Director, Manoj Murali said, “We are confident that our partnership with KCB Bank Uganda to deliver affordable, safe and secure financial services that will improve the lives of Ugandans who use our services, and subsequently ensure our mandate of driving financial inclusion in Uganda.”

He observed that there has been a year-on-year surge in the use of both feature and smart mobile phones in Uganda which has led to an increase in the number of people that rely on mobile money services whether for business or sending money to their loved ones. “Today, the mobile phone is more than just a tool for communication. It is a source of information and a one-stop center for financial services.” Manoj added.

According to the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) Q4 Market Report of 2020, Uganda registered commendable growth in new mobile money accounts with 2.6 million new accounts registered between January and December.

In the Quarter ending December 2020, the total active mobile money accounts stood at 22.5 million up from 20.9 million in the first quarter.

On the business side, the number of active mobile agents had grown to 235,790 from 227,736 in September. For the first time ever, the number of mobile money transactions crossed the 1 billion transactions mark.

Edgar Byamah, Managing Director, KCB Bank Uganda, noted that, “As a bank, our commitment is to enable our customers to Go Ahead by leading in innovation and technology-driven banking services delivered through alternative banking platforms, real-time banking options and cashless transactions. We strongly believe this is now the ideal approach to deepen financial inclusion as well as reach the unbanked population in Uganda and the rest of Africa.”

Speaking at the same press briefing, Michael Ssekyondwa, Head of Retail Banking, KCB Bank Uganda explained that the partnership will provide quick access to Airtel Money float financing and encourage everyone to save in a convenient manner.

“The first product is Instant Unsecured Mobile Loans which is revolving credit for Airtel Money agents. These will be able to borrow up to Ugx. 250,000, for a period of 48 hours, at a fee of only Ugx. 300,” Michael Ssekyondwa explained. “With the second product: Regular Savings Account, customers will now be able to save using Airtel Money. No account setup fees, no minimum balance is required, there are no charges on deposits and withdrawals. Savings can start from as low as Ugx. 500 at an interest of 5% per annum.”

“The third product is the Fixed Savings Account which will enable Airtel Money customers conveniently make deposits from Ugx. 250,000 upwards. The customer can commit to 3, 6 and 12 months’ investment period and earn 8%, 8.5% and 9% respectively. No deposit and withdrawal fees are charged. The fixed deposit savings account will be made available to the public in the coming days.” Ssekyondwa concluded.

To start saving with Airtel Money, customers will have to dial *185*7# and follow prompts.

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By Staff Writer

Premium smartphone brand TECNO today announced the renewal of its partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support UNHCR’s global program in primary education, Educate A Child (EAC). The partnership aims to support the improvement of refugee children’s education in Africa, ensuring refugee children’s right to education and ultimately contribute to equal access to education for all.

Vivian Tan, UNHCR Representative ad interim in China (left © UNHCR) and Stephen Ha, General Manager of TECNO (right © TECNO), signed the partnership agreement.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the learning conditions of refugee children, causing school closures in Africa over the school year. By contributing financially to the EAC program, TECNO’s support has benefited children in Kenya’s Dadaab camp by providing them with textbooks and school kits. In addition, TECNO donated tablets to support continued learning of refugee children during school closure, as well as 50,000 medical face masks for UNHCR Kenya to support its COVID-19 response.

In 2021, TECNO and UNHCR will continue the partnership to benefit a total of 10,670 refugee children in Uganda and Kenya. TECNO’s financial contribution to the EAC program will contribute to the holistic intervention in these locations including improvement of school infrastructure, material assistance to students, training for teachers, and support for refugee students with special needs.

Uganda and Kenya are amongst the world’s top host countries for refugees. Uganda is the largest one in Africa. Over half of the refugees in the two countries are below 18 years old (58% in Uganda and 53% in Kenya). While some refugees may have the access to study in public educational institutions, the shortage of learning resources has put many refugee children at risk of dropping out of school. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, continuous commitment from TECNO is important to support a safe school reopening and better access for refugee children to continue their primary education, laying the foundation for them to pursue higher education in the future.

Vivian Tan, UNHCR Representative ad interim in China, expressed appreciation for the continued support from TECNO. “UNHCR welcomes this renewed partnership,” she said. “COVID-19 has interrupted learning in many countries, and refugee children are no exception. Support from our private sector partners like TECNO is critical for UNHCR to continue and strengthen our efforts to support refugee learners and students to continue their education in this difficult time, and in the post-COVID time. The Chinese private sector can play an important role in addressing the gaps in refugee education globally, including providing financial contribution, technology and innovative solutions. We hope more Chinese private sector actors will be inspired by the partnership between TECNO and UNHCR.”

Stephen Ha, General Manager of TECNO said, “With the renewed partnership with UNHCR, we hope to continue our support in improving the learning conditions of refugee children. As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, TECNO is committed to giving back to the community where we are present. In the post-COVID time, we will amplify our efforts, especially using digital solutions to increase educational opportunity and enhance education quality for children in Africa so that they could receive better education and be better connected with the world.”

Inclusive and equitable quality education is Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is also a long-term goal for UNHCR. Since 2020, UNHCR has been working with different partners to implement the EAC program that aims to provide 365,000 out-of-school children with primary education in 14 operations by 2022. Out of the 14 countries, Kenya and Uganda are two key operations. Despite the huge impact of COVID-19, UNHCR remains committed to advancing inclusive and equitable quality education for refugee children.

By the end of 2020, an estimated 4.2 million children and youth of concern to UNHCR have been affected by the pandemic globally. Once out of school, many refugee children will never return. UNHCR has been making efforts to create more equitable and inclusive educational access for displaced and refugee children so that they could all return to school. UNHCR and TECNO will deepen their partnership, through which they hope to engage more with corporate employees, partners and the wider public audience to strengthen understanding and support for education in Africa.

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By Staff Writer

Infinix is breaking down the barriers of the flagship smartphone with the Note 10 series, part 

of its Note line of smartphones. An insider says that these  high-performance smartphones are integrated with cutting-edge technologies such as a powerful and fluid display, quick-charge battery, AI-advanced cameras and cinematic sound, as well as 33W quick-charge for the Note 10 Pro 

An insider reveals that  “the Note 10 series have been created so that professionals, entertainment lovers and everyday users alike can enjoy through a symmetry of aesthetics and performance.”

Rumour has it that the Infinix Note 10 series’ comes with a 6.95″ FHD+ display, a perfect display for users who rely heavily on their smartphones for work, living and leisure, making their experiences more enjoyable no matter how they are using them.

The Note 10 series is also said to come bearing 6 rear cameras with the main camera being 48MP to enable users to capture crisp portraits, sharper imagery in addition to a marvelous 4K resolution shooting capabilities included in both the front and rear cameras hence producing perfectly stable and clear videos even with busy backgrounds. 

The NOTE 10 series’ high performance is said to be optimal, undisturbed with capabilities powered by top performance and cutting-edge hardware and software backed by a powerful 5000mAh with 33W quick charge which could be  50 minutes 

faster compared to the Infinix Note series’ predecessors. 

Equipped with Infinix’s Dar-link Ultimate Game Booster technology the Note 10 series improves graphic display giving a more stable and quicker scene switching while gaming. 

The Infinix NOTE10 series will be available in three variants around 8th June 2021. 

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By Our Reporter

Gilly Muwanga is a UK-based dancer and choreographer flying the Ugandan flag high.

The self-proclaimed Ghetto symphony draws inspiration from Hiphop, New Jack swing and Krump for his dance style which he likes to call G-sauce. It embodies smooth textures and strong dynamics.

His unique dance style won him the 2017 UK Choreographer of the year award.

He has also worked with big names like Mel B, Boyz II Men and Pitbull, and performed on big stages like BBC three South side story, Got to Dance, Sky 1’s pineapple studio and BBC’s move like Micheal Jackson.

Gillly is also a member of Frobacks, a four piece, male street dancing group that adds comedy into their routines. During the Britain Got Talent search 2020, the group wowed the judges with their urban turtles performance.

Having discovered his passion for dance at a young age, Gilly through his group Frobacks teaches dancers weekly classes for prospects Fraternity with the aim of getting more young people into the industry.

Dance group prospects Fraternity made it to the finals of BBC one’s The Greatest Dancer show, a show which Frobacks also participated in and also made it to the finals.

As an artist Gilly has a hot song titled Griselda Blanco that he featured Lil Mon.

The post Meet Gilly Muwanga, a Ugandan dancer and choreographer making waves in the UK appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Sen Somdev (L), MTN Uganda chief marketing officer receives the award for the brand most admired for being helpful during the pandemic from Joseph Kanyamunyu, managing director, publics Africa communications in Kampala.

By Our Reporter 

MTN Uganda along with its parent company have been recognised as the most helpful brands during the pandemic.

The parent company came second after the World Health Organisation (WHO) whose core mandate is to support health causes around the world.

The survey conducted by Brand Africa 100 covered over 80% of the African continent in a bid to determine Africa’s Best brands 2021.

From the survey, MTN stood out for the support rendered during these challenging times.

In this unprecedented time chock-full of uncertainty, MTN did not waiver when it took the decision to immerse all its efforts in assisting governments around Africa to combat the coronavirus.

At group level, MTN worked with host nations to support the Africa COVID Communications and Information Platform and launched the #WearItForMe mask campaign. The month-long campaign which drove a powerful message throughout the group’s subsidiaries sought to encourage people to wear their masks.

Through its subsidiaries, MTN also dedicated support through numeorus initiatives and stakeholders through Y’ello hope, the MTN crisis response vehicle.

In a nearly half a billion shillings move, MTN Uganda which stood out in the East African region supported National Water and Sewerage Corporation to promote the handwashing campaign to mitigate the spread of the virus while Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS)was supported to extend aid to impoverished communities.

URCS received Shs.297million for surveillance, screening, psychological support in the high risk areas and border points across the country.

Robert Kwesiga, Secretary General URCS congratulated MTN upon the recognition saying the award was well deserved as the telecom’s support was very pivotal during the pandemic.

“MTN was the the first partner to come in and support the Covid-19 response. When the country went into a lock down, many places were closed apart from markets and border points. MTN came in and supported us to implement and enforce SOPs in Kampala Markets. They donated 297,328,000/= towards the Uganda Redcross to support disease prevention and control,” Kwesiga said.

He also added; “MTN also gave up their media airtime in support of a campaign dubbed “Support RedCross” and this mobilised over Shs21m towards food packages for vulnerable families in Kampala.”

MTN also provided Shs.220million to NWSC to provide relief to the masses of people living in water stressed parts in and around Kampala.

According to Engineer Mahmood Lutaaya, the general manager Kampala at NWSC, MTN helped NWSC to install 21 water points in places where people did not have water which is an essential during the pandemic.

“These were the informal settlements or slum areas. We put some in Wakiso, Nansana, and Kyaliwajjala among others. We identified places were people didn’t have water. The public water points came with tanks to ensure sustainability,” he said.

Sen Somdev, MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, received the award on behalf Wim Vanhelleputte, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

“We would like to thank BrandAfrica for recognizing us and the efforts towards mitigating spread of the virus throughout the pandemic. As MTN, we are of the philosophy that a business is not about accumulating profits rather improving the lives of people we serve. Together with government and other partners, considerable effort has been invested to ensure people do not lose loved ones and livelihoods,” he said adding that MTN is committed to supporting government during this fight against covid-19 while also encouraging adherence to the standards of operations (SoPs).

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