Saqib Munir, the Glovo Uganda Country Lead

By Saqib Munir

There is no doubt that 2021 & 2020 have been defining years for the world. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will shape our lives for decades to come – both on a physical, economic and behavioral level.

Prior to the pandemic, the single biggest change to society, both socially and economically, was coming through the advance of technology, as digitalization provided us with greater flexibility, freedom and choice. And although COVID-19 has forced major changes in the way we live, for the time being at least, it’s also accelerated our reliance upon digital technologies.

In Africa, just like elsewhere, these changes are being felt. In particular, the gig economy has given us the freedom to work and live more efficiently and effectively. It has also opened up a very powerful new revenue stream for the continent — allowing millions to take up flexible work on their own terms.

In our post-pandemic world, the gig economy is only going to become more important and more vital. Gig work is becoming increasingly important as a potential pathway to socio-economic development and employment creation, given Africa’s unique status as the continent with the youngest population but the highest youth unemployment rate.

According to the 2016 Jobs for Youth in Africa Report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), nearly 420 million youths in Africa are unemployed, while the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that the number of youths facing unemployment in the continent is expected to reach 830 million by 2050.

The situation looks bleak and research conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) indicates that Africa will contribute more people to the workforce each year than the rest of the world combined by the year 2035. That’s huge when you consider that the continent is also expected to be home to 1.25 billion people of working age by 2050. So, in order to absorb these new entrants to the workforce, Africa needs to create more than 18 million new jobs each year.

Given the urgent need to provide jobs and livelihoods to Africans, it is time to examine the conventional wisdom that informal markets must transition into formal markets. It is against this background that the gig economy is fast gaining traction, with on-demand delivery start-ups and ride hailing apps leading the way.

If we take Uganda as an example, the Centre for Global Development (CGD) highlights how gig work is rapidly changing how people access jobs, shifting the source of work away from informal labour and towards digital platforms. As with most disruptive technologies, platform work has the potential to grow even faster.

Despite the gig economy being the working model of the future, it continues to face challenges. Current labour laws are still not conducive and African governments need to come up with labour laws that support workers in the informal sector as a way of sustaining the future of work in Africa.

According to the paper, The Gig Economy in East Africa: A Gateway to the Financial Mainstream, shows that the gig economy continues to grow, with almost two-thirds (60 percent) of gig workers joining this segment of the economy between 2017 and 2019.

However, the research underscores that for this part of the economy to reach its potential and unlock prosperity for millions of people, the digital divide must be bridged through connected devices that power the digital economy and add value such as access to capital, markets and creation of jobs to increase the rate of employment.

The UBOS report on the Uganda National Household Survey 2019/2020 indicates that the rate of employment stood at 39% of the population in 2019/2020 down from 48% in 2016/17. Unemployment unsurprisingly reduced to 9% in 2019/2020 compared to 10% during the same period.

According to the survey, Uganda has a population of 41 million. The survey was based on interviews conducted amongst 13,732 households in Uganda during the period February 2019 to November 2020.

Most of the population, especially the youth are now embracing gig jobs for survival as opposed to chasing for jobs in the formal sector.

Gig-based companies in Uganda can offer better terms and embrace their responsibilities to their collaborators. Whereas gig workers may not enjoy all the benefits associated with full-time employees, it is possible to offer perks such as training and better income that would motivate the workers and encourage more to take up more gigs.

The challenges notwithstanding, the gig economy remains “the future of work in Africa”. As CGD says: “It’s time we recognized the truth about the future of work in Africa: it isn’t in the growth of full-time formal sector jobs. The future of work will be people working multiple gigs with ‘somewhat formal’ entities. This is already true, and it will be for the foreseeable future.”

When we consider the future of work in Africa the question shouldn’t be whether jobs will be formal or informal, but how digital platforms and policymakers might come together to provide protection and benefits that more closely resemble those enjoyed by employees working under contract.

But for African countries to benefit from the gig economy, policymakers need to regulate it in a way that makes the gig economy both more sustainable and inclusive. So that, eventually, it becomes less complicated belonging to either side of the labour spectrum. Perhaps then it will also serve as a solution to the unemployment challenges faced by the continent.

About Author:
Saqib Munir is Glovo’s Country Lead for Uganda.

The post Opinion: We should embrace the Gig Economy because it is the Future of Work appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Every 1st of September, remnants and prophet Elvis Mbonye celebrate themselves in mega glamourous parties all over the world even when the prophet hold one recognised celebrations at Zoe grounds. Due to covid-19 restrictions however, they have not been able to converge.

Yesterday, prophet Elvis Mbonye took the celebrations out of the country and flew to neighbors Kenya where he converged masses to celebrate with him.

The event was streaming live for the congregation in Uganda and world over on his Facebook page and YouTube.

Every year has always had a guest appearance and yesterday celebtrated legendary saxophonist, Joseph Saxx entertained the remnants who were in a jolly mood all through the party.

The party took part in Kenya’s Safari Park Lounge and only a few guests were invited.

Here are some moments from yesterday

The post Prophet Elvis Mbonye takes annual honor celebrations to Kenya, remnants rejoice globally appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Florence Adongo, Director of Water Resources Management at the Ministry of Water and the Environment receives the EABL Sustainability Report from the Jane Karuku, Group Managing Director and CEO EABL.

By Our Reporter

Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has unveiled the inaugural East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Sustainability Report to the government, the media and the public.

The report, which was released by all three subsidiaries under EABL (Uganda Breweries, Kenya Breweries and Serengeti Breweries) is meant to highlight the accomplishments of the business units’ sustainability efforts while making a commitment to expanding and deepening the impact of these initiatives.

While receiving the report on behalf of the Minister of Water and the Environment, Florence Adongo, Director of Water Resources Management at the Ministry said, “This report shows that UBL and EABL will increase output without significantly reducing natural productive capacities, which is a step forward in making Uganda’s Green Growth Development Strategy a reality. Uganda Breweries Limited is the lead private sector partner of the Ministry of Water and Environment in several angles of ministry interventions.”

The report includes highlights of efforts made by Uganda Breweries under three pillars, namely: Positive Drinking; Inclusion and Diversity and Inclusive Communities; and Preserving Water for Life, Accelerating to a Low Carbon World and Becoming Sustainable by Design.

It is the result of two years of study and design under Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, a 10-year action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world while also contributing positively to the communities in which the business operates.

UBL, which is celebrating 75 years of consistent operations in Uganda this year, has invested over UGX 4 billion in projects that have improved access to potable water for over 2 million people all over the country.

Hon. Ronald Balimwezo, MP for Nakawa East appreciated UBL for the various people-centred interventions over the years. He said, ”I want to appreciate you because I remember when I had just become mayor, I visited you and found a state of the art Effluent Treatment Plant, which is the best in the country. How I wish others would emulate you.”

In 2015, UBL unveiled a UGX 20 billion water treatment plant to ensure that water flowing from the brewery is safer and cleaner than it was when extracted from Lake Vitoria. This is in addition to a UGX 14 billion in a water recovery plant to reduce water usage by reducing the volume of water extracted from Lake Victoria, through which 395,000 m3 of water is saved annually.

Alvin Mbugua, UBL’s outgoing Managing Director, said, “We want to continue to be a positive example within Uganda, the region, and the world. We hold ourselves accountable to the communities in which we operate and strive to ensure that as we grow, so do they. We believe that this is not just the right way to do business, it is the only way.”

Jane Karuku, Group Managing Director and CEO of East African Breweries Limited (EABL) added, “At EABL, we recognize that we are in a unique position to respond to global and regional challenges faced by our communities every day. We continuously work towards ensuring that the core objectives of sustainability are well integrated into our business model.”

The post Uganda Breweries highlights sustainability efforts in new report appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

A few days ago NBS TV aired an interview where they talked to Nameere Justine about her new TV station in Masaka, TM TV and her new appointment as Special Senior Presidential Advisor on Greater Masaka Region Affairs. During the interview, Nameere talked about her work and also stated that priority as per the jobs on her new TV station will be given to the young jobless youths, below 35 years, in Greater Masaka.

Nameere evaded any mention of Faridah Nakazibwe all through her interview. However, NBS TV went to their facebook page and posted a story indicating that Nameere attacked Nakazibwe and trashed her and she said she can not employ her on her new TV because “she is old and not talented”.

Some fans who had not watched the interview lushed out at Nameere for attacking Nakazibwe in an interview that had nothing to do with Nakazibwe. However, the fans who had watched the interview kept defending Nameere and cleared the air that the story is fake and a concoction of NBS TV. Fans then turned their guns onto NBS TV and blasted them for continuously reporting fake news, stirring up trouble between celebrities and tarnishing people’s names.

Some of the comments from fans, included;

Kakooza Nasser, “imagine a so-called big TV station telling lies mbu for viewership, Nbs tv style up!”

Ahumuza Lucy “NBS TV lacks credibility I gave up on any news from them!”

Ivan Mutwe, “it seems NBS TV wanted to insult Farida Nakazibwe but decided to hide behind Nameere Justine but I watched that interview and Nameere did not say anything about Nakazibwe!”

Simon Peter Mugabo, “NBS TV is just jealousy of Nakazibwe Farida because she refused to join NBS and also jealous of Nameere Justine because she is the youngest TV owner and youngest Presidential Advisor so they decided to write a nasty story involving both ladies to resurrect their old war. NBS muswadde nnyo”.

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Jacqueline Nalubega, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

By Our Reporter

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, the primary focus for governments and businesses has been the safety of their people. To curb the spread, several measures such as curfews, lockdowns and restrictions on travel have been put in place, all of which have negatively impacted businesses.

The hospitality industry is one of those hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The restrictions put in place have significantly decreased the demand in the sector and resulted in temporary closure of many hospitality businesses.

We talked to Jacqueline Nalubega, the Director of Sales and Marketing, Sheraton Kampala Hotel on how they have managed to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has been a tough period for the hospitality industry in Uganda. How has Sheraton Kampala Hotel Coped?

We are still living in challenging times of the Pandemic aftershock. We have seen businesses close and others barely stay afloat. As Sheraton Kampala Hotel, we are thankful to every client who has trusted us enough to walk in or stay with us ever since the lockdown was lifted.

International travellers form the largest portion of our customers. So until international travel stabilizes, we continue to focus on serving the local market. We have curated packages that perfectly suit the needs of people living in Uganda while remaining cognizant of the current economic turbulence.

We also made The Sheraton experience mobile. You can now order a meal from the hotel through Glovo, Jumia food or direct ordering via our hotel lines for home delivery.

What precautions has the Hotel taken to ensure staff and guest safety in a post COVID-19 world?

Sheraton Kampala Hotel has and will always be committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our guests, customers and associates. This is an integral part of who we are.

Through the guidance of our affiliate, Marriott International, we elevated our existing standards and put in place stringent protocols in the wake of COVID-19.

We increased cleaning frequency in public spaces and guest rooms, installed hand sanitizer stations throughout the hotel, provided Personal Protective gear like face masks, hand sanitizer and rearranged our public space layouts to effect social physical distancing. All our staff members are also currently receiving their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Strict observation of SOPs is our best chance at fighting COVID-19.

Why should someone consider coming out of their homes to stay in a hotel after months of Lockdown?

Humans are not conditioned to hibernate—a theory that has been rethought after the COVID-19 pandemic—rather, we are inquisitive and social animals. As the travel restrictions loosen, we all deserve a holiday, a treat, or a well thought hangout after all we have, and still endure since last year. It’s healthy to cautiously step out of our four walls to change scenery, perspective and break Cabin fever.

Our Bounce Back package is specially tailored to refresh one’s mind, body and soul after the overwhelming period we all have been or continue to go through.

Do you have any special offers that people should look out for?

Yes, we have special offers ranging from stay, food and leisure: A Special weekend stay for both couples and individuals, A Long stay package for 10 days or more and, Unwinding offers for walk-in guests seeking to relax and catch up with friends in the evening. Our wellness and fitness center package helps you reach nirvana through an exhilarating session at the Gym, Pool and Spa.

Our English breakfast at Victoria restaurant from 6am to 11am is a must-taste and you can’t afford to miss Kampala’s favorite Sunday Brunch every Sunday starting at Midday. It’s a grand family affair.

Your Sunday brunch is quite the family affair, tell us more about it.

Our brunch happens every Sunday from 12pm to 5pm costing Ugx 90,000 for adults and 50% discount for children. Beyond an All-you-can-eat buffet and dessert, the children are catered for with different activities and games like swimming, face painting bouncing castles while the adults get entertained with music and we offer discount on Alcoholic drinks.

Is there anything special that Sheraton Hotel is planning for its customers in the near future?

As we draw closer to the end of the year, we have a variety of activities lined up for the festive season. Just as a highlight, we are planning on making our Saturdays memorable and fun filled with an outdoor experience for all ages at the Picturesque Kyogga swimming pool.

What do you think the government should do to help with recovery of this sector?

We would like to request the government of Uganda through Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) for the VAT exemption. This is a crucial factor because many businesses were affected by COVID-19.

The post Interview: Sheraton’s Jacqueline Nalubega on how they are coping amid the COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on BigEye.UG.

L-R: Gonzaga Kajja; Deputy Manager, Carrefour Naalya at Metroplex Mall with Sylivia Namagembe, Headteacher Kireka Home for the Children with Special Needs and her deputy; Gertrude Lyaka at the launch of the “Round Up you Bill” campaign.

By Our Reporter

Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Uganda, has launched a campaign to provide relief to less fortunate children that reside in two children’s homes in Kampala.

Dubbed ‘Round Up Your Bill’, the campaign is calling upon shoppers at Carrefour’s two outlets at Metroplex – Naalya and Oasis Mall to donate by rounding up the total cost of their items at the cash counter leaving an allocation that will be diverted to the chosen causes.

For example, if a shopper’s bill totals to UGX 35,200, they can round it up to UGX 40,000 with the extra amount being allocated to the cause.

Proceeds from the Metroplex store will be donated to Kireka Home for The Children with Special Needs, while proceeds from Oasis Mall will be handed over to Peculiar Child Care Support in the Kawempe division.

Commenting on the new campaign, Franck Moreau, Country Manager at Carrefour Uganda said: “As one of the largest hypermarket and supermarket chains in the country, we believe that it is our responsibility to not only lead in the areas of innovation and excellent customer experience, but also in the area of supporting our community. To continue showing our support towards the prosperity of the community, we are excited and honoured to launch this initiative that will transform the lives of many.”

To take part in the donation campaign, customers need to make sure they are shopping at either of the Carrefour hypermarkets located at Metroplex – Naalya or Oasis Mall, and mention that they would like to contribute to the “Round Up Your Bill” initiative at the cash counters.

The post Carrefour launches campaign to support children’s homes in Kampala appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Our Reporter

Uganda joined the rest of the world in a virtual tour as Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the eight-floor new visitor experience for the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky, officially opened in the heart of Scotland’s capital city.

A select few Ugandan whisky aficionados were invited to the virtual tour as they sipped on homemade highballs, made with guidance from JW Princes Street bartenders.

Set over 71,500 sq ft, Johnnie Walker Princes Street uses world-first technology to reimagine the traditional whisky tour experience.

When it opens its doors to the public on Monday September 6, visitors will be taken on a personalised journey of flavour and discovery, which identifies unique flavours and tastes tailored to them, and learn about the fascinating 200-year-old journey brought to life by actors.

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo said: “This is a proud day for everyone. Last year Johnnie Walker celebrated 200 years since founder John Walker opened the doors to his small grocery store and today represents the next chapter of the incredible story. Johnnie Walker Princes Street is a landmark investment in Scotch whisky and into Scotland and it sets a new standard for immersive visitor attractions. It celebrates Scotland’s remarkable heritage, our incredible skilled whisky-makers, and looks to the future by engaging new generations of consumers from around the world in the magic of Scotch whisky.”

Four and a half years in the making, Johnnie Walker Princes Street is the centrepiece of Diageo’s £185million pound investment in Scotch whisky tourism in Scotland – the largest single investment programme of its kind ever seen in Scotch whisky tourism.

Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening the doors and helping to re-build the tourism and hospitality industry after a very difficult 18 months. The story of the world’s best-selling whisky has been brought to life with flair and imagination and we have built a team which includes some of the most talented individuals in their fields. We are now ready to welcome visitors and begin telling the next chapter of how we are woven into the fabric of Scotland’s history and communities.”

In 2019, the Scotch Whisky industry attracted a record 2.16 million visitors and Johnnie Walker Princes Street, and Diageo’s £185m tourism investment programme aims to rebuild Scotch whisky tourism for the future.

The investment includes the transformation of distillery visitor experiences around Scotland, including Glenkinchie, Clynelish, Cardhu and Caol Ila – the Lowland, Highland, Speyside and Islay homes of Johnnie Walker, linked to Johnnie Walker Princes Street to form a world-class network of attractions the length and breadth of Scotland.

The post Johnnie Walker global visitor experience officially opens. [Photos] appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Ugandan fashion designer and stylist to the stars including Sheeba, Spice Diana and Winnie Nwagi, Kaijuka Abbas is set to be honoured in Lagos, Nigeria this weekend.

The award winning designer will be celebrated at the Runway Trybe showcase in Lagos Nigeria. The show that will be taking place on 5TH September, 2021 at the Prestigious Oriental Hotel will be recognizing the Kai Divo’s Collection creative director for his creativity and outstanding leadership in the industry that he has demonstrated over the years.

During the event, the stylist-turned-designer will also be unveiling his latest collection at the event.

“Fashion is something I do because I am passionate and love putting people in beautiful clothes. However, any time I get recognized for my work and get to represent my country abroad is always humbling. I’m grateful for all my clients who have stuck with me and made this brand the sensation it has become,” Abbas said.

Established in 2016, Kai’s Divo collection, founded by Kaijuka Abbas, is a design house that made its fashion debut as a styling outlet for fashion conscious men and women in Kampala and across the region.

Kai’s Divo Collection entered a new chapter when it opened its first studio in 2017 and made its flagship couture collection showcase which morphed the brand into one of the most sought after fashion design brands in the Uganda Fashion Industry.

The post Designer Kaijuka Abbas celebrated at Nigerian Fashion event appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Chris Oyakilome’s Christ embassy church is currently holding a 2 day prayer conference that will end today. Rhapsody Online Prayer Conference is a 24-hour prayer program is back and it is a time to receive answers to prayers and a time to make a difference in our world.

STREAMING LIVE ON: https://prayer.rhapsodyofrealities.org and all other Rhapsody platforms.

THIS FRIDAY 6 PM (GMT+1) 3rd-4th September 2021.

Have you created your personalized avatar? You can get a personalized avatar using this link: https://prayer.rhapsodyofrealities.org/avatar/

You can also sponsor the distribution of Rhapsody of Realities online using the link below: https://rhapsodyofrealities.org/give/start now

The post 2 day Rhapsody online prayer conference underway, see how to join the prayers here appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Some of the participants in the cook-off pose with their prepared meals.

By Our Reporter

Saturday afternoon at Naguru Skyz hotel was a typhoon of sweet aromas as finalists in Yalelo Uganda’s “Prepare, Share and Dine competition” showcased their culinary skills, bringing a tasteful end to the month-long competition.

It was Chef Mark Kaheru and his elite team of judges who were tasked with choosing the best five out of the 10 participants who were nominated, to be rewarded with the ultimate prize of a six months’ supply of Yalelo Uganda’s freshest fish.

For Gertrude Ojangole, Chosen Akellot, Kayongo Hamis, Lillian Namuddu and Nanyonjo Sharon who emerged the best, it was no secret that they were experienced in the kitchen using the ingredients given to them by the organisers to prepare their mouthwatering fish-based meals.

“I am so humbled and excited to have been among the lucky winners of this competition. My family is going to be so happy and proud to have this prize,” beamed Hamis Kayongo one of the winners at the cook-off competition.

Chef Mark Kaheru, one of the judges tastes one of the meals prepared by the contestants.

Speaking about the competition, Yalelo Marketing Manager Catherine Twesigye was more than impressed with the participants who without a doubt left many desiring their tasty fish-cooked meals at the venue.

“I am over the moon about bringing to life this nutritiously stimulating adventure. We are so proud to have been a part of this and are delighted to know that today’s champions proved that fish is an easy meal to prepare and will now be entitled to 2kgs of fish every week for the next six months,” she said.

Yalelo Uganda continues to expand its footprint all over the country as it boasts of being the number one fish company that combines freshness with affordability.

The company currently has 11 retail outlets selling in several parts of Kampala, Jinja and Wakiso districts.

The post Winners in Yalelo Uganda’s cooking competition revealed appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Coca-Cola Beverages Team during the virtual launch of Ades

By Our Reporter

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda (CCBA) has introduced a new beverage on the market, Ades Nutri-Bushera, made from locally procured sorghum and millet.

The non-alcoholic soft drink was unveiled on Saturday during an exciting virtual event that featured performances from Sheebah Karungi, Karole Kasita, Allan Toniks and Irene Ntale.

According to Melkamu Abebe, the Managing Director CCBA, the launch represents the company’s commitment to invest in initiatives that drive the ‘Buy Uganda, Build Uganda’ agenda while pursuing its business goals.

“The launch of Ades Nutri-Bushera is part of our larger strategy to grow sustainably by creating shared opportunities on our journey to becoming a total beverage company. We are therefore extremely excited for what this opportunity means to us as a company, and more importantly to the Ugandan farmers who are involved in growing the millet and the employment opportunities that come with setting up a new line,” he noted.

“Ades Nutri – Bushera is perfect evidence of our Customer Obsession. We listened to our Customers, our Consumers and our Community, and developed a drink that YOU wanted. We have crafted it to suit YOUR tastes and preferences; and we have packaged it to ensure we meet YOUR standards of health, quality and for YOUR convenience as you consume it at home or on the go. We are constantly innovating to give people more of what they want while actively encouraging informed choices and balanced lifestyles,” Abebe added.

Ades Nutribushera is a great option for those looking for more varied nutrition from plant ingredients as part of a balanced diet and a great-tasting drink.

Bushera is a traditional, health drink made in households from millet and sorghum. It is traditionally brewed and consumed at social gatherings such as weddings, child naming ceremonies and traditional gatherings. Bushera has gained popularity in the recent years because of its natural ingredients.

“We are very happy today as CCBA to have our own Bushera. We made a business decision to focus on local sourcing more than fifteen years ago, and it has had significant results. Everywhere we operate we deliberately find ways of localizing our supply chain. We remain focused on our role as an economic contributor and will keep our promise to our people inside and outside of the Company,” noted Conrad van Niekerk, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Regional Managing Director in charge of Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana as he reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting BUBU as a way to support the farmers and suppliers.

Ades Nutri-Bushera has already received certification from Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and has been distributed in 400ml packs countrywide.

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By Our Reporter

Omwoleso, an online marketplace has announced a 25% discount on all products on the platform.

Nicholas Spencer, the lead at Omwoleso says, “this 25 per cent discount is aimed at introducing our incredible creators and makers to the world. We are excited to share their incredible products and showcase these makers.”

Omwoleso.Africa is a virtual marketplace set up by MoTIV to enable creatives to sell their products on the local and global market. This creative Tribe consists of Product Designers, Videographers, Fashion Designers, Photographers, Performing Artists, Sculptors, Painters, Music Producers and Writers.

The virtual market is an extension of the much-loved end of month physical market that takes place at the MoTIV premises. Starting with a small exhibition in January this year, the event has grown to feature over 100 businesses connecting them to over 400 customers. These businesses and their products can now be found online from the comfort of one’s home.

Aheebwa Patience Martha who creates organic beauty products under Nzuri Beauty says this campaign will improve her business while giving their customers a chance to try out their amazing products at a lower cost.

Lyn Dehn, a jeweller with a wide range of beaded pieces adds that, “I have only been on this platform for a while and I am surprised by the sales I have been able to make. The campaign is giving me a chance to even draw more people to our products.”

MoTIV is doing this with the support of The Mastercard Foundation which is also focused on finding solutions to the youth employment challenge and reducing poverty in Africa through creating dignified and fulfilling work.

The promotional offer is running until September 11, 2021.

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Peter Banura, LCV Chairman Kikuube district officially handing over the chicks to some of the beneficiaries of the CNOOC Livelihood program in Kyangwali sub county, Kikuube district.

By Our Reporter 

CNOOC Uganda Limited is undertaking a livelihood program, that is targeting displaced people that have been affected by the oil pipeline project works in the Albertine region.

This program whose overall goal is to restore agricultural livelihood, re-establish or exceed pre-Project levels of crop and livestock production and productivity will enable farmers affected by the project works have access to alternative farming land and better farming systems so as to improve their way of life.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of 3,000 chicks to 6 farmers in Kikuube district, Peter Banura, LCV Chairman Kikuube district commended CNOOC Uganda Limited and its partners for the good job they are doing in changing the lives of the people in the community.

He added that, “…what we need to survive are practical skills and I’m pleased to learn that the farmers have received the practical knowledge which will help them take care of their livestock, poultry and agricultural produce even after the project has ended.”

The project components are to fully equip the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) with information and practical knowledge which will be beneficial in maximising good quality yields from both their crops and livestock.

The main objectives of this particular program are; improving Agricultural and livestock practices for the beneficiaries, providing agricultural training and extension assistance to farmers to farmers and lastly, provision of inputs and veterinary services for the households affected by land acquisition.

Aminah Bukenya, Media and Publicity Manger, CNOOC Uganda Limited said that, “this program shall not only restore but also improve the livelihoods of the PAPs because they will soon start to earn a living from their livestock and poultry in form of beef and eggs respectively, as well as agricultural foods.”

A total of 680 PAPs will benefit from the livelihood program which is going to be implemented in Kabwoya, Kyangwali and Buseruka sub counties. So far 291 have received inputs and livestock in Kyangwali which is the pilot sub county. 5000 chicks have been given to 10 groups, 18 goats have been given to 18 host farmers, 9 boran bulls have been given to 9 host farmers and 45 pigs to 9 groups.

One of the 9 groups of beneficiaries that received pigs in Butole Parish in Kikuube district receiving practical skills from an expert.

“The reception of the program in this district has been good and the farmers are adopting well. We are optimistic that they are going to use the knowledge they’ve acquired to teach other farmers who were not part of the program,” Aminah added.

Twinobusingye Bosco, one of the beneficiaries of the program in Kyangwali sub county in Kikuube district said, “we are very happy with this project. We thank CNOOC for the good work and for delivering as they promised. I have learnt a lot from these trainings and I’m confident that I will take good care for my livestock and poultry with the knowledge that I have acquired.”

This program shall take 3 to 5 years and CNOOC along with the district leadership shall undertake the monitoring to ensure sustainability of the program. The program is a linkage to the ongoing government programs like Operation Wealth Creation, Women empowerment programs, Emyooga among others.

The post CNOOC Uganda embarks on program to restore livelihoods for people affected by oil pipeline project works appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Hon. Henry Musasizi, State Minister of Finance for General Duties addresses guests.

By Our Reporter

Uganda Breweries Limited, which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary in Uganda has been recognised by the Ministry of Finance for the immense contributions made to Uganda’s socio-economic development.

The commendation was given by Hon. Henry Musasizi, the State Minister of Finance for General Duties during a high-level dinner hosting various stakeholders that have been a part of the brewer’s journey in Uganda.

He said, “Uganda Breweries spends over 45 billion Shillings annually in farming communities all over the country. This contribution to the agriculture sector is truly transformative in its impact on reducing unemployment in the country and also is a good push for the modernisation of agriculture which the government continues to champion.”

The business has made tremendous strides towards its socioeconomic agenda, leveraging on strategic partnerships to increase the scale and impact of its local sourcing initiative.

Alvin Mbugua, UBL’s outgoing Managing Director, said, “As we turned 70 years, we had one transformative partner in local sourcing – the Kapchorwa Commercial Farmers Association (KACOFA). Today, we have onboarded Kakira Sugar, Operation Wealth Creation, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Africa Innovation Institute, Private Sector Foundation (PSFU) and more, all of which are supporting our Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) and local sourcing agendas under NDP III.”

He added that in the last five years, the brewery has increased the number of farmers supplying sorghum, barley, cassava, corn start and sugar from 14,500 to 31,000 presently.

Japheth Katto, UBL’s Board Chairperson applauded the Government for the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Policy and called for its consistent application across the patch.

He said, “It is only through this that the country we will be able to attract and increase investments in sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing which are key pillars in driving Uganda’s socio-economic development.”

He lauded the UBL team for the significant milestone of marking 75 years of consistent operations in Uganda despite the various challenges experienced over the years.

“We are among the top 5 largest taxpayers in Uganda, having paid over UGX. 420 Billion in taxes in 2020 and have a strong regional presence. Our operations are built on strong governance, as part of East African Breweries Limited which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and cross-listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) and Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE); and Diageo Plc which is listed on the London and New York stock exchanges.”

He added that the company has planted an estimated 4.7 million trees planted since 2005, and under its scholarship program, sponsors disadvantaged students to progress to Tertiary Education with an annual expenditure of UGX. 1 Billion.

Early this year, the business extended support to over 2,000 outlets (bars and restaurants and their employees) worth $1 Million through the Raising the Bar program to put in place safety practices under stipulated SOPs. The support included handwashing kits, masks, temperature reading equipment, Point of Sale materials, communicating SOPs and training bar and restaurant staff in SOPs and Health guidelines.

The post Finance Minister lauds UBL for contribution to economy appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Our Reporter

One day as the NBS TV Frontline host, and Charles Mwanguhya has already had several fake accounts opened in his name.

On the morning after Charles Mwanguhya had hosted his first show as the new “The Frontline” host, the NBS TV official account was out informing all their followers of a fake account opened in their new talent’s name thereby directing them to the right one. To confirm this, Mwanguhya himself also tweeted to reinforce the message.

He posted: “Some frauds have created a fake account using my name and photo against the background of #NBSFrontline. Please ignore it. Otherwise, I am super grateful for all the love. You are the fuel that drives me on. Thank you.”

Anyone that has been on the Twitter streets long enough will have by now noticed how much fake news is put out in pretense of the source being either NBS Television or, once in a while, an on-air talent of theirs – this goes to show just how much the brand has grown to command authority in the media industry if anyone that is trying to push an agenda needs to use “The Political Command Centre” for authenticity.

Because of this, in a world where fake news spreads like wildfire, one has to be extra vigilant. People often open parody/ fake accounts of brands like NBS Television to post satirical, at best, or very misleading information, denting the image of the original brand.

Charles Mwanguhya, according to our sources at the Naguru-based media house, has been left overwhelmed by the attention he has received since he was announced as the new “The Frontline” host, having joined from a rather traditional media background with hardly any digital footprint, you would imagine.

His Twitter following has almost doubled in about four days since his unveiling, growing by well over 1000 followers! No wonder someone out there knew that this period was a good time to open an account in his name as it would be guaranteed growth with the strength in the brand that his new home drives. Many usually ride this wave to grow social media accounts that they later change to other brands or personal accounts with that following.

Charles Mwanguhya joined Next Media Services on 1st September 2021, over 18 months since he left active media practice. His career spans over 20 years, with experience in print journalism, production, and show hosting. He currently serves as the Minister of Information in the Kingdom of Tooro and host of “The Frontline.”

The post New NBS Frontline host, Charles Mwanguhya warns against fraudsters appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Our Reporter

With more people working and studying from home since the insurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for reliable and fast internet in homes has grown more than ever. With the multiple virtual meetings and online classes, more people are increasingly becoming aware of the need for home internet solutions that offer fast and reliable, yet affordable connectivity to the entire household.

Lynette Nabwire, a communications executive and mother who has been working from home since April 2020 attests to the need for a more practical internet source if one is to have a seamless work-from-home experience.

“Back in the day, I only needed my mobile data on the phone to be able to browse social media, read a few online articles and occasionally check my work email and nothing serious. However, when it came to meetings and sharing heavy work documents,” says Nabwire, “I started to get frustrated with how with the inconvenience that came with using my phone as a hotspot for myself and the kids.”

However, all that changed when Nabwire got herself an MTN Wakanet Max kit which she says has simplified her work-from-home experience a great deal.

“I have had a seamless work from home experience since then. All I do is power my laptop, attend all my day’s meetings and deliver all my work on email in the comfort of my home. And the best part is that the data bundles are affordable and they do not expire,” Nabwire says.

According to Somdev Sen, the MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, MTN WakaNet MAX is a home Internet solution that offers affordable and reliable 4G data connectivity to up to 32 gadgets, with a single WakaNet MAX router, making it ideal for families that need to use it for work, study as well as entertainment.

The MTN WakaNet MAX starter kit comes at an initial cost of UGX 245,000 which includes the one-off cost of the router and 35GB data bundle with no expiry, while recharges start from as low as UGX55,000 for 20 GB which has no expiry meaning a customer can use the data for as long as it lasts, based on his or her consumption.

But that is not all. If you happen to be a heavy data user who may not find the MTN Wakanet MAX data bundles appealing enough, then Somdev recommends the MTN Wakanet PRO, which is essentially Fiber to the Home (FTTH), a fixed Home Internet solution delivered using fiber optic cable directly to your home.

“MTN Wakanet PRO provides a reliable high-speed internet connection with no cap on data volume to meet your home entertainment, education, surveillance, and home office needs,” Says Somdev.

However, MTN WakaNet PRO is currently available only in specific locations that are listed on the My MTN app. To get this service, simply go to the My MTN app, go to Buy, select WakaNet PRO, then follow the prompts to request for the service.

Oswald Nuwagaba, a graphics designer who recently got Wakanet PRO connected to his home is now a happy employee working from the comfort of his home with superfast internet.

“I chose the MTN Wakanet PRO because I’m a heavy data user by the nature of my job that involves sharing heavy files,” Nuwagaba says, “And like they say, all work without play… Well, after a long productive day, I love to unwind with my Netflix series that I can now happily watch without any worries.”

Somdev highlights that the maximum speeds are 20Mbps on the Standard package and 40Mbps on the Premium package. The packages go for a monthly charge of UGX 195,000 and UGX 295,000 respectively with an initial installation fee of UGX 100,000.

In addition to enabling your work and study from home needs, both MTN Wakanet MAX and MTN Wakanet PRO are home internet solutions that are designed to cater to all your home internet needs ranging from home surveillance, entertainment, video streaming and powering all the internet enabled gadgets and devices in your home. All you have to do is choose what works for you.

The post How MTN has improved the work from home experience for customers appeared first on BigEye.UG.

The team shooting a new scene for the show.

By Our Reporter

The making of the Prestige TV series all begins when Nathan Magoola, the show producer finally quits his advertising job at Fenon Records to follow his passion—making films—at the start of 2020.

Nathan Magoola says he had been trying to quit his job for the last five years, and when he finally gathers the courage to do so, it appears lady luck was on his side as the first project he settled to work on attracted interest from MultiChoice Uganda and has gone to become one of the biggest Ugandan TV shows on television today.

“At the beginning of last year, after I had gotten investors for my company, I decided this was it; I am done! So, on January 6th, 2020, I quit Fenon Records and started developing what would become the Prestige show.” Nathan Magoola recounts. “Luckily, during the lockdown, Multichoice put out a call for TV shows—that was around April—and I submitted Prestige.”

However, it was not a smooth journey. When he submitted the project proposal, even when it seemed to tick all the boxes, it was met with skepticism as Nathan Magoola had no demonstrated experience working on TV dramas. Thus, he was asked to make a pilot for the show.

This was the first bumper in the road to bringing the show to life. Because of limited financial resources, Magoola was reluctant to shoot the pilot without any solid commitments from the Pay TV Company. And rightly so, as the prevailing economic conditions and uncertainty at the time brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic dictated that any prudent person be frugal with their expenditure.

Magoola says that he would have, in fact, passed on the opportunity if it was not for Matthew Nabwiso, his friend and fellow movie producer, who offered encouragement as well equipment to help in shooting the pilot.

“During lockdown, I used to spend a lot of time with Matthew Nabwiso. So, one day while he was over at my place, I tell him about this project, and he is like, ‘…just go ahead and do the pilot because even if they don’t take it, you will have something to show another person. My offer; here is the camera for shooting the pilot’.” He narrated.

This proved to be nudge he needed to take the leap of faith. And the ball was finally rolling.

It is at this point that he reaches out to Nana Kagga, whom he felt was the perfect fit for the lead role on the show. Nana Kagga expressed optimism about the project, and responded in the affirmative.

“So we started preparing to do the show.”  Nathan noted.

Now, they had one month to shoot the pilot and submit it for consideration by the team from MultiChoice.

Finding the cast and crew:

“Joining hands with Nana Kagga helped me a lot because she took care of the cast. So, then, for me, I was just in charge of finding the technical crew.” Nathan admitted.

With the cast taken care of, he was left to find the technical crew.

“So, I call up Donald Mugisha (I had worked with in the past), and he brings along a colleague, Bob Nyanzi (whom I also know because we had attended a lot of film trainings together).” Magoola said. “They had just finished working on another TV show, and they have a crew at hand. This makes my job easier.”

“I had someone to take care of the cast and then I have someone else to take care of the technical crew. And then I am left to just deal with the writers.” He adds.

Casting call:

There was no open call for auditions. Instead, they reached out directly to individuals whom they felt would fit the different roles on the show.

One of them was Omara Daniel.

“I was dealing with lockdown, then I get a call from Nana Kagga. She tells me, there is this project – it is called Prestige and we are shooting a pilot.” Omara Daniel narrates. “Based on our previous work relationship, I knew I could trust her. Then I also knew Nathan, from his days at Fenon. The names on the project seemed reliable; you know that’s the gauge these days. So I agree to jump on.”

“When I looked through the script, I liked it. I was happy for once that I was being cast for something other than comedy relief.” Omara adds.

Omara Daniel on location for the shoot.

With the cast and crew ready, it was time to get to work. They had a deadline of one month to shoot the pilot and submit it.

“So, eventually towards the end of the month, once we had the rough cut together, I sent it in. Then the next morning, they called me, ‘we see what you’ve done. We like it and finally understand why you needed a little bit of time because the time shows it was worth it.’”

And the show was approved.

Challenges:

“When we started the show, we were still under lockdown. My show took a chance on the most unknowns. Some of the people we got had never acted before.” Magoola said. “We really don’t have a large pool of talent, both behind the camera and in front of it.”

“Even in this show, some of these roles we had to change them. There is for example the role of the muzungu and his wife. These were supposed to be older people in their 50’s, but we failed to get people of that age.

“So we changed from a black person to a muzungu. Even then we still failed to find an older wife for him. So we were like lets twist this whole thing and we do the dynamic we see allover of young black girls dating older muzungus for their money.

“It was a casting challenge that led us to that but I think in the end it worked out fine.”

Prestige is a Ugandan television drama series about two sisters and ad executives fighting to rise above each other. It premiered on February 8th 2021 on Pearl Magic Prime channel. It is now in season 2.

The post How the Prestige TV series came to life appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

B4 flavored gin launched on the Ugandan market afew months back has taken the gin market by storm. Distilled and distributed by KB4 distilleries limited kawempe it’s safe to say it’s among the best gins on the Ugandan market.

B4 gin comes in 200ml so far and a carton has 24 bottles.

The proprietor mr job Kigozi says with time they will be increasing size to satisfy the market demand and also widening countrywide.

B4 is also fully certified by unbs and taking the market by storm.

IG @b4flavoured

FB@ B4 FLAVOURED GIN

The post B4 flavored gin takes Uganda by storm appeared first on BigEye.UG.

By Reporter

Everyday gives us a new promising singing star but not everyday gives us a talent worth counting on in the future of the industry. Lucky Joshua is another emerging young star singer we have found whose talent and voice give some hope for better singers ahead.

Lucky Joshua whose stage name is Lucky Jo has his first days shining already after he landed a collabo with 2 time female artiste of the year Spice Diana. The pair has collaborated in Mukwano, one jam you will love to listen to over and over.

The 4 day old video has attracted 40,000 views in ita first days on YouTube and continues to grow each passing day.

Produced by Nessim and video by Zyga, the song is one you will find attachment to.

Who is Lucky Jo?

Lucky Jo was born LUCKY JOSHUA IISA on 20th February 2005 and is 15 years old. Lucky Jo comes from originate from KUMI district.

He currently attends GREENHILL ACADEMY and is in senior 2. He is a song writer, singer and dancer.

Watch Mukwano here

The post Video alert: Juvenile Lucky Joshua collaborates with Spice Diana in Mukwano appeared first on BigEye.UG.

Hassan Saleh, the MD MultiChoice Uganda.

By Our Reporter

DStv has announced yet another step in the direction of ensuring that customers continue to view content in the highest possible quality to improve their overall viewing experience. The pay TV provider has moved eight channels from SD (Standard Viewing) to HD (high definition).

The channels that are now available in HD include; Pearl Magic Prime, Africa Magic Urban, Africa Magic Epic, Akwaaba Magic, Abol TV, Honey TV, Maisha Magic Bongo, and CNN.

“We are very proud to be making this announcement as this has been one of our goals for the year. HD will truly improve the viewing experience and sound across all the channels through increasing the resolution, therefore making sure the images are clearer and have more detail,” said Hassan Saleh, Multichoice Uganda MD.

“We have also ensured that we include channels from across the board in this move to serve our different audiences. Our news-loving audiences will now be able to watch CNN in HD; while our Ethiopian audiences will experience Abol TV in HD and the same goes for our audiences in Ghana and East Africa where Akwaaba Magic, Pearl Magic and Maisha Magic Bongo will now be beaming into people’s homes in HD.” He added.

Pearl Magic Prime is a 24-hour general entertainment channel showcasing premium, authentic Ugandan content and is available on DStv channel 148.

The post Pearl Magic Prime upgraded to HD viewing appeared first on BigEye.UG.