HiPipo Money

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Hisense Uganda and GOtv have launched a massive campaign that takes effect today. Customers who purchase 24, 29, and 39 inch television screens will receive free GOtv decoders and one month subscription on GOtv Plus.

Hisense, a company now recognized as one of the world’s leading consumer electronics manufacturers has partnered with the leading DTT pay TV player in Africa GOtv to evoke imagination and open a world of quality and true value for money for customers during the transition when most customers are seamlessly migrating to digital television.

Speaking at the press briefing Asim Waseem, Sales & Marketing Manager of Hisense said “Since early 2009, Hisense Uganda has taken strides to incorporate the best of all that Hisense has to offer into the Uganda market. The rationale for the campaign is to provide a comprehensive package for our customers to enjoy their television experience. There has been an influx of people who purchase the items in isolation but this campaign aims to uplift our product offering by giving them decoders that come with one month’s subscription”.

Customer can purchase the 24 inch LED screen at UGX 690,000 inclusive of a GOtv decoder, antennae and one month’s subscription on GOtv plus, the 29 inch LED screen will be sold at UGX 890,000 inclusive of a GOtv decoder, antennae and one month’s subscription on GOtv plus and the 39 inch LCD will be sold at 1,390,000 inclusive a GOtv decoder, antennae and one month’s subscription on GOtv plus.

Patricia Kiconco, GOtv Brand Segment Manager said “We are proud to partner with Hisense on this incredible campaign. Our businesses are interlinked and by jointly collaborating we are ultimately serving the needs of our customers. A full package like this will see provide customers with world class entertainment, a value we as GOtv adhere to”.

Customers can purchase their sets from any Hisense store or major retailers. The campaign will conclude in November 2013.

About Hisense Uganda

A range of products in Uganda include, Smart LED & 3D panel TVs, energy saving refrigerators, the latest technology air-conditioners, and an inspiring new range of small home appliances, all available at selected stores and major retailers, nationwide.

Hisense only imports TV’s in parts and do assembling in Uganda due to their verified and accepted assembling plant inspected by UNBS.

Our ongoing focus is to establish Hisense as a leading consumer electronics brand that is both reliable and desirable to all Ugandans. By providing the highest quality, eco-friendly, energy saving products at competitive prices, we strive to be an innovative, quality driven and reliable brand in Uganda.

Stay in touch by visiting www.hisense.com/en

About GOtv Uganda

GOtv currently offers three different options to enjoy digital quality television – namely – GOtv, GOtv Plus and the newGOtv Open bouquet. Both the GOtv and GOtv Plus bouquets are packed with exciting local and international channels designed to keep your family entertained with great news, movies, kids programming and sport. Two new channels were recently added on the GOtv Plus bouquet, these include M-Net Movie Zone and SuperSport Select 2, which further enhance the movies and sport line up on GOtv. 

Stay in touch with the GOtv family by visiting www.gotvafrica.com or following us on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/GOtvUGfor the latest news.

Citadel Capital (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Exchange), the leading investment company in Africa and the Middle East, formally submitted Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority (EFSA)’s Form 16. The filing seeks regulatory approval to call for an extraordinary general meeting to approve the launch of a USD 529 million capital increase that would see the firm’s paid-in capital rise to USD 1,145 million from USD 615 million.

Citadel Capital’s proposed share issuance is part of the firm’s transformation from the largest private equity firm in Africa into the leading investment company in the region. The proposed capital increase will be used by Citadel Capital to reach 51-100% ownership in the majority of its platforms companies, and in particular in the firm’s subsidiaries in its 5 core industries — energy, transportation, agrifoods, mining and cement. Citadel Capital plans to exit non-core investments over the coming few years as it transforms its business model to become an investment company.

The proposed capital increase will be a key step in a process that will see co-investors and limited partners (LPs) in the firm’s platform companies given the opportunity to synthetically swap their stakes for shares of Citadel Capital. Valuations of the underlying platform companies have been completed by HC Securities (an independent financial consultant certified by EFSA) and accepted by both participating LPs and ratified by shareholders at an ordinary general meeting (OGM) held on 1 June 2013. At the OGM, shareholders also voted to allow Citadel Capital’s Board of Directors to execute the acquisition of the additional stakes in the company’s subsidiaries. These purchases will be settled through the proposed issuance of shares, which participating LPs have undertaken to subscribe to.

Citadel Capital Partners Ltd (CCP), the lead shareholder in the firm and the vehicle through which senior management holds its equity, will participate pro rata in the capital increase. Citadel Capital management notes that an additional capital increase may take place in 2014 to allow for the acquisition of those shares of portfolio companies held by LPs who do not participate in this first round. 

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MTN Uganda has received the prestigious accreditation by the Investors in People (IiP) Governing Board, United Kingdom as an Investor in People organization, making it one of the pioneer Companies in Africa to be recognized.

The assessment of MTN Uganda was carried out by a team of IiP assessors from the UK and their findings culminated in the accreditation. The assessment, conducted by Mr. Ken Baylis from Investors in People (IIP) UK, showed that MTN Uganda demonstrated a very high level of achievement against the Investors in People (IIP) Standard for people management processes and was thus accredited with the prestigious award. Similar accolades have also been won my MTN Nigeria and MTN Cameroon.

Announcing the new development, MTN General Manager Human Resources, Michael Sekadde said that MTN Uganda’s sustained success over the years has been built on the foundation of its People.

“This accreditation demonstrates our commitment towards developing and investing in our People through our unique Employee Value Proposition we call, ’The MTN Deal’ that has made the Company the leading Employer of Choice in Uganda”.

Sekadde further alluded to the recognition of MTN Uganda with the Best Training and Development Award for 2012 by the Federation of Uganda employers (FUE), which further demonstrates the company’s philosophy of continuous investment in its People to achieve Performance Excellence.

“At MTN Uganda, we believe that the role our people play in the success of the Company is very fundamental. Without the appropriate people and the right support practices in place, the Company cannot create an environment where they can deliver the Company’s Vision. That is why we are committed to invest in our people through a robust training and development strategy,” he added.

The Investors in People (IIP) Assessment is one of the World’s leading People Management Standards. It is a Business Improvement Tool designed to assist Organizations develop high performance through its people. ‘Investors in People’ is a proven methodology that leads to increased business performance and productivity.

The Assessment involves evaluating organizations to ensure that People Systems, Processes and Procedures are sufficiently embedded in the Organization. It focuses on areas such as; Understanding Business Strategy at all levels, Planned Learning and Development to achieve Business Objectives, People Management Strategies that promote equality, Managers capabilities and competencies to effectively manage people, Creating effective managers who can lead and develop people, Recognizing and valuing people, Encouraging people to make decisions as well as Effective Learning and Development practices and Investment in Talent.

Commenting on this achievement, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Mazen Mroué said that the company was particularly delighted by the accreditation as it reinforces MTN Uganda’s position as an Employer of Choice. “We are proud that three of our MTN Group Operations have been accredited, and MTN Uganda is one of them,” he said.

He pointed out that the E-Live Platform which is an e-Learning Tool that was launched in 2008 is one such initiative to foster Self-learning and Development of employees. “This initiative has enhanced the Web based learning for our employees at the Workplace and has enhanced their knowledge and skills,” Mroué added.

Elaborating further, he said that the Company’s Talent Management Strategy that ensures a pool of future Succession pipeline had been implemented successfully which has also led to increased Career development and up skilling of the Ugandan work-force across all the divisions in the Company.

The MTN Group as a leading Employer of Choice in most of its Operations in the emerging markets took a Strategic decision in 2012 to evaluate the quality of its People Management practices across its operating Units with the aim to benchmark these practices against world class standards of People Management.

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About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As of 30 June 2013, MTN Uganda recorded 8 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug  and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com . Customers can also follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug  and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare  for assistance.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 30 June 2013, MTN recorded 201.5 million subscribers across 22 countries. Visit us at www.mtn.com  , www.mtnbusiness.com  , www.mtnmmo.com   and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com

Kampala, Uganda – 14^th August, 2013

MTN Uganda’s half-year results show continued performance improvement as it passes the 8 million customer landmark

MTN Group’s Interim results, for the six-month period to 30 June 2013, that were announced this morning shows that MTN is well positioned for improved organic growth. MTN Group’s results were supported by strong organic growth from Uganda with a 15.4% increase in year-on-year revenue. MTN is a leading emerging markets operator, connecting more than 200 million people in 22 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It is at the forefront of global technological changes, delivering a bold, new Digital World to its customers.

Announcing the MTN Group results and the achievement of 200 million customers, the Group President and CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa said, “We’ve reached this important milestone a year before we celebrate 20 years of connecting people and economies, from South Africa, where MTN was started in 1994, to South Sudan, our most recent market”.

The results reflect a challenging operating environment given the sustained global economic slowdown, highly competitive mobile markets and pricing pressures, which have seen average voice tariffs across our markets fall 29.5% year-on-year (YoY) in US dollar terms. Despite these challenges, our substantial investment in network infrastructure and robust subscriber growth position us well for improved organic growth.

Highlights from MTN Uganda show an increase in its subscriber base by 4.4% to 8 million from 7.7 million at the end of December 2012, driven by strong promotional activity, a reduction in churn and the continued success of the MTN Zone offering.

MTN Uganda’s revenue increased by 15.4%, supported by strong data revenue growth. SMS revenue declined 14.6% as customers opted for newer data-driven social media platforms to communicate and as internet browsing increased. This positively impacted mobile data revenue, which increased 57.4%, supported by a simplified data bundles offering and upgraded internet speeds, regional data exhibitions and a strong performance from MTN Mobile Money. MTN Mobile Money recorded a 51% increase in subscribers and more than 25 million transactions per month.

Commenting on the results, MTN Uganda CEO Mazen Mroué said, “I am happy to note that the results announced earlier today show a steady performance for the MTN Group and particularly for MTN Uganda which has passed its 8 million customer landmark”.

MTN Uganda’s focus over the last year has been on Network Quality, the rollout of innovative Products and Services and improvement of Customer Experience.

During the last 15 years, MTN has made major investments to its infrastructure in Uganda. MTN Uganda launched the first mobile money service in Uganda with tremendous success, introduced 3G+ and 4G LTE, expanded the mobile distribution foot print, and greatly enhanced the mobile core, radio capacity and infrastructure technology. Furthermore, it extended the fibre network backbone and built regional switching centres in the East, West, North and Central regions.

In terms of infrastructure, last year MTN Uganda completed an additional 600km of fibre infrastructure closing the year with 2,800km of fibre to provide the capacity for high speed data connectivity and wider National coverage of 3G+ mobile data services that extend internet access to the rural areas of Uganda.

“I would like to congratulate the MTN Uganda staff for their contribution and support in achieving these positive results. At MTN we recognize our staff as a key asset in enabling this success”, Mroué added.

A key indicator of this excellence can be seen through a number of Awards that the company has received over the past couple of months showing endorsement from both its customers and other stakeholders.

Last week, MTN Uganda received three awards from Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) including Best Telecom Company, Best Money Transfer Services and Best Internet Service Provider 2013. This came just a few weeks after MTN Uganda was recognized as Uganda’s leading Super Brand where MTN was also recognized in the Telecommunications, Internet, Computers and Technology category. At this same award ceremony, MTN Mobile Money was also recognized under the financial category, ranking closely to some banks and other financial institutions.

Earlier in April, MTN Uganda was also voted as the Best Mobile Telecom provider of the year (2012) at the 2013 Uganda Responsible Investment (URI) awards.

“The MTN Uganda leadership team is fully aligned and committed to support the staff to continue performing and excelling to ensure that we are able to deliver even better results by the end of the year,” Mroué said.

He added that MTN Uganda will continue to invest in Uganda to ensure that it lives up to its vision of leading the delivery of a bold, new Digital World to our customers. MTN Uganda is embracing this vision through constant enhancements to our Data Network to deliver World-class Internet and make our customers’ lives a whole lot brighter.

To celebrate this achievement, and to continue giving back to the communities that have supported MTN over the years, the Group President and CEO, Mr. Sifiso Dabengwa, also announced a bold R200 million initiative to improve the quality of education across our markets in Africa and the Middle East.

“This is our opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to social development. Due to the lack of access to quality education and infrastructure, and low literacy rates in most of the countries we operate in, we will direct a significant amount of our corporate social (CSI) spend towards education over the next two years,” Dabengwa commented.

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For a detail review of the MTN Group Interim Results please visit www.mtn.com

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As of 30 June 2013, MTN Uganda recorded 8 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug and for our football fanswww.mtnfootball.com. Customers can also follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug andwww.twitter.com/mtnugandacare for assistance.

About MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 March 2013, MTN recorded 201.5 million subscribers across 22 countries. Visit us atwww.mtn.com

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MTN Uganda has received three awards from Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) including Best Telecom Company, Best Money Transfer Services and Best Internet Service Provider 2013.

This comes just a few weeks after MTN Uganda was recognized as Uganda’s leading Super Brand where MTN was also recognized in the Telecommunications, Internet, Computers and Technology category. At this same award ceremony, MTN Mobile Money was also recognized under the financial category, ranking closely to some banks and other financial institutions.

The KACITA Awards announcement was made at a function which took place on Friday 9th August 2013 at Hotel Africana. MTN Uganda was applauded for its continued adherence to quality products, standards and excellent service provisioning to its customers. The event was presided over by the Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Amelia Kyambade who represented the Vice President of Uganda, Hon. Edward Ssekandi.

Commenting on the Awards, MTN Chief Executive Officer, Mazen Mroué attributed the accolades to the continued dedication from MTN staff and the support from its valued customers.

“We are honored to win these awards in recognition of our continued efforts towards making the lives of our customers a whole lot brighter. We pledge to continue to work together with KACITA and the Government of Uganda as developmental partners to further support business communities in and around Kampala. The traders and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a key facet of our economy as they play a fundamental role in the development of the country,” Mroué said.

Earlier in April, MTN Uganda was also voted as the Best Mobile Telecom provider of the year (2012) at the 2013 Uganda Responsible Investment (URI) awards ceremony held at the Imperial Royal Hotel in Kampala.

According to Public Opinions the organizer of the Uganda Responsible Investment awards, MTN was voted for by the people of Uganda in appreciation and recognition of its contribution towards the promotion of international best practices and standards in their day-to-day operations.

KACITA Spokesperson Issa Ssekito said the Awards which are held annually are intended to honour products that enforce standards and continue to be innovative in order to deliver customer satisfaction.

All selected Brands that were entered for the awards were nominated by the public before verification by Uganda National Bureau of Standards for certification. The public were again asked in a random survey why they prefer/think of each of the brands against the others. This method comprised 60% of the selection while 40% was collected through SMS messages that were collected and tabulated by audit firm, Ernst & Young.

This year, the KACITA Awards were sponsored by Coca Cola, Nile Breweries and UMEME.

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As of 31 March 2013, MTN Uganda recorded 7.95 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug  and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com  Customers can also follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug  and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare  for assistance.

About MTN Group   

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 March 2013, MTN recorded 197.4 million subscribers across 22 countries. Visit us at www.mtn.com

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·         Exclusively dedicated to telenovelas, Telemundo brings dramatic storylines, exotic locations and glamorous personalities to Africa, under the tagline: “Feel the passion”

·         From August 12 will reach DStv and GOtv customers across the African continent

The channel’s division of NBCUniversal International Television today announced the launch of Telemundo, the popular telenovela channel, in Africa. From Monday 12 August, the exciting new channel will be an addition to the DStv Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus (where available) and Premium bouquets, on 118. Telemundo will also be available on channel 13, on GOtv Plus (where available).

Telemundo will exclusively air telenovelas with the tagline: “Telemundo – Feel the Passion.”

Nico Meyer, MultiChoice Africa CEO said, “We are delighted to be launching Telemundo as it increases the range of programming available to DStv and GOtv subscribers. Telenovelas are a popular entertainment format and we want to provide a dedicated channel where subscribers can go to find this kind of programming. The launch forms part of MultiChoice Africa’s commitment to provide viewers in Africa with a wide channel line-up and to ensure that they have a broad variety of genres to choose from.”

Telemundo in Africa will be dedicated to the most compelling Spanish language telenovelas, offering DStv and GOtv customers a dramatic rollercoaster of romance, mystery, action and adventure. Telemundo will bring the world of exotic locations and glamorous personalities into African homes.

“Telenovelas are an editorial and television force internationally and we are particularly excited to bring Telemundo to Africa exclusively with DStv and GOtv,” says Colin McLeod, Managing Director Emerging Markets, Universal Networks International. “Together we believe we can help to drive multi-channel television to an even broader market. With the launch of Telemundo viewers will have another great reason to tune into DStv and GOtv.”

At launch, viewers can look forward to fascinating stories of love, success and betrayal with high quality production values in telenovelas including Aurora, Precious Rose, My Heart Beats for Lola and Behind Closed Doors.  

Telemundo will be fully localised for the African market with full dubbing of Spanish-language programming in English for South Africa and Sub-Saharan countries.

Telemundo becomes the fifth channel brand from Universal Networks International to launch in Africa, joining the recently refreshed channels – Universal Channel, E! Entertainment Television and The Style Network, and movies channel, Studio Universal.  Further, NBCUniversal News Group also operates CNBC channels across the continent.

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