HiPipo Money

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Kampala

Twenty one students from twenty one different schools around the country will each win a fully paid scholarship from MTN Uganda this year following the launch of the annual 21 days of Y’ello Care staff initiative.

21 days of Y’ello Care is an annual 21 day long MTN staff volunteerism initiative in which employees across MTN’s international footprint take time off to physically get involved in activities that uplift communities around them through financial, physical and emotional contributions of staff and MTN as a corporate citizen.

The theme this year is, “Investing in Education”, but with a special focus on ICT in education, which is coherent with MTN’s new vision, “To lead in the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers.”

In line with this new vision, and as part of the activities for this year’s campaign, MTN Uganda in partnership with Gayaza High School launched an e-learning platform in June 2012 that enables students from schools across the country to access educational material from the recommended national syllabus as well as other relevant materials.

To win the scholarships, MTN and Gayaza are initially working with 50 participating schools that will be required to each register at least five students to take part in an on- line aptitude exam with 50 questions to be answered correctly within one hour and 15 minutes.

The aptitude test will be marked by the system and results provided instantly in real time. The tests will be done at regional hub schools where participating students and schools will converge on the 14^th June. On this day, mentorship and career guidance classes will also be conducted for participating students.

Anthony Katamba  MTN Uganda’s GM – Corporate Services explained that the e-learning platform is an initiative geared at impacting and empowering learners with in the country through improved electronic educational content and user enabling apps, considering that the whole world is now going online.

“At MTN, we believe in empowerment of the communities in various areas. Education is one such area which is very close to our hearts because of the direct link between improved literacy and the socio-economic status of any community. The partnership on this e-learning platform will therefore empower and enable students from all regions, both rural and urban, not only access quality education efficiently, but also improve their ICT knowledge, skills and exposure, along the way,” Katamba said.

The hub schools for the regional activations this year are Makerere College for central, Mwiri College for Eastern, Mvara Secondary School Northern and Bweranyangi Girls School for Western. The scholarships have been split equally among regions, to make 20, but with one additional special one to make the 21.

There will also be a two day workshop starting 6^th June to empower and equip head teachers and other key teachers from participating schools on e-learning change management as well as motivational speeches from the MTN senior management team.

The MTN Uganda CEO, Mazen Mroué said, “The funding of the project is solely dependent on contributions from MTN Staff who also physically get involved in the campaign activities. Leveraging on our regional presence across the country, the planned activities will allow a cross section of our staff to participate in this worthy Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. MTN Uganda firmly believes that ICT sector holds tremendous promise as an enabler of social development especially in Education”.

As part of a drive to generate positive content for the e-learning platform, MTN Uganda will also initiate a competition on its Facebook page with the objective of acquiring innovative content & applications to support the Uganda Schools eLearning platform. MTN has the largest local Facebook Fan base currently at 110,000 fans, a sufficient platform to generate relevant content based on defined criteria. 

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Bell Lager Unveils New Model in Sports Entertainment

……….as the Bell Fiesta promises to be a win for soccer and music fans in Uganda

The Bell Fiesta, scheduled to kick off in a big show at Legends Grounds represents the first ever soccer and music mix event in Uganda aimed at providing the ultimate experience to soccer and music lovers in an atmosphere of fun, competition and excitement.

It is an electrifying concept that involves various fun and challenging team and individual soccer activities like Timed Dribbling, Computer Football Gaming, Inflatable Goal Penalty Shootouts, Foosball and the ultimate thriller – Human Football Table.

Human Table Foosball is a twist to the classic game of football played in a giant life size inflatable version of the old classic Table Football (Foosball) bar game and is one of the most exciting competitive games.

People will get together into teams of 7 and hold onto bars that will limit their movements, much like what we see in foosball. The trick is to use teamwork to win even with these restrictions; it’s fun at its best.

“This is part of Bell Lager’s commitment to deliver to our consumers a creative form of recreation in a world that’s increasingly busy and mundane; we are giving everybody out there something new and fun to look forward to,” said Grace Nshemeire-Gwaku, Uganda Breweries Limited Marketing Director.

Scheduled to be held in over 20 locations in Kampala and selected towns around the country, it is anticipated that over 20,000 spectators and participants will descend on the various Bell Fiesta venues put their teamwork to the test in fun filled evening events.

Uganda’s soccer fans will be treated to an opportunity to become a real-life soccer action figure and compete against your friends in a fun-filled experience

“The Bell Fiesta features more than just the thrilling sports competition and music,” says Robert Nsibirwa, Bell Lager Brand Manager. “It will immerse attendees into the Bell Nation’s electrifying music and entertainment culture.”

Those attending will enjoy captivating music performances from local artists, good food, halftime dancers and cheerleaders, an after party with a live DJ and the chance to win many prizes and giveaways with complements from Bell Lager.

“It is great games, it is great fun and it is 100% Bell Lager,” says Robert. Join in and be part of something amazing!”

 “We want to encourage as many people as possible people from across the country to participate in Bell Fiesta. We are confident that the event will be a fantastic day out with a great program for both sports and music enthusiasts,” added Grace Nshemeire-Gwaku.

In the Bell Nation anything is possible, good times last longer, friendships grow stronger, plans are made and the future shines bright. Sport and Football in particular play a significant role in bringing people together, breaking down barriers and helping people to see and appreciate different perspectives which expounds on the larger Bell Nation Campaign.

The inaugural Bell Fiesta will build on the inclusive nature of football while at the same time provide a platform for people from all backgrounds living to interact, celebrate the rich diversity around them while taking part in the beautiful game.

Entrance to the Bell Fiesta events will be free. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company will continue to innovate and has more game-changing products ahead. Today in a keynote conversation at the D11 Conference, Cook said the same people who brought you the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and maybe even the Mac will have new products coming soon.

Two weeks ahead of Apple’s own Worldwide Developers Conference, speculation has grown about new hardware that could be released at the conference, as well as updates to Apple’s mobile and tablet developer platform with the upcoming release of iOS 7.

“Many people now say that innovation means a new category,” Tim Cook said. “Yes, we’re still a company that’s going to do that… We have some incredible plans that we’ve been working on for a while.”

When pressed on the future of TV, Cook declined to talk about any future products, but he said that there’s a big opportunity to offer a more compelling experience there. Apple has now sold more than 13 million Apple TV devices, about half of which during the past year. But there’s still more that can be done, according to Cook.

“When you look at the TV experience, it’s not an experience that people love,” Cook said. “It’s not an experience that’s been brought up to date for this decade.”

Credit: http://techcrunch.com

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MultiChoice Africa, a pioneer of pay television in Africa with an unmatched track record of over two decades of investment in the continent is very proud to announce its partnership with the African Union, a successor of the Organisation of African Unity – bringing Africans in over 50 countries across the continent, the 50^th anniversary celebrations of the OAU/AU on both DStv and GOtv.

As a proudly African company, MultiChoice understands its responsibility as a corporate citizen – that solutions to Africa’s prosperity should come from within. Providing sustainable solutions to the continent’s growth story requires a loyalty from its people, to share common goals as Africans and further the greater African agenda. Committed to the development of the continent, over the years MultiChoice Africa has invested extensively in local content because of its inherent belief in creating a vibrant cultural identity and healthy economies.

MultiChoice is devoted to promoting Africa, its successes and the aspirations of its people by collaborating with talented local film makers who create authentic stories of their lives. With Nollywood now an industry worth no less than $250 million, it was years ago that MultiChoice fully realized the power of storytelling and the unifying factor of the commonality of their stories. The growing impact of the Africa Magic channels across Africa is proof indeed that individual identity is transcended by finding common ground.

As a champion of regional integration and social cohesion, through its investment in the M-Net and SuperSport channels, MultiChoice has achieved great strides in the development of original African programming; the growth of local sporting leagues as well as showcasing the best quality productions across the continent. It has grown its local content offering to 7 quality premium channels including the popular Africa Magic channels which are accessible to the entire continent.

Its agenda will be no different to that of the AU on Saturday, the 25^th May, when MultiChoice Africa will be celebrating pan Africanism and the African Renaissance, bringing to television screens a world-class spectacle. As 74 Heads of States and Governments from AU member states come together for the celebrations, all of Africa will share the significance of Addis Ababa as a spiritual and political home of the OAU/AU since its inception in 1963.  On this day, inspired by a common identity, indigenous ideology and the quest for continental unity, the OAU sought to harmonise policies and co- ordinate action across and between its signatory states, as an initial step to realize a united Africa.

Pleased with the media partnership agreement with the AU, CEO of MultiChoice Africa, Nico Meyer said: “This partnership is particularly significant because of our common appreciation and love for this continent. As MultiChoice, we recognise Africa’s potential and we are firmly committed to nurturing it. Our investments have brought social and economic benefits to the communities in which we operate through partnerships and job creation. Partnering with the various free-to air channels across the continent, to broadcast this momentous occasion, is an undeniably exciting moment – bringing the AU to the people. We would like to congratulate the OAU/AU for 50 years of promoting African unity.

Additionally MultiChoice is providing a service to Free to Air broadcasters across the continent to receive footage of the celebrations free of charge as a service to Africa. Tune into DStv and GOtv on channels 197 and 99 respectively to share in Africa’s greatest moment.

Addis Ababa May 24, 2013:

In a Continental first GOtv, will be bringing audiences across Africa LIVE coverage of the 50^th Anniversary of the OAU / AU from Addis Ababa on Saturday 25 May, 2013.

The celebratory events, which is expected to attract 74 Heads of States and Governments from AU member states, will be broadcast on GOtv channel 99 from 07:00 CAT using the latest generation Digital Video Broadcast standard – DVB-T2 to audiences.

Nico Meyer – CEO of MultiChoice Africa said “MultiChoice is in line with the AU’s mandate, which is to promote an integrated and prosperous continent driven by its own citizens, MultiChoice through GOtv as a proud citizen of the African continent is wholly committed to the development of Africa and its people.”

GOtv, available in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe operates on DVB-T2 technology which represents one of the most advanced DTT broadcast systems and infrastructure established on the continent, but in the rest of the world to date; and leapfrogs the outdated DVB-T1 (or ISDB-T) systems. This puts Africa at the forefront of technology in the DTT space.

So tune in on Saturday 25 May witness as the continent comes together for the celebrations, all of Africa will share the significance of Addis Ababa as a spiritual and political home of the OAU/AU since its inception in 1963.  On this day, inspired by a common identity, indigenous ideology and the quest for continental unity, the OAU sought to harmonise policies and co-ordinate action across and between its signatory states, as an initial step to realize a united Africa.

Don’t miss this African milestone celebrations LIVE on channel 99 on GOtv and GOtv Plus from 07:00 CAT. Additionally MultiChoice is providing a service to Free to Air broadcasters across the continent to receive footage of the celebrations free of charge as a service to Africa.

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…as five East African teams in the Semi-Finals ready to tackle the Pan-African opposition for the champion crown

KAMPALA, 23rd May 2013 – Ghana’s winning team in last night’s episode of The GUINNESS® FOOTBALL CHALLENGE™ celebrated securing their place in the Semi-Finals of the Pan-African showdown by breaking out in the Azonto dance which even got presenters Larry Asego and Mimi Kalinda on their feet!  Emmanuel Kofi Okarku, 27 and Issac Aryee, 25 may have struggled on the Guinness® Money Wall and only bagged $1,500 USD, but they got the whole of the studio, and probably, most of Africa, dancing away to the famous routine!

The winning team put in an incredible performance in the Formation Round and secured a 16-point lead with a great demonstration of skill and knowledge from the pair.  They went on to beat the Kenyan team of Kenneth Mukuri and Chris Mwamgi, who were representing East Africa, in the Penalties, which saw them once again reach the Wall.  But all is not lost for the East African duo who will make the Semi-Final as Runners-Up. 

The pairs of Emmaunel and Issac, and Kenneth and Chris all continue on their journey in the show as they ‘Play for Their Country’ in the Semi-Finals.  They will all be hoping that they have the confidence to live bold and be crowned Pan-African champions. 

Robert Nsibirwa, Guinness®  Uganda Brand Manager said:  “Our first Semi-Final is kicking off next week and we can’t wait to see which teams from across Africa will make it all the way to our very first GUINNESS® FOOTBALL CHALLENGE™ Pan-African Final!  We are so proud of all the teams and now the very best duos in East Africa will be stepping up to show that they are real players in life and don’t believe in sitting on the side-lines!  It’s shaping up to be a true East vs West battle and we know that Ugandan fans will be getting behind all of the East African teams!”

Going head-to-head in the first Semi-Final will be:

EAST AFRICA

·         IN BLACK – Kenneth Kamau, 23, and Willis Ogutu, 30, are both from Nairobi.  Ken is a youth football coach and Willis a driver.  This team won our second Quarter Final and added $1,500 to the $3,000 they had already secured in their National episodes

·         IN RED – are the second Kenyan duo Francis Ngigi, 23, from Nairobi and Kepha Kimani, 25, from Thika.  The team bagged $3,000 in their National episode and made it to the Penalties round in the Semi-Final

·         IN GREEN – From Dar es Salaam will be Daniel Msekwa, 21, and Mwalimu Akida Hamad, 26. They won an incredible $5,500 on the National show and made it to the Penalty round in the Semi-Final – will they make it to the Guinness® Money Wall this time around?

FOR GHANA:

·         IN BLUE – Ghana’s highest Guinness® Money Wall winners Jonathan Naab, 25 from Tindongo and Desmond Odaano, 26, from Larteh have made it all the way to the Semi-Final after bagging a total of $8,500.  Will they make it to the first ever Pan-African final?   

The first Semi-Final will be broadcast on 29^th May, 2013 at 8.00PM on NTV so make sure you get behind East Africa and support our team as they take on the best duos from across the continent.

Fans of the show can test their own football knowledge via the GUINNESS® FOOTBALL CHALLENGE™ mobile phone game which is available on the exciting Guinness® mobile social community for football lovers, GUINNESS® VIP™.   Sign up for free and test your knowledge to see where you stand on the all new Pan-African leader board at m.guinnessvip.com on your phone. 

The GUINNESS® FOOTBALL CHALLENGE™, produced by Endemol, will be broadcast on NTV every Wednesday at 8.00PM so make sure you grab a bottle of ice cold Guinness® and tune in to be part of the action.

Please drink responsibly – strictly 18+.

Samsung Electronics announced that global channel sales of its GALAXY S4, a life companion for a richer, fuller, simpler life, has surpassed 10 million units sold in less than one month after its commercial debut. Launched globally on April 27 in 60 countries, the phone is estimated to be selling at a rate of four units per second.

The GALAXY S4 sets a new record for Samsung, generating sales quicker than any of its predecessors. Sales of the GALAXY S III reached the 10-million mark 50 days after its launch in 2012, while the GALAXY S II took five months and the GALAXY S seven months to reach the same milestone.

“On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen the Samsung Galaxy S4. At Samsung we’ll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for people.” JK Shin, CEO and President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics

The GALAXY S4 was developed to enhance the meaningful moments in our lives through its innovative features and superior hardware. It has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display that showcases images at their very best on a 5-inch screen with 441ppi. Equipped with a powerful rear 13MP camera, the GALAXY S4 also boasts a Dual Camera function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras. The GALAXY S4’s new and innovative software features include Air View and Air Gesture for effortless tasks, while it also keeps users up-to-date with information about their health and wellbeing using S Health.

Samsung GALAXY S4 is available in more than 110 countries and will gradually be rolled out to a total of 155 countries in cooperation with 327 partners.

Samsung is planning to introduce more color variations to meet various consumer tastes and preferences. In addition to the currently available White Mist and Black Forest, new color iterations will be added this summer, including Blue Arctic and Red Aurora, followed by Purple Mirage and Brown Autumn.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung, is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.

Since acquiring bmi just over a year ago, British Airways has this year substantially increased its African network adding three additional destinations and 20 more services.

On the 12^th May 2013, British Airways increased its Nairobi flights to eight from the previous seven flights. The new addition operates as an overnight flight, leaving its Heathrow hub on Sunday evenings and arriving in Nairobi on Monday mornings. The return flight departs Nairobi on Monday evenings arriving in London on Tuesday mornings.

In Morocco, it has just announced an increase in its schedule to Marrakech from daily to 10 flights a week and added a third weekly service to Agadir. The additional frequencies go on sale immediately. The Marrakech services increase on 28 October with the third Agadir flight starting on 29 October.This is the second time in less than a year that the airline has grown its Morocco services. Late last year it added four flights a week to Marrakech and began a twice-weekly service to Agadir.

In West Africa it started flying three times a week to Sierra Leone and Liberia. The new flights to these fast-growing regional economies are in addition to the well-established West-African routes in Ghana and Nigeria.

In south Africa it confirmed three additional frequencies to Johannesburg, on top of the existing double-daily services to the country’s business hub and its direct daily Cape Town/ London flights, which increase to double daily over the southern hemisphere summer peak season.

“The acquisition of bmi has enabled us to expand our flying programme in Africa to serve 18 routes in 15 countries. We now fly to more places, more often than we ever have before in the 80 years we have served the continent. These flights link growing African destinations to London and provide onward connections to the world’s business capitals,” says Ian Petrie, regional commercial manager for Africa.

In addition to this international network, British Airways’ franchise partner, Comair, operates to domestic and regional destinations in South and Southern Africa, flying over 700 departures a week. It recently added Maputo to its regional network.

For more information on British Airways’ African network and timetables, visit www.ba.com

23^rd May 2013: With only three days to go, GOtv is proud to announce that subscribers are in for a treat on Sunday, 26 May 2013 at 20:00 GMT. The launch show of the highly anticipated show, Big Brother Africa: The Chase, will be screened LIVE, on both AfricaMagic World and AfricaMagic! The big night will see 28 new housemates revealed to audiences across Africa, and their arrival will be celebrated by a multitude of award-winning musicians from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa when they take centre stage to perform their biggest hits.

These musical heavyweights comprise of Don Jazzy, D’Prince and Wande Coal; as well Mafikizolo – one of South Africa’s leading Afro Pop music groups. The line-up will also include some comic relief from Kenyan stand-up comedian Daniel Ndambuki, popularly known as Churchill, and the much loved IK Osakioduwa, will host the show.

GOtv audiences can tune in to AfricaMagic World, channel 9; and GOtv Plus audiences can tune into either AfricaMagic World or AfricaMagic, channel 1; on 26 May 19:00 CAT, to be part of the Big Brother Africa movement!

MTN Uganda, the number one sponsor of Uganda’s National Football team, the Uganda Cranes, has launched a new campaign to drive love, affection and passion for the Uganda Cranes.

The new campaign inflames passion and with the focus aimed at “We believe in our Team and our Nation” it creates a link between this passion and the MTN brand.

“We strive to live our customers’ passions and champion their aspirations by getting involved with the things that they care deeply about. In Uganda, this definitely includes the Uganda Cranes and that’s why we are proudly the Number one team sponsor.” said Ernst Fonternel, MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer.

One activity that enjoys universal appeal across all our operating regions is football. It’s the world’s most popular sport and serves as a common global language, making it a perfect fit for MTN Uganda that’s all about getting people talking.

“Our hope is that our Nation embraces this “We believe” spirit and we will be there in full support for the team on their next two qualification games scheduled for the 8^th and on the 15^th June 2013 at Mandela National StadiumNamboole.” Fonternel explained.

“We believe in our Team, the Uganda Cranes, and our Nation. As the Cranes’ number one fan, we call upon every Ugandan to join us on a journey as we support, uplift and celebrate with the Uganda Cranes. The campaign is aimed at re-igniting the passion for the team in the short, medium and long term.” saidFonternel.

The new campaign is strategically launched just one day after the soccer governing body Federation of Uganda Football Association appointed a new coach, Milutin“Micho” Sredojevich to lead the Uganda Cranes for the next two years.

FUFA President Lawrence Mulindwa thanked MTN Uganda for always coming out to support the Uganda Cranes.

“This new campaign is very timely. It comes in at a time when we have also reinforced the team with a new manager who we believe will take the team new levels of success. Our very sincere appreciation goes out to MTN for the continued support,” Mulindwa said.

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading telecommunications firm in country with more than 7.9 million customers as of 31 March 2013.

Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug; www.youtube.com/mtnug; www.facebook.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare.

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 31 March 2013, MTN recorded 195.4 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.