Halloween is around the corner and DStv is delighted to bring exciting news that will bring thrills and chills to our DStv Compact Plus and Compact customers! From Friday 28 October at 18:00 CAT to Sunday 30 October at 23:59 CAT, three of our top premium channels, M-Net, M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP will be available to customers – at no extra cost!
This exciting announcement comes on the heels of MultiChoice’s latest initiative launched this week that will see an impressive price decrease for its DStv subscribers, plus some exciting new channels and a variety of premium content being added to DStv packages from 01 November.
And when it rains good news at DStv, it certainly pours! And this Halloween, if it’s horror you’re after, we’ll thrill you with Great Halloween Fright Night and American Horror Story on M-Net Edge. Our budding crime investigators can use their deductive skills as they watch Public Morals from the very first episode.
If the only bones you’re interested in are your funny bones, then give Mike and Molly a go (M-Net) or immerse yourself in our reality TV offerings on the same channel. Talented chefs from down under will battle it out on MasterChef Australia, or XFactor UK. Then there’s the Real Housewives of New Jersey or Love and HipHop on Vuzu Amp.
If superhero’s are more your thing, there’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl and The Arrow on Vuzu Amp. Or indulge your appetite for action with The Transporter Reloaded on the M-Net Sunday night movie.
If you’re a DStv Compact Plus or Compact customer, these channels will magically appear on your package, so you don’t even have to lift a finger. So have a happy Halloween on us!
DStv subscription prices slashed and more entertainment added to DStv Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access
• PRICE DECREASE on DStv Premium by 14%, Compact Plus by 15%, Compact by 5%, Family by 9%
• PLUS: DStv customers to enjoy an entertainment bonanza with MORE variety, quality and exciting new content added to their packages
18 October 2016 – Great news for television lovers in Uganda – the revolution has arrived and everyone will continue to enjoy great family entertainment as MultiChoice delivers even more value to DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access! True to our commitment to our customers, today MULTICHOICE announced a decrease on DStv subscription prices alongside a massive content upgrade on DStv packages, effective on 01 November 2016.
MultiChoice’s priority is to put customers at the heart of our business – and this is exactly what we are doing! In the last 9 months DStv has delivered the world’s best football leagues to DStv Compact customers (February) followed by the DStv price freeze in April – and in the latest giant leap in providing customer value, DStv is offering the best value entertainment by combining both quality and variety at a reduced rate to ensure everyone has access to great family entertainment.
Today’s announcement introduces even greater changes to benefit customers – these include:
DStv Premium: More for less – more HD and pop-up channels at 14% less
DStv Premium remains the ultimate television entertainment experience in Uganda – with the best of everything including the world’s most popular local and international channels. To entrench real value, DStv Premium will now offer more for less with an unbelievable reduction of 14% on the subscription price from 1 November, the new subscription price will be UGX 287,250.
With the addition of eight high definition (HD) channels, customers can now watch more of their favourite shows including the latest and exclusive first run movies, drama, comedy and sport in picture-perfect, crystal clear quality on the 20 HD channels now available to them.
Also this October, DStv Premium customers will celebrate with M-Net on the M-Net Movies Blockparty pop-up channel on 109, and can look forward to more exciting pop-up channels in the coming months like the M-Net Movies Harry Porter pop-up channel which will run from 4 – 14 November.
DStv Compact Plus: Bigger and better with ELEVEN new channels at a 15% REDUCTION in price
In a major revamp of DStv Compact Plus, customers will enjoy more fantastic channels with buzzworthy original series plus hilarious local sitcoms, riveting talk shows and thought-provoking documentaries previously only available on the DStv Premium package along with a 15% drop in subscription price to UGX 190,700.
As of 1 November, new channels will include Vuzu AMP, Lifetime, Discovery channel, Crime & Investigation, History channel and Africa Magic Showcase. DStv Compact Plus will also be injected with extra sports content with the addition of more UEFA Champions League matches alongside the best European Football leagues and the Europa league on SuperSport 6 (SS6) and SuperSport 4 (SS4). New channels coming soon to DStv to bring the best of Nollywood content, Latin American telenovelas and Bollywood movies respectively, on the package include ROK, Eva Plus and B4U Movies.
DStv Compact: SIX new channels and a 5% price DROP in price!
DStv Compact will receive a 5% price drop to UGX 121,600 and will retain the previous addition of the Premier League and La Liga earlier this year. In additional to this, customers will now get even more content from the best of English programming on ITV Choice (DStv channel 123) as well as a trip down memory lane with the nostalgic movies on TCM (DStv channel 137) and SS4. From November onwards, Compact subscribers will also be treated to new channels, ROK, Eva Plus and B4U Movies!
DStv Family: FIVE new channels at a 9% price CUT!
The DStv Family package will be reduced by 9% to UGX 66 750 and will be boosted with FIVE additional channels B4U Movies, Eva and Eva Plus channels. More entertainment awaits with the addition of SS4 and FOX.
DStv Access: Gains THREE new channels!
DStv Access will also get a major content boost of three new channels that will be added including SS4, B4U Movies and Eva Plus – where viewers will get access to the latest library content of the hottest telenovelas that have aired on Eva – in addition to a great new line up of sporting events.
“This significant price drop, coupled with the major boost in entertainment value across all DStv bouquets demonstrates our commitment to ensuring DStv customers receive the best possible access to great entertainment and outstanding value. For new customers the price reductions in both subscription prices and state of the art decoders at just UGX 130,000 (full kit including one month of compact) will ensure that great family entertainment is available to everyone at the most affordable price. These changes are not only a defining moment in our MultiChoice story, but also a defining moment in the African entertainment landscape and we are proud to be pushing as hard as we can to delight every television entertainment fan in Africa,” said Charles Hamya, the General Manager of MultiChoice Uganda.
For more information of the new prices and upcoming programming on channels added to the various DStv packages, please visit www.dstv.com.
9th August 2016 will forever be remembered as a day that revolutionized banking!
On this day, MTN Uganda and Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) opened up banking for the majority of Uganda’s unbanked population by launching a convenient and innovative mobile financial service named MoKash.
MoKash allows MTN Mobile Money subscribers to save between UGX 1 shillings to UGX 1.6 million, earn interests ranging from 2% to 5% on their savings and also get short terms loans of up to UGX. 1 million repayable within a month. In brief, with MoKash, MTN, a mobile telecommunications company by inception now offers the same vital services as all retail banks in the market. The only difference comes in the cash amounts/limits involved. That is to say; micro vs. macro financing and saving.
MTN and CBA Bank launch MoKash- 9th, August, 2016.
Just like Mobile Money, first launched by MTN Uganda in 2009, MoKash will definitely transform not only telecommunication business but the entire financial sector. Meanwhile, Airtel Uganda’s Savings and Loans product is also in the offing. We wait for the red brigade to unveil it whenever they are ready.
Barely seven weeks after its launch, MoKash already has over 0.6 million registered customers and more thousands and millions are expected in the coming weeks and months.
“We have received positive feedback from the public, our customers and other stakeholders. This is reflected in the customer sign ups and we are on track to get 1M customers in 3 months. Over 600,000 customers have so far registered for MoKash since its launch one and half months ago. We also see steady growth in customers’ deposits as well as loans,” Phrase Lubega, the MTN GM Mobile Financial Services (MFS) told HiPipo Money recently, adding;
“Over 150,000 customers are already saving with MoKash. Over 30,000 MoKash customers have taken out loans.”
Like you have read above and maybe from other write ups, most feedback around MoKash is rosy!
Nonetheless, just like many new products, MoKash still has some teething troubles that should be urgently addressed by the product owners or else they may hurt customers and change both the script and flow of what is currently a good story.
For instance, while MoKash’s saving function is working perfectly well, the borrowing arm is still very limited and somewhat letting down some customers.
Between September 9th and 24th, HiPipo Money conducted a random survey with over 30 MoKash registered customers. All these were able to save but only a handful could borrow. Whenever those that couldn’t borrow checked their loan limit, they received a zero limit flash message seen below.
“Your loan limit is UGX 0. Save more to Mokash to grow your loan limit!”
The figures from MTN validated the above survey findings. On more than 600,000 MoKash customers, only ‘30,000 had taken loans by 18th September.’
So, how much savings are required for one to be able to borrow on MoKash? Minus savings, what else is required for one to start borrowing with MoKash?
The MTN team acknowledged our findings and stated that MTN had “noticed some customers have a loan limit of 0 and are in the process of re-analyzing their data to update their limits where applicable.”
MTN’s acknowledgment of the nagging issue and commitment to fixing it soonest meant that there was no point dwelling on the issue any further.
That said, there is one patent matter very close to MoKash that needs some audience. Even if most media is silent about it, I will rise it here and now.
For a month, I have had in-depth discussions with friends about MoKash, its relationship with our banking sector and overall technology ecosystem. The facts, arguments and counter-arguments from our discussions depict a banking sector that is slow, and somewhat detached from the market realities of the environment in which it operate.
It is a fact that in November 2012, Safaricom and CBA launched M-Shwari (M-Pesa/Mobile Money Savings and Loans) in Kenya.
It is again a fact that in May 2014, CBA in partnership with Vodacom Tanzania introduced M-Pawa; a service that effectively allowed Vodacom M-Pesa customers to save and borrow money using their phones.
It is also a fact that on August 9, almost four years after Kenya got M-Shwari and two years after Tanzania received M-Pawa, MTN Uganda partnered with CBA Bank and rolled out a similar product for Uganda. CBA Bank appears in all these three projects.
Thus it is true to conclude that through having more unbanked people join the banked grid, CBA Bank is deliberately spearheading financial inclusion across East Africa. Whether planned or coincidental, CBA deserves more than a standing ovation for a financial inclusion job well done. Other banks are doing some recommendable work too but CBA is making a more tangible and believable difference.
CBA Bank is currently Kenya’s biggest bank by customer numbers with over 12 million customers as of December 2015. These are mainly Safaricom M-Pesa subscribers that registered for M-Shwari service and automatically became account holders of CBA Kenya. By end of 2015, these customers had transacted over KEX 70 billion (about UGX 2.3 Trillion) through CBA Kenya. So you know; one by one makes a bundle.
Safaricom’s M-Shwari performance as of December 2015.
In the same spirit and logic, CBA Tanzania and CBA Uganda are rapidly growing their customer bases through exploiting already existing technologies and platforms, in this case; utilizing existent mobile money technology. Barely seven weeks after the launch of MoKash, CBA has already registered more than 0.6 million customers (MTN MoKash Subscribers) thus becoming the fastest growing commercial and retail bank by customer base in Uganda. With such uptake, unless something drastic and unexpected happens, it is only a question of time before CBA becomes the biggest commercial bank in Uganda and Tanzania like it is in Kenya.
Other Banks Missing OUT!
But where were the other banks when CBA Bank was sealing this deal with MTN Uganda. They missed in action when CBA signed with Safaricom (Kenya), then didn’t show up when CBA signed with Vodacom (Tanzania) and now even in Uganda, they are nowhere to be seen. I mean was Stanbic Bank, Centenary Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Crane Bank, Postbank, DFCU, and Barclays among other banks sleeping and thus missed their flights to Innovation Centre, 216, 14th Avenue, Fairlands and as such couldn’t close such a lucrative and game changing deal with MTN Group?
What were the other Banks’ research and products development teams up to when CBA Bank was developing this product in 3 East African countries? Is this line of business copyrighted to CBA ‘first’ before other banks come on board in East Africa?
There are just a lot of questions but with no clear answers.
Efforts to hear from several banks about this matter were futile as for days, none of them replied to the emailed questions. Those that did either promised to respond but haven’t until now or questioned, perhaps downplayed the media where the required content was expected to run. YES, we are only a digital platform and as such, they saw no urgency, maybe no need to respond! Had it been traditional media, sure deal, the feedback would be prompt. Analogue characteristics are still allover the place.
But again, we are not deterred. The resolve to contribute towards the development of Uganda’s tech industry through supporting different stakeholders, appreciating good work, and keeping players in check is what keeps us going. The digital revolution is real. It can only be delayed but won’t be stopped.
Ironically, with MoKash, other banks are now face to face with very honest and bitter realities. One of their cash goat is threatened and now, they have to move faster or else that cash goat may burn.
Just like how it was in Kenya and Tanzania, more banks are going follow suit and unveil related products very soon. I have learnt that Stanbic Bank Uganda has already tested a savings product and intends to roll it out any time soon. But why wait for that long!
MTN team at the launch of MoKash- 9th, August, 2016.
Even though Retail ‘over the counter’ betting is still popular, the Online Betting Revolution that kicked off a few years ago is seriously gaining momentum and taking shape across Uganda.
We recently conducted a random survey on over 50 dedicated ‘over the counter’ betters and the results were very encouraging and in favor of Online Betting.
Of the 50 Retail Betters interacted with, 41 acknowledged of either having heard about or knowing Online Betting, while 9 were not sure of what it was. Of the 41 that were aware of Online Betting, 28 had bet online at least once, another 5 were planning to try it out for the first time while the rest were undecided on whether to try out Online Betting for the first time or not.
The positive reception and growing usage of Online Betting over the dominant ‘Over the Counter’ Betting is attributed to the ease, security and convenience to bet online.
But the main boost for Online Betting is the Mobile Money integration function that allows customers to place their Bets using Smart Phones, Tablets, Laptops and Desktop Computers and pay through mobile money.
“I had never used this platform before and my worry was about how I would deposit and receive the money. I don’t own a bank card. But with mobile money functionality, I easily deposit money on my PAWA account and bet,” one Derrick Kasi, a growing user of BETPAWA online platform noted.
Ntulume Henry further noted that, online betting enables customers to easily monitor their bets as everything is saved on their accounts instead of a paper that can get lost or be blown aware by wind any time.
Nonetheless, some Customers were quick to note that Online Betting Companies need to invest more in their marketing so as to grow Customer confidence and ‘believability’.
According to BET PAWA Uganda, online sports betting is an advanced way of predicting on different sports activities using Internet .The beneficiary places a wager /stake on the outcomes.
“One needs to have a mobile money account, a smart phone or laptop. Your telephone number is your account through which you a stake is made and in the event of a win, your winnings are deposited,” Livingstone Mugambe, the marketing manager of BETPAWA Uganda noted in an email.
BETPAWA is among the fastest growing Online Betting Companies in Uganda with about 10,000 customers on a good day.
“Like all activities out there if done in excess they will be detrimental. Betting should never be seen as a way of life to make money but rather as entertainment where you wager disposable income much the same way as going out with friends for drinks or a movie. To help our clients in the event of abuse, we disable their accounts on request whenever they want. We strongly recommend responsible betting, adult age betting, we also advise people not waste time in betting centers. They can comfortably do this on their internet enabled handsets,” Mugambe added.
Considering that Uganda has over 6 million internet users and about 8 million mobile money users currently, there is a huge opportunity for Online Betting to prosper. The story so far is encouraging. Try it out today.
The Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) has today unveiled the 2016 PRAU Excellence Awards with a call for entry for organizations both from the private and public sectors and agencies that have demonstrated excellence in the execution of PR, digital and communications functions.
The annual prestigious PRAU Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations across the public relations and communications industry in Uganda.
The main objectives of the awards are to: uplift the standard in the Public Relations industry, recognize, showcase and uphold professionalism in the Public Relations industry in Uganda, Honour leadership, service, knowledge and practice in the field as well as promote the good name, image and reputation of PRAU.
According to Ms. Cynthia Mpanga, the PRAU president, “The awards are a highly visible component of the Association setting standards of excellence in the field of PR. They aim to uplift the standards, recognize professionalism in the Public Relations, Honour leadership, service, knowledge and practice as well as Promote the good name, image and reputation of PRAU. The awards will this year be organized under the theme “PR Excellence in a Competitive & Digital World” and shall honour companies and individuals with 13 awards in three categories.” said Ms. Mpanga.
Adding that “Over the past year, we have witnessed a lot of creativity and imaginative use of digital/ social media as a core component of the communications role. Now that digital has come of age in our industry, we expect to receive a good number of entries from participating organizations and individuals.”
Digitalization of the PRAU Excellence awards was implemented by HiPipo.
Entries for the 2016 awards will be accepted through 1st to 30th October 2016, with the winners announced at a glamorous gala on November 25th, 2016 at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.
The 2016 PRAU Excellence Awards will be presented in the following categories:
PR Campaign category
a) Best Media Management Campaign
b) Best Event
c) Best Crisis Management Campaign
d) Best Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign
e) Best Public Sector Campaign
f) Best Not for Profit Campaign
g) Best PR agency
Supplementary category
h) Best Corporate/online Publication
i) Best Social/digital Media Campaign
j) Best Young Communicator of the Year
Honorary category
k) PRAU Golden Honors
l) PRAU Sheppard Honors
m) People’s Choice Award
According to Ms. Mpanga, the award submission rules will remain the same. That is;
Each entry must start with an opening 100-word statement describing why the entry should be deemed worthy of an award.
The entry submission should be limited to 1,200 words. (This excludes the 100 words above)
The entry must follow this submission structure; (I) Statement on problem/opportunity (ii) Research (iii) Planning (iv) Execution (v) Evaluation.
One MUST upload on PRAU’s website; a completed entry form, upload a written submission in Microsoft word or in PDF format and has the option to upload a video to support their entry.
The awards are open to; PR and communications practitioners, business enterprises/SMEs, government bodies, PR agencies, associations, NGO’s, students pursuing PR related courses, and In-house PR departments.
Entries submitted to the PRAU Excellence Awards competition will be judged by an independent panel of senior practitioners.
Left To right: Photo 3 – Left to right: Paul Mwirigi (Director PR), Helen Kawesa (Treasurer), Cynthia Mpanga (PRAU President), John Fisher Sekabira (Director Programmes), Stella Nkini Ndiwalana (Deputy Secretary General) The PRAU Governing Council answers to the questions from the press during the launch of the 6th PRAU Excellence Awards at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala, on Wednesday 21st September. The awards seek to recognize excellence and professional standards in the PR industry in Uganda.
Left to right: AG Musamali (Director Discipline), Paul Mwirigi (Director PR), Cynthia Mpanga (PRAU President), John Fisher Sekabira (Director Programmes), Sheila Kangwagye (Secretary General), Stella Nkini Ndiwalana (Deputy Secretary General). The PRAU Governing Council takes members of the press through the details of the 6th PRAU Excellence Awards. This was at the launch at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala, on Wednesday 21st September. The awards seek to recognize excellence and professional standards in the PR industry in Uganda.
Left to right: Paul Mwirigi (Director PR), Cynthia Mpanga (PRAU President), John Fisher Sekabira (Director Programmes) The PRAU Director for PR Paul Mwirigi takes members of the press through the details of the 6th PRAU Excellence Awards. This was at the launch at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala, on Wednesday 21st September. The awards seek to recognize excellence and professional standards in the PR industry in Uganda.
Left to right: Cathy Amariza Musoke (PR Team), Emmanuel Njuki (PR Team), Helen Kawesa (Treasurer), Paul Mwirigi (Director PR), Cynthia Mpanga (PRAU President), Stella Nkini Ndiwalana (Deputy Secretary General), Sheila Kangwagye (Secretary General), John Fisher Sekabira (Director Programmes) The PRAU Governing Council take a photo with some of the award trophies during the launch of the 6th PRAU Excellence Awards at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala, on Wednesday 21st September. The awards seek to recognize excellence and professional standards in the PR industry in Uganda.
MTN MoKash promises to be MTN Uganda’s biggest innovation if it’s very fast public uptake is anything to go by. Latest figures from MTN Uganda indicate that the service has already passed the 600,000 customers mark, barely two months after its launch.
In an email exchange with HiPipo, Mr Phrase Lubega, the GM Mobile Finance Systems confirmed this development.
“We have received positive feedback from the public, our customers and other stakeholders. This is reflected in the customer sign ups and we are on track to get 1M customers in 3 months. Over 600,000 customers have so far registered for MoKash since its launch one and half months ago. We also see steady growth in customers’ deposits as well as loans,” he noted.
Well, keep here for a News Analysis around MoKash very soon.
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The Kampala Color Fun Run 2nd edition was a thrilling and fun filled color experience that had less talent to be showcased but rather plastering different shades of color to participants. Participants took part in a five kilometre un-timed race and were doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.
The finishing point was at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds were revelers all dusted with different shades had fun dancing madly to loud music and enjoying pizza from PizzaHut as well as dusting others.
Hima Cement Ltd, has today announced a USD25, 000 (Ush84million) sponsorship of the 2016 edition of the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally slated for September 16 – 18, 2016.
Speaking during a press briefing convened to relay the announcement, Mr. Allan Ssemakula, the Hima Cement Marketing Director disclosed that the contribution will also go towards implementation of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign conducted with the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda’s (FMU).
“Hima Cement is an organization that is keen on road safety. Now that we are sponsoring rally, a prestigious sport which both directly and indirectly influences behavior on the road, we thought it wise to have a stand on road safety alongside our sponsorship. The campaign will run until the end of the year,” Ssemakula said.
Adding: “We are proud to support FMU which has a longstanding tradition of carrying out road safety campaigns in partnership with the Uganda Police and Ministry of Works; most recently on Masaka Road; which is one of the areas of concern for the whole country. Hima Cement is glad to partner with FMU in this regard because Health and Safety, on and off the road, is a core value of our organization.”
Hima Cement Limited is the sponsor of rally driver, Ambrose Byona also known as ‘Omunyetto’. Byona in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 and navigator, Derrick Lubambula will be taking part in the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2016. Hima Cement has also in the past sponsored legendary rally ace, Chipper Adams. Mr. Dusman Okee, the FMU President lauded Hima Cement’s timely contribution saying that road safety was one of the aspects of the sport that the federation was looking at strengthening.
“We are happy that Hima Cement has come on board to support not only the rally (Pearl of Africa Rally) but also FMU’s road safety campaign. As you may know, Uganda is ranked in the top ten countries in the world with the highest number of road accidents; most of them attributed to over speeding and reckless driving. We have taken it upon ourselves to sensitize road users on proper driver etiquette; for drivers to check their vehicles before every journey, to have enough rest, plan their journeys and take regular breaks, to wear seatbelts, lookout for other road users and most importantly not to over-speed. This contribution from Hima Cement and their expertise in Road safety will help us in taking the road safety message even further,” Okee stated.
He added that FMU was happy that companies such as Hima Cement had agreed to bolster the image of the Pearl of Africa Rally; a move he said would help the event regain its past glory as one of the best organized events on the continent.
The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is one of the main motorsport events in the country. It is part of the National Rally Championship and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC).
During the 2015 edition of the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, Hima Cement injected Ush20 million into the event. The cement maker has been part of the sport for many years having been the title sponsor of the Pearl of Africa Rally between 2000 and 2004.
Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) last week launched a new beer aimed at growing market share even further. The newest frothy offering is a cool, vibrant beer they have called Black Bell.
The new drink is targeted at the youth and trendy campusers. At 5.8% ABV, the beer is classified as a strong beer which is rich and flavorful in taste. The beer has so far only been launched to internal staff but should be in outlets near you very soon.
The new innovation comes on the heels of other largely successful UBL product innovations in the recent past; the Uganda Waragi flavors, Coconut and Coffee and Buganda Kingdom’s official beer, Ngule.
The reviews from top brewers so far are that it is bodied and more flavorful to appeal to the palettes of millennials. There are no doubts it will become an instant sensation.
The introduction of Black Bell also comes at a time when UBL is celebrating its 70 year anniversary which has included a number of festivities such as the ongoing UGX 3 billion Tubbaale promotion. The promotion features the brewery’s revered beer brands; Bell Lager, Tusker Malt Lager and Guinness.
