A bold and entertaining Pan-African channel will offer fresh local content along with an eclectic and exciting mix of US dramas, comedies and unscripted programming.
Considered one of the world’s leading destinations for scripted and unscripted entertainment, FOX Life, launching on the 3rd of October, will be tailored for Africa, and will be available on DStv channel 126 and GOtv channel 20.
As part of the new channel, an additional 954 hours of fresh new programming will be added to the schedule over the coming months, focused on localised storytelling, created specifically for African viewers.
FOX Life will have the best of Hollywood in the form of Pitch and Atlanta, Turkish and Brazilian Telenovelas, scripted and unscripted local content as well as dramas. Some of the lifestyle and drama shows will be coming from across the African continent like Maliposa, a Zambian drama and Wrath from Nigeria. There is also an exciting show on young Nigerian-born DJ Cuppy (Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola) who goes on an ambitious tour of eight countries across Africa. In a male dominated field – DJ Cuppy has made inroads and describes her sound as “Neo Afrobeats”!
“FOX Life is core to our global entertainment portfolio and its entry into this market signals FNG’S continued investment in Africa,” says Gary Alfonso, GM, Fox Networks Group Africa. “From hit U.S. programming, to 954 hours of brand new, locally developed and produced content, our new channel portfolio reflects the best in entertainment, factual and sports.”
The new channel, available to GOtv Plus and DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access customers. The channel will also sit alongside an extensive FNG portfolio of channels in Africa, which includes FOX, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild.
The football season is indeed on. The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Scots Premier League are all underway. Even other leagues are ongoing.
But importantly, both the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa are also happening. This means that the long and sometimes ‘wrong’ midweek nights have come back. The European drama is alive.
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Arsenal players train ahead of their match with PSG in the champions league.
Africa’s pioneering TV channel, M-Net, is about to hit a milestone birthday– the big 3-0! In October 2016, it will be thirty years since the very first M-Net subscribers connected their newly-acquired analogue decoders. This was a major entertainment breakthrough at the time giving viewers access to a brand new world of great television.
To celebrate the milestone, M-Net will be launching the ‘on-screen birthday bash’, M-Net Movies Blockparty on DStv 109. The channels will run for the entire month of October playing everyone’s favourite comedy movie hits, the latest comedy shows and handing the mic over to the world’s best stand-up comedians. The channel will be rolling out the red carpet for comedy greats Seth Rogen, Eddie Murphy, Amy Schumer, Jim Carrey, Leon Schuster, Steve Martin, Austin Powers, Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, Ellen DeGeneres, Martin Lawrence and many more.
“M-Net would not have been where it is today without the loyal support of our viewers,” says M-Net’s CEO Yolisa Phahle. “M-Net Movies BlockParty will have something for everyone and provide shows for the whole family to enjoy together. Comedy is always popular and we would like our viewers to have some fun, so we look forward to celebrating our big birthday with as many people as possible.”
What started as one analogue channel has grown into an array of more than 40 channels (including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Jango Magic, Zambezi Magic and M-Net Edge), addressing the viewing needs of diverse audiences in almost 50 countries across the African continent.
In curating and creating the very best content and channels for DStv customers, M-Net also boasts an impressive and long list of revolutionary moves and “firsts”– from being the first to screen movies without ad breaks to bringing local versions of blockbuster reality shows like Big Brother Africa, The Voice and Idols to our shores, producing multiple language-specific TV channels, going HD and adding events-driven pop-up channels as well as services like “Express from the US” giving DStv customers the best content from around the world first.
M-Net Movies BlockParty will be screened around the clock for 30 days. Each night there will be seriously funny classic series, side-splitting and raucous stand-up comedy shows.
Apart from the M-Net Movies BlockParty pop-up channel, M-Net is also producing an exclusive TV special about the history and evolution of the network, as well as the way in which it has developed the African film and television industry and positively changed the lives of many people. Apart from the M-Net Movies BlockParty pop-up channel, M-Net is also producing an exclusive TV special about the history and evolution of the network, as well as the way in which it has developed the African film and television industry and positively changed the lives of many people. This nostalgic TV special gives viewers the opportunity to hear from M-Net’s biggest stars and will be screened on several of the M-Net channels in early November.
Total Uganda, a leading integrated oil and gas company, has been announced as the official fuel
partner of the first ever Uganda Travel Month, a travel initiative aimed at promoting local tourism in the country. Total, through its new premium line of fuel, Total Excellium, will power the travel to Uganda’s beautiful tourist destinations while keeping engines in a good and healthy condition.
This sponsorship is aimed at allowing travellers experience the numerous benefits of Total Excellium, a new line of specific fuels that clean engines and provide lasting protection to ensure engines perform better, use less fuel and produce fewer polluting emissions.
Speaking at the launch of the Uganda Travel Month, Marvin Kagoro, the Marketing and
Communications Manager of Total Uganda said, “We are proud to partner with Pearl Guide
Uganda to offer Ugandans a smooth, memorable and worry free travel experience.”
“Total Excellium will not only fuel Uganda’s largest and most innovative tourism initiative, our
Awango Solar Lamps will light the camp sites, our Total Service App will also be on hand to help
you locate your nearest Total service station where you can stop for Refreshments from our Café bonjour’’ he said.
Pearl Guide Uganda, a tour and travel e-commerce tourism company, will provide a 4 week circuit of memorable and epic trips that will take groups into the wild at discounted fees.
The Pearl Guide Business Development Manager, Phillip Kalibwami, welcomed the partnership and thanked Total Excellium for giving more travelers the opportunity to see Uganda.
”We are beyond thrilled by this partnership. With Total Excellium on board it will be possible for more travellers to experience the gems that have made Uganda a much coveted destination globally.”
Service will provide public service information free of charge
Airtel Uganda and Human Network International (HNI), have today launched Uganda’s call-in system, called the 1-6-1 Service that will provide free, on-demand information for fishing and farming communities via across the country. The Service will provide free public service information on demand to mobile phone users in five local languages and English.
The 1-6-1 Service is provided in partnership with HNI, a global development organization dedicated to technology in the developing world.
Designed to be very easy to use for all Ugandans, the service is accessible to everyone with a mobile phone, smartphone or otherwise.
Using recorded messages by native speakers, the 1-6-1 service is convenient for all Ugandans, regardless of age, education and literacy. By dialing “161”, users will connect the caller to voice prompts in Ateso, English, Luganda, Lugbara, Luo or Runyakitara (a hybrid of Rukiga, Runyankole, Runyoro, and Rutoro).
Speaking at the launch of the call-in system, Charity Rwabutomize, the CSR manager said, “Airtel Uganda is proud to introduce Uganda’s first free on-demand service for both smartphones and regular mobile phones. The 1-6-1 service will provide information on farming, financial literacy, family planning and other public service information which are all relevant to both individuals and communities across Uganda.”
“The public service messages were created and curated by committees convened by our partner, HNI. These committees included representation from government ministries, plus Ugandan and international subject area experts,” she added.
“The call-in system, is designed to be very easy to use for all Ugandans, especially those living in rural areas. For farmers and fishing communities, there is information to help prepare for the growing season, and to adapt to climate change. More topics and messages are planned for the service in the near future, such as health, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy,” she concluded.
Jamie Arkin, HNI Uganda Program Manager said, “Uganda has one of the youngest, fastest growing populations in the world and people here are excited to use technology in new and innovative ways. By turning simple mobile phones into search engines, HNI and Airtel are giving people a whole new way of accessing information. International partners including Self Help Africa, the Global Resilience Partnership, USAID, PACE, and Ugandan partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health have done a tremendous job creating informative and actionable content”, she added.
Blankets and Wine gets new home.
Mafikizolo, South Africa’s multi-award winning duo comprising of Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanla Nciza will be the lead act at Lugogo Cricket Oval during the 14th Edition of Blankets and Wine Kampala, on 25th September, 2016 alongside some astounding Ugandan names in Gospel, house, soul, reggae and pop.
Powered by Tusker Malt Lager, the 14th Edition of Blankets and Wine has relocated from their proverbial home at the Uganda Museum to the Lugogo Cricket Oval so as to accommodate more of their ever growing numbers.
Mafikizolo a three time winner of the Album of the year in South Africa and a household name across Africa is synonymous with having energetic performances, catchy lyrics, enticingly danceable tunes that always carry a message in their songs.
Well known for songs like Khona, Ndihambanawe, Emlanjeni, this South African duo has performed besides heavyweights like Hugh Masekela and equally dynamic entertainers like Davido, Dj Maphorisa, Uhuru, Jaguar and Diamond Platinumz. The duo has just released their seventh album titled Six Mabone.
True to its form: they haven’t left out afro-based Ugandan performers who always resonate with the distinct audience to create a memorable experience. The 14th Edition, will have Levixone, Qwela Band, Giovanni Kiyingi and DJ Saint Evo.
Levixone is a new crop of urban budding singer/songwriter gospel artists in Uganda. With songs like Ani, Hope, Edoboozi, Niwewe, Victory. He has also had collaborations with the likes of Ray Signature (God is Good), Jackie Akello (Samanya) and S.O.C (Mukulu). His powerful voice is a true gift to the gospel genre and will be welcome at the event.
Giovanni Kiyingi, is known largely as a multi-instrumentalist, folk singer – songwriter who plays the local Ugandan instruments; Fiddle (endingidi), Akogo, Adungu, Djembe, Calabash, Congas and the Maracas. He also plays the flute, guitar and harmonica. It is no wonder that he was one of the Ugandan artists chosen to welcome Pope Francis to Uganda.
Qwela Band will be a very welcome addition to compliment the 14th Edition of Blankets and Wine. The Jazz, reggae and traditional African music band famously known for their debut album ‘Kidepo’ will offer a unique fusion of African music with a Western musical approach.
Nairobi based deejay, DJ Saint Evo will provide the electric experience. The deejay and music producer has amassed himself in collecting and producing African and East African sounds while amalgamating them with digital sounds. His current album Jebu, is a hit in Kenya and features a variety of artists from different cultural backgrounds, genres, spiritual beliefs, genders and nationalities.
Alex Tusingwire, the Brand Manager Tusker Malt Lager said; “We are elated to continuously see more involvement from entertainers and the crowds with every edition of Blankets and Wine Kampala. Having Mafikizolo, one of the finest acts on the continent, headline the 14th edition of Blankets and Wine goes to show how we have grown and are now able to be host an act of such stature. In addition, we have also selected a captivating range of Ugandan musicians who will perform alongside them to create that much loved afro-based music fusion.”
“From Uganda, Levixone, Giovanni Kiyingi and Qwela Band will wow the crowds with the style of Afro Fusion folk music that we have grown to adore. As Tusker Malt Lager, we appreciate our consumers and thus, give them an opportunity to discover some of the finest afro-based music acts through Blankets and Wine.” he added
A quarterly, picnic style music festival, Blankets and Wine is East Africa’s premier music experience, designed to showcase outstanding musicians in the emerging genres of afro-based music.
Entrance fee is 100,000 UGX at the Lugogo Cricket Oval and gates open at 12:00pm on 25th September 2016.
In line with its support for responsible drinking, Tusker Malt Lager will be maintaining a strict ‘over 18 only’ policy for sale of alcohol.
Fashion and glamour gutted theater Labonita on Saturday 4th September as the 5th edition of Miss Earth Uganda finale went down amidst overwhelming exhalation and excitement.
The search that had lasted for over 4 months with a lot of activities from learning about environmental conservation by the contestants from various parts of the country went down as Achieng Priscilla from Tororo crowned winner.
The evening was kept warm with a lineup of events from comedy, talent showcase from the contestants, national constume also known as cultural wear, the swim swift (Bikini), evening gown and then to the crowning as Voltage music group had the last on the stage performance for a relatively low turn up of revellers.
The competition had 13 girls from the different parts of Uganda battling for the final four positions that is Miss Earth Uganda, Miss Earth Fire, Miss Earth Air and Miss Earth Water. The elimination was carried out in different ways and one was through questions from judges to the contestants about the environment. This dropped off some leaving only 7 who tussled to the final bit.
“The winner will represent Uganda in Miss Earth International that is to happen in Philippines.” Andrew Kyamagero the P.R.O of Miss Earth said.
Below is the full list of winners:-
Achieng Priscilla (Tororo) – Miss Earth Uganda 2016 / Best Swim Swift
Nakirya Hindu (Mbale) – Miss Earth Air / Best National costume
Nekesa Melody Modesty (Jinja) – Miss Earth Fire
Mirembe Jackline (Luweero) – Best Talent
Nassali Esther (Mpigi) – Miss Photogenic.
The 2017 Africa cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers ended in dramatic yet exciting ways. Not only did Burkina Faso score a much needed winner against Botswana in the 99th minute but Togo thumped minors Djibouti 5:0 and went through.
But the most honest, unprecedented and authentic celebrations happened in Uganda. A 36th minute wonder strike from Farouk Miya won the game against Comoros and booked our place at AFCON 2017 to be held in Gabon between January and February 2017. As a country, we are celebrating the end of a 38 year jinx that had hovered around our team, the Uganda Cranes.
At the back of these celebrations were emotions, feelings and battles. Majority of Ugandans were honestly happy. You, however can’t rule out that some ‘Ugandans’ were unhappy with the qualification. Yes, that is how the world is!
This qualification came at a time when Airtel Uganda is the official and main sponsor of Uganda Cranes. The other sponsors are Nile Breweries, Bidco Uganda Limited (BUL), and National Insurance Corporation (NIC). It is just in order to thank these companies for a job well done.
That said, it is also in order to celebrate with those other sponsors that may not be with the Cranes today but laid a great foundation for the team to succeed. To be specific, even when Airtel Uganda is the official and current sponsor of Uganda Cranes (its four years contract expires in October 2017 with a renewal option), you can never ever under look the contribution of MTN Uganda to the Cranes.
Uganda Cranes team poses for photos with fans at a dinner organised by MTN in 2013.
That day when MTN Uganda and Uganda Cranes took separate paths is still fresh in my eyes. Though unexpected at that time, it happened! That day, MTN had placed its well nurtured egg into the hands of Airtel, an egg that was later to hatch into a qualification that Ugandans had looked forward to for close to four decades! It is against such a background that we can’t help but look back nostalgically!
In a brief press statement dated 28th October, 2013 and titled ‘MTN Uganda’s Cranes Sponsorship Ends’, the then MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, Ernst Fonternel said that the company had failed to agree on a sponsorship renewal deal with FUFA as they presented a non-negotiable deal. He said that the terms of the deal were however outside MTN’s sponsorship budget.
Some of Uganda Cranes players at an MTN function in 2013.
“At MTN we genuinely believe in the team and our nation and we are extremely proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together over the last 10 years. No doubt that the recent ‘We Believe’ campaign from MTN has inspired the nation and the Cranes for them to have gone on to quality for CHAN 2014”, said Ernst Fonternel.
“MTN is proud of the role it has played in the growth and popularity of Football in Uganda. With a yellow family of 8.4 million we remain the biggest supporters of Sports in Uganda and wish them best of luck for the future”, concluded Fonternel.
On the street, word was moving that FUFA had agreed a new contract with another sponsor, who just like MTN, was a telecom. So was the ‘non-negotiable deal’ deal presented to MTN by coincidence or design?
This rumor became reality on 31st October 2013 when Bharti Airtel (Airtel Uganda), announced that it had entered into a partnership with FUFA to be the official sponsor of Uganda’s national football team, the Uganda Cranes. The sponsorship agreement which was signed on 23rd October 2013 would see Airtel working hand in hand with FUFA to promote Ugandan football for the next four years. At that very moment, Airtel had inherited probably one of the most well nurtured eggs; one that would later give birth to history.
While confirming this, the then Airtel Managing Director, V.G Somasekhar said: “We do want to be able to support what our consumers are passionate about and we know they are proud of their team and football is a part of what they love to watch or take part in every day. We are humbled to have been given this opportunity.”
“We are excited to welcome Airtel to the football family,” said FUFA president, Mr. Moses Magogo. “Football fans are passionate, loyal and community-oriented – qualities that Airtel and its passionate team members share and embody every day.”
And there we were; MTN Uganda had lost one of Uganda’s most loved and cherished properties to Airtel Uganda.
There was reasonably good public outcry against this development. Many fans never believed that Airtel would manage to push and support the Uganda Cranes the same way MTN Uganda had done. At that time the grieving fans were right as MTN had proven beyond reasonable doubt; its love and support for the Cranes. Throughout the Cranes Football calendar, MTN would paint the streets and media yellow. Everyone wanted to be part of this, everyone wanted to associate with Uganda Cranes. MTN’s investment in Regional Football was equally impressive.
These fears were not helped by Airtel Uganda’s unprepared start of its life with the Uganda Cranes. The first games after Airtel took over purely lacked the big sponsor zeal, fans excitement, pre-match build up/ hype and outstanding on match rush and hospitality. More voices again questioned Airtel’s abilities to sponsor Cranes and later alone lead the team to the ‘Promised Land’.
However, after some months, things started to normalize. Airtel upped their game while the Fans’ relationship with the ‘MTN Cranes’ started to tear. The rest is history.
So two years and about 11 months after Airtel took over Uganda Cranes’ Sponsorship, the team has qualified for the AFCON. A local artiste by the names of Stabua Natooro has a mass market hit song that sums up this situation. It is titled ‘Oli wa Mukisa’. I mean, Airtel is lucky! They happened to be in the right place at the right time when history was made. Was this entirely about them being lucky or have they, along the way, become equal to the sponsorship? We shall see that later.
Our grandparents were very clever and came up with two Luganda sayings that sum up all that has happened until now.
One; ‘Ajajamba Omulwade, Siyamusikira’ which when directly translated into English means that taking care of a patient doesn’t automatically grant one inheritance rights when the said patient dies.
The second is; ‘Ganyana, Ganywebwa Muwangazi’. This in English means that the milk of a female calf can only be enjoyed by those who live longer. It relates more with the indigenous breeds of cattle whose calves take between 2 to 5 years to grow.
MTN Uganda built the Uganda Cranes for 10 years, but Airtel Uganda delivered us to AFCON. MTN Uganda invested in Uganda Cranes for 10 years but stopped somewhere. Airtel has invested in the Cranes for 3 years now and there we are, booking our tickets to Gabon.
Fans have always loved and trusted in Coach Micho. This was in 2013.
Credit must obviously be given where it is due. Ahead of the Comoros encounter, Airtel must have felt it in their instincts that Uganda Cranes qualification was imminent, rose to the occasion and met it with an equal measure of hype! A massive Airtel campaign, Mujje Tulumbe (come and we attack) that gave out a variety of prizes to fans, including cars and tickets for the Comoros encounter at Namboole surely ‘bred’ the required excitement ahead of the AFCON qualifier.
You can say that Airtel were just lucky or that MTN should have held onto the Uganda Cranes sponsorship a little longer but one thing is very clear; Uganda Cranes qualified for AFCON 2017 after a 38 years absence, at a time when Airtel were their sponsors and in so doing, Airtel had hatched an Egg laid by MTN! Both timing and good luck were on their side and their risk has paid off!
Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, partners with Airtel to give
Wheel chairs to the physically challenged people in Uganda at Mulago hospital.
The donation of approximately 100 wheel chairs, artificial limbs and clutches were handed over to the physically challenged people through the Narayan Indian foundation at the Mulago Orthopedics department on 26th August 2015.
Huawei through its Sales Director Ni Long pledged to continue giving back to such activities that concern Ugandans welfare.
“It is our corporate responsibility and obligation to give back to the community where we operate. We shall contribute wheel chairs and medical support to the people who need help and we are sure to continue this partnership”, said Ni Long, Huawei’s Sales Director.
The free corrective surgeries for the patients were held on 27th and 28th August at Mulago Hospital by the Narayan Indian experts.
• 8 cars, over 5,000 tickets and lots of cash has been given away in the “Recharge and Mujje Tulumbe” promotion.
Airtel Uganda, the biggest supporter of football in Uganda and main sponsor of the Uganda Cranes, has today handed over the 7th and 8th car to its subscribers in the “Recharge and Mujje Tulumbe” promotion.
Robinah Nandudu, a 29 year bar tender from Masaka and Nakazinga Marion, a 33 year old cleaner from Kyotera have won the 7th and 8th brand new Toyota Premios in the “Recharge and Mujje Tulumbe” promotion.
On receiving their new cars amidst excitement and ululations from their friends and relatives, Nandudu and Nakazinga thanked Airtel Uganda for supporting the Uganda Cranes and for always rewarding their subscribers.
“Since this promotion started, I have been loading airtime daily in hopes of winning a car – I have always wanted to have a car, thank you Airtel,” Nandudu exclaimed.
“I would like to thank Airtel Uganda again and assure them that we are behind the Uganda cranes as they play against Comoros” they added.
Commenting at the car handover, Airtel Uganda’s Acting Marketing Director, Nelly Mwanda thanked Ugandans for believing in the Uganda Cranes and always supporting Airtel Uganda.
“This promotion was aimed at building the Ugandan patriotic and nationalistic pride firmly rooted in the Uganda Cranes and over the last 53 days, we have seen a great deal of that support from all regions of the country,” she said.
“We have given away 8 brand new Toyota premios, lots of cash and over 5,000 during this promotion and now I am sure everyone is ready to go and support our beloved team as we take on Comoros at Namboole” she added
Ian Bukenya, Grace Twongyeirwe, Amiri Sunday Kawooya, Ritah Nabuuzale, Steven Byamukama and Jimmy Muddu are the other lucky subscribers who have won cars in this recharge consumer promotion.
