HiPipo Money

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• BBS Terefayina will now be available on channel 287 on DStv and GOtv channel 97
• Viewers throughout the country will be able to watch BBS’s quality programming
• Demonstration of MultiChoice’s commitment to promote quality local content

On the eve of the Kabaka’s 61^st birthday celebration MultiChoice Africa, the continent’s leading video entertainment company and BBS Terefayina, the latest local television entrant in Uganda run by the Buganda kingdom, have signed an agreement that will see BBS Terefayina a Buganda Kingdom Television  being carried on DStv and GOtv platforms, effective today.

This exciting partnership will give Ugandan viewers from all over the country an opportunity to be exposed to the delightful culture of the Buganda, in addition to a fantastic line-up of quality local and international programming that includes news, current affairs, entertainment and sports in crystal clear digital quality.

Commenting on MultiChoice Africa’s latest addition on their platforms, the Chairman of MultiChoice Uganda, Mr Steven Musoke said: “Our commitment to our viewers is to ensure quality local programming that resonates with them is something we take very seriously. We understand that the viewing experience of our subscribers requires us to showcase and promote local talent and productions. The inclusion of BBS Terefayina on DStv and GOtv is a manifestation of our commitment towards this objective. We firmly believe that the future of digital television in Africa lies in the adoption of the latest technology and a company’s willingness to invest in showcasing programming that is increasingly resonates to the end consumer. BBS Terefayina is affiliated with this strategy which is the reason we have entered into this partnership with them today”.

Joseph Kigozi, Chief Executive Officer of BBS Terefayina stated, “This partnership is timely and historic for us as BBS Terefayina. We are officially launching in Uganda tomorrow, 12^th April 2016 which will also mark Kabaka’s 61^st birthday milestone. This is an early birthday gift not just for him but for Uganda in general. We are extremely excited about the possibilities this collaboration presents and are confident that our viewers will appreciate the value it will bring them in terms of countrywide reach and quality of signal”.

He continued: “BBS Terefayina is a Ugandan channel that will expose our nation to top notch programming, entertaining , sports and cultural   with  skilled journalists/ appealing presenters using start of the art Technology .  We look forward to the markets response to our engaging programming that will change the face of television. We are proud that BBS is now on the leading digital platforms in Uganda.

In closing, Mr. Charles Hamya thanked BBS Terefayina for committing itself to the partnership with MultiChoice which will bear fruit for the company and its viewers. He also encouraged Ugandan viewers to purchase DStv and GOtv sets to get access to BBS and other fantastic channels offered on MultiChoice platforms.

BBS will be available on DStv channel 287 (Premium, compact plus, compact, family and access) and is also on GOtv channel 97 (GOtv plus, GOtv Value, and GOtv Lite). 

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DStv Now brings you all the shows you want to watch, when you want to watch them. And now we have made it even bigger and better with the addition of over 20 new channels, bringing the total number of live channels to over 40!

DStv Now delivers access to live channels with sport, movies, series, and also DStv Catch Up and DStv Kids to keep the whole family entertained. The new channels will bolster the already impressive catalogue and will include: Nick Junior, Zee World, BBC Brit, BBC Lifestyle, BBC World News, Lifetime, EVA, ITV Choice, CBeebies, TRACE Urban, Nicktoons, Africa Magic Urban, Africa Magic Family, Africa Magic Showcase, Jim Jam, Africa Magic World, Telemundo, Studio Universal, Universal and more.

This April, watch exciting live programming on the go – including Express from the US series, anytime, anywhere with your DStv Now mobile. Catch an exciting new telenovela Hush that unpacks a dramatic tale of fashion, politics and ambition every weeknight while the hottest show on TV, The Voice: Nigeria will put a high note in your Sunday evenings on Africa Magic Showcase every Sunday. Football fans know that it’s now down to the wire in the European football leagues with the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League gearing up for the semi-finals. This week, DStv football fans will be able to catch up on the season highlights alongside live EPL matches including Chelsea vs Manchester City on SuperSport 3 on Saturday 16 April 2016 via their DStv Now app while later this month, Game of Thrones fans will be treated to season 6 of the series, Express from the US on 26 April on their mobile device’s M-Net Edge channel.

DStv Now can be accessed online or through an app for tablets and smartphones. The app is free to download and is available to all DStv customers. Our live channels and Catch Up content are only available to DStv Premium subscribers with an active PVR. (Data costs will apply when streaming content.)

DStv Now channels:

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By Huawei Uganda MD: Mr. Stanley Chyn

The digital and physical worlds are becoming deeply integrated. This will mean connections not just between people, but also between people and machines, and between machines and machines, and not just connections, but smart connections, which will enable smart applications, smart homes, smart cities, and even smart nations. A Better Connected World is therefore at hand.

However, 4 billion people still lack internet access. Although mobile phones are nearly universal, only about 12% of the people in emerging economies have a broadband data connection. Most unconnected people live in countries with underdeveloped economies and poor digital infrastructure. Yet tremendous growth potential could be unlocked by improving connectivity. With the right ICT policies that support innovation and fair competition, countries can help connect the world’s unconnected populations and narrow the digital divide.

Connecting the unconnected is a problem with no single solution. As such, it requires governments, operators, equipment vendors, and app developers to work together. The top priority is to build digital infrastructure, which serves as the basis for nearly all innovation in the digital realm. To this end Huawei has been solidifying efforts over the years with our partners on all fronts because we believe that ICT technologies are reshaping Africa and other parts of the world, and leading the next wave of sustainable social development.

ICT infrastructure is vital to enabling social transformation, bridging the digital divide, promoting innovation, and boosting national competitiveness. It is the foundation of the information society and without it our digital revolution will go nowhere. ICT infrastructure has become an engine driving the world economic recovery and sustainable growth. Most countries have added ICT investment to their national strategies. By doing so, developed countries can maintain their competitive vitality and developing countries can enjoy faster growth. ICT is changing our daily life. It changes the way we work, we buy, we sell, and we communicate. It changes every industry. It connects this world in a smarter way. That’s why we say we are global citizens living in the global village.

Huawei’s strategy is to focus on ICT infrastructure and become the enabler of the information society. Huawei’s strategy is, in fact, focused on ICT infrastructure, with an emphasis on three main areas: networks that transmit and distribute information; computing and storage devices that process and save it; and smart devices that generate and consume it.

With our 18 years of experience within Africa’s ICT industry, coupled with our extensive industry global network, Huawei is well positioned to share the best practices and latest ICT solutions. Huawei has a presence in most of the 54 African countries where it works closely with telecom operators to modernize their respective networks and with governments to support ICT infrastructure deployment and digital transformation practice. Huawei entered the Ugandan ICT market 13 years ago when the mobile penetration rate was less than 5%. Mobile penetration in Uganda has now reached 60% and the citizens of Kampala can now enjoy a continuous high-speed 4G network which has greatly enriched and facilitated people’s lives. Huawei devices have been deployed nationwide and Huawei has to date trained many professional and technical personnel for Uganda.

During the week of 5^th to 8^th of April, 2016, we held the Huawei Uganda Technology Festival to Kampala via our Demo Truck which highlighted with the aid of demos, presentations and workshops showing Huawei’s latest innovative solutions in the network, enterprise, devices and ICT spaces. During the four days, the Minister of ICT Hon. John Nasasira, the Ambassador of China to Uganda H.E Zhao Yali, officials from NITA, Ministry of Defence, Uganda Revenue Authority, major telecom partners and students from various universities visited the Huawei Mobile Broadband Demo Truck to witness the various technical solutions.

With the signing of an ICT partnership MOU between the Ministry of ICT of Uganda and Huawei, we officially became the ICT partner of the government of Uganda and will dedicated ourselves more to the development of the ICT industry of Uganda. 

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Miss Tourism Uganda pageant is an annual event that started in 2013 initiated by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Hon, Maria Mutagamba. The pageant is aimed at promoting tourism through beauty. Contestants from different regions of the country go through a series of activities and training and a final winner is crowned at the end of the season. On Friday, 1^st April 2016 the 4^th Miss Tourism season was launched at the Uganda Museum. It had a low turn up of mainly media personalities alongside the reigning tourism ambassadors and different tourism stakeholders.

Among the attendees was the Minister of Internal Affairs Rose Akol who was also the guest of honor, Uganda Tourism Board officials, Miss Tourism Ambassadors for the previous seasons and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Innocent Nabaasa the national pageant coordinator took the audience through the work plan of Miss Tourism 2016/2017. Among these, was the launching of the Rwenzori new cluster in the Rwenzori region on the 7^th May 2016 and the search will begin.

The absence of the minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hon. Maria Mutagamba didn’t let the event to move on as it was set. Later that evening Hon. Akol was invited to give his remarks and comprehended the contest and officially opened up the search.
Among the activities of the evening was auctioning of an art piece were Leila Kayondo walked away with it. There was also appreciating of stakeholders that helped in the Miss Tourism 2015/ 2016 and this was through issuing of ceritficates.

It should be noted that Miss Toursm emerged victorious in the first edition of the Ekkula Pearl of Africa Tourism Awards in the Best Tourism Initiative category that happened on 12^th February 2016 at Hotel Africana.

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• S7 available for sale at Samsung Acacia mall exhibition and MTN premium outlets in Kampala
• First units to be sold with free revolutionary Virtual Reality Gear (while stocks last)
• Raffle prizes up for grabs including a brand new S7, VR Gear and other presents in Easter promo at Acacia mall

Samsung the world’s leading smart phone and communication technology Company has launched the most technologically advanced smart phone ever the Samsung Galaxy S7 onto the Ugandan Market. The S7 comes in both the revolutionary edge version and the sleek contemporary design.

Speaking at the launch held today held at Uganda’s most popular lifestyle destination Acacia mall in Kololo, the country manager for Samsung Amos Mulago said we are very excited to launch this phone on the Ugandan market because it is truly an exceptional device in terms of its design, functionality and cutting edge features.

“It has a Snapdragon 820 processer which is the fastest ever built for any smart phone, fully charged it has 30% more battery life than the previous version and it can be charged wirelessly. In addition the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a micro SD card for up to 200 GB of additional storage and in some select countries; the tray can be used as a dual SIM card port”.

Talking about one of the highly anticipated accessories the Samsung S7 phone comes with, the Samsung Virtual Reality gear which allows users to connect their phones onto a headset and get a 360 view of the world around them, play games or watch movies. Amos explained “this is a revolutionary device that has taken the world of communications and entertainment by storm it works with all the high end Galaxy phones starting from the note 4 and beyond”.

Informing the public where they can purchase the Galaxy S7 Amos noted that the phone is available for sale from their promotional exhibition at Acacia Mall where they are giving the public an opportunity to try out the device, alternatively S7’s can be bought from MTN premium sales outlets in Kampala or on the MTN website at a specially discounted price.

Announcing a 10 day joint Easter promotion they will be running with Samsung for the S7 Paul Mwirigi, Head of Marketing for Knight Frank, the property managers of Acacia Mall, revealed that two lucky winners will get the chance to a brand new Samsung Galaxy S7 phone and the Samsung Galaxy S7 gear in the joint Easter promo.

“We’re very excited and proud to be the mall of choice for this historic launch said Mwirigi Samsung is an internationally recognized brand with a global appeal, it is therefore a natural fit for Acacia Mall which is Kampala’s leading lifestyle and shopping destination.”.

“To stand a chance of winning a customer will get a raffle ticket for every seventy thousand shillings spent at any one of the Acacia Mall tenant outlets. A raffle draw will be conducted on Easter Monday for a chance to win the brand new Samsung Galaxy S7 phone or the Samsung Galaxy S7 gear” continued Paul Mwirigi. “We selected seventy thousand shillings in respect of the number seven (“7”) which is the latest edition of the Samsung Galaxy series. In addition we will be running daily lucky dips for a chance to win t-shirts caps and other prizes courtesy of Samsung”.

Since opening its doors on Valentines Day on 14th February 2014 Acacia Mall has been loved by many an avid shopper. With a vision to create an environment to enhance the quality of life for its customers, Acacia Mall was built with an emphasis on quality and style.

In closing Amos encouraged Ugandans to come to Acacia mall and get first hand feel of the new phone and experience of what the future of modern lifestyle communications will look like.

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Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, awarded the most excellent woman in ICT in Uganda at the 4^th Annual MTN Woman in Business awards, on Friday 18^th March at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

The awards with the theme “Women in Business: Using technology to manage their business”, were launched last month to help equip business communities in Uganda with the relevant ICT tools and expertise to not only start up new business ventures but also to grow and enhance their current business to ensure optimum output, increased efficiency and improved profitability. This program has over the last three years extended to women in Business (WiB) in Particular, in an effort to accelerate the role of women in driving enterprise development and Job creation.

Suzan Ajok of Straight Talk Foundation who emerged winner in Excellence in ICT Award category was awarded with a plaque and Huawei P8 Phone. Suzan has devoted 18 years to Straight Talk, moving from data clerk up through the ranks to Executive Director. She used the MTN ICT solutions (SMS and the Straight Talk Foundations hotline) to effectively communicate to communities in far-reaching places such as Karamoja.

Huawei Awarded a total of three P8 phones to winners and wingles, mobile wifi routers, bluetooth speakers and car chargers to women interviewees.

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The series of events through which MTN sought to recognize and celebrate outstanding women business leaders was climaxed today as the company announced this year’s winners of the 4th Annual MTN Women in Business Awards.

MTN launched the Women in Business initiative last month, under the theme; “Women in Business: Using technology to manage their businesses”, and included the Women in Business Expo, the panel discussion and the Awards.

MTN is using the initiative to continue its support for Business communities in Uganda, manifested through its extensive Enterprise business solutions offering as well as the MTN Business training programs for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The initiative has helped equip business owners with the relevant ICT tools and expertise to not only start up new business ventures but to also grow and enhance their current business to ensure optimum output, increased efficiency and improved profitability. This program has over the last three years extended to Women in Business (WiB) in particular, in an effort to accelerate the role of women in driving enterprise development and job creation.

“Tonight we celebrate the spirit of excellence that is demonstrated by those outstanding women that have harnessed technology/ICT and talent to grow their businesses, and I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all the nominees and tonight’s winners,” said MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mapula Bodibe.

“For the winners, we have packaged the prizes to be able to aid further growth of your business, thereby achieving our mission of empowering businesses. On behalf of MTN, I would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the partners that have complemented MTN’s packages for the winners,” she added.

Each of the top 3 category winners will have an opportunity to attend an Executive Leadership Training for Women, have their story profiled on TV and print media, in addition to a bouquet of communication benefits including five fixed lines, MTN Business Bundle activation and free subscription of MTN Go Bundle for 6months, MTN Office/home WiFi (six months), and one year hosting at MTN’s Mutundwe data Center.

All finalists will also have access to strategic business Training for Women as well as two MTN fixed lines and a 4G MiFi router.

Today’s Awards winners were selected by a panel of judges and fall under three main categories of Excellence in ICT Award, Excellence in Financial Services Award and the CEO of the Year Award. The Public Choice Category winner was voted by the public.

Additionally, during the event, MTN Business’s General Manager, Reginald Kafeero, made a presentation that highlighted the introduction of the MTN Business bundles.  The MTN Business Bundles is an exciting solution that gives business customers access to a range of value bundles that fulfil all their communication needs. The MTN Business Bundles are now open for business and can be accessed through MTN Business at Nyonyi Gardens or MTN service centres.

Full list of benefits packages for winners

• Huawei Uganda, technology partners in this year’s MTN Women In Business event, who have extended 3 Huawei P8 smart phones to the winners.
• NTV Uganda who offered up to 30% discount of advertising that can be used within the 3 months of winning these words.
• Radio One who offered a combo advertising package that winners can take up on both Radio One and Two.
• UAP Insurance Uganda limited who have extended the following the Queen Motor Insurance policy. This cover extends to third party body & property liability, passenger extension liability, emergency medical expenses, free personal accident cover, handbag & content cover and household items cover. The tiers are as follows:
  • SME CEO Of the year: Queen Motor Insurance cover up to UGX. 78,500,000.
  • Excellence in ICT Award: Queen Motor Insurance cover up to UGX. 31,500,000.
  • Excellence in Mobile Financial Award – Queen Motor Insurance cover up to UGX. 21,500,000.
• Serena hotel who have extended the following:
• SME CEO Of the year: Weekend for 2 at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa on a bed and Breakfast basis  
• Excellence in ICT Award: Brunch for 4 at Kampala Serena – 2 adults and 2 Children.
• Excellence in Mobile Financial Award – Spa day pass at Maisha- for 1 person
• Vivo Energy Uganda who have extended fuel vouchers worth UGX. 500,000 to each of the winners tonight. 
• Trademark EastAfrica who have extended best-business practice training through their partner Uganda Revenue Authority, to all the winners and nominees.
• Summit Consulting Limited, an advisory firm, who have offered their expertise to review the winners’ and nominees businesses and align their strategic plans for sustainable growth.

MTN will also offer the following to the 3 winners of the awards:

• MTN Office WiFi for a period of 6 months
• MTN Fixedlines
• MTN MTN Business Bundle activation and free subscription of MTN Go Bundle for 6months
• MTN Colocation for a period of one year

A working trip to South Africa to meet the biggest SMEs there so ideas can be exchanged and lessons learnt.

AWARD WINNERS:

MTN Women in Business Excellence in ICT Award:

Susan Ajok of Straight Talk Africa.

MTN Women in Business Excellence in Financial Services Award:

Jacqueline Birigwa Nuwamanya of Rural Communication Centre LTD.

MTN Women in Business CEO of the Year Award:

Alice Karugaba of Nina Interiors.

Public Choice Award:

Charlotte Kanabahita Kamugisha of Bunyonyi Safari’s.

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It’s been a tough year for Multichoice Africa. Our markets have suffered as a result of commodity and oil price weakness, coupled with the huge devaluations of local currencies. Most of MultiChoice’s costs are incurred in dollars forcing us to pass through price increases in 2015. Nevertheless, we continue to take financial strain.

But we are not alone! Our subscribers, our biggest asset, are suffering. So we are going to do our bit. We’ve decided to absorb some of the pain and NOT impose a price increase on any of our DStv bouquets in April as we usually do. Barring any further external economic shocks, we do not anticipate a price increase in 2016.

Subscribers are the reason we exist, so we commit to bring you the best possible content at the most affordable price. We want you to have a great in home viewing experience and the best local and international television entertainment.

We started this journey last month when we launched two new SuperSport channels in order to bring the EPL, La Liga and the EURO 2016 tournament to DStv Compact subscribers and we are not stopping there. This April, DStv channels will showcase the best and latest upcoming new seasons of popular series including the highly-anticipated Season 6 of Game of Thrones starting on M-Net Edge, Express from the US, along with the brand new telenovela, Hush, on Africa Magic Showcase and The Voice: Nigeria. Subscribers will also be spoilt for choice with a variety of local and international entertainment shows available on their DStv bouquets including a new telenovela on Zee World, East Meets West while a ‘Wedding Season’ film marathon theme on Universal channel will warm viewers’ hearts with its selection of romcom titles. More themed film marathons await on Studio Universal where ‘Manscape’, ‘April Fools’, ‘Getting Away With it’ and a Steven Spielberg marathon will provide plenty of laughs and thrills.

Hollywood’s glitz and glamourous stars will be showcased on E! Entertainment with the return of #Richkids Of Beverly Hills and the premier of LA Clippers Dance Squad. Get a front row view of your favourite stars as they walk the red carpet at the star-studded Black Girls Rock 2016 on BET and the 2016 MTV Movie Awards on MTV Base. Football fans on DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact are also in for a treat with live EPL, La Liga and EURO 2016 tournament action on SS3, SS5, SS11 and SS12 with the Spanish side gearing up to showcase the anticipated El Clasico match between Barcelona and Real Madrid on 3 April.

Charles Hamya, General Manager MultiChoice Uganda said. “We are extremely pleased to announce that there will be no price increase on DStv subscriptions this April on any of the bouquets. Barring any further external economic shocks, we do not anticipate a price increase in 2016. This means that from next month, DStv subscribers can fully immerse themselves in the exciting world of DStv entertainment, at no extra cost.”

For more information of the bouquets and upcoming shows, please visit www.dstv.com.

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With the Women in Business Awards 2016 winners set to be announced next week on the 18^th of March, MTN Uganda is amplifying its call for the public to vote the MTN Women in Business Public Choice Award.

The winner of this category will be selected from the list of nominees below:

You can vote by sending the name of the nominee, business type and the reason you’re voting that business (in 50 words) to:

1. Email – wib@mtn.co.ug
2. Facebook – www.facebook.com/mtnug
3. Twitter – www.twitter.com/mtnug
4. WhatsApp  – 0776 600 811

You can also read details about MTN’s Women in Business Initiative by visiting www.mtn.co.ug/wib. 

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Innocent Kawooya.

Every now and then, your favorite media present complex yet summarized financial figures of either a company’s annual performance or its committed investment budget for a particular period.

While most times, the media reports accurately about the released figures, they rarely take any initiative to break the financials down for all their readers/viewers/listeners. Most reporters work on the erroneous assumption that their audiences are well learned and thus can crack the math for themselves.  Many times, they are wrong!

At the end of last week, MTN Group released its Performance Report highlighting 2015 achievements and challenges. The MTN Group announcement was followed by performances at country level.

On Friday 4^th March, MTN Uganda released a detailed report of its 2015 performance at a press conference held at MTN Towers, Hannington Road and attended by several media houses.  To those that attended the conference, it was so detailed with MTN Uganda CEO Brian Gouldie taking time to ‘breakdown figure by figure, explain word by word’.

However, a few days after this generous declaration, most, if not all of the articles published are either ‘re-publishing the issued press release or giving a summarized performance figures, beefed up with a few quotes here and there. 

Two things; One, the stories are authentic as they contain the right figures and also quote MTN Uganda Executive members. Two, these stories lack some much needed detail and depth. If it was a lunch out, the writers have served their audiences bony meat.

A common man out there would wish to have a clear and localized understanding of MTN Uganda’s financial performance backed up with examples that he is well familiar with.

There is no rocket science about this. Let’s cut the jargon short and hit the road.  

In 2016, MTN Uganda will directly spend Ushs 238 billion on Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Ushs 2 billion less than its 2015 CAPEX. Mr Gouldie noted that this money will be invested in “predominantly data network, Information technology required for the development of new products and services and facilities investment including a major re-development of our head office property.”

According to www.investopedia.com ; also referred to as CAPEX, Capital expenditure are funds used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as property, industrial buildings or equipment. It is often used to undertake new projects or investments by the firm.

Together, let’s understand the greatness of MTN Uganda’ 2016 committed investment.

The current average retail price of a Sugar kilogram is Ushs 3500. If it was to buy sugar, the Ushs 238 billion that MTN Uganda has earmarked for 2016 would buy 68,000,000 million kilograms. At the end of 2015, Uganda’s population stood at about 40 million people. MTN Uganda would use its 2016 Capital Expenditure to buy each Ugandan a kilogram of Sugar and remain with another 28,000,000 kilograms untaken.

Let us talk Boda Bodas (Motor Bikes). Today a brand new Bajaj Boxer motorbike goes for about Ushs 3.7 million. MTN Uganda’s Ushs 238 billion Capex for 2016 can buy 64,324 brand new motorbikes. In a day, each Boda Boda rider takes to the owner an average of Ushs 10,000. 64,324 motorbikes would give MTN shareholders Ushs 643,240,000 daily. In 30 days, the shareholders would have Ushs 19 billion and Ushs 192 billion in 10 months! This excludes the money each rider would have earned during the same period. 

That’s the magnitude of MTN Uganda’s 2016 approved Capital Expenditure.