HiPipo Money

————————————

Huawei, a leading global ICT solutions provider, has been nominated four times in the Digital Impact Awards Africa project 2015.

Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA), a pioneer technology research project based in Uganda  nominated exemplary organizations in provision and use of digital infrastructure; web, mobile, social media and digital financial services in transforming lives, furthering digital inclusion and cyber security in Africa.

Huawei has been nominated in the categories of; digital brand of the year, best digital inclusion impact, best mobile device brand, best corporate brand on social media. The nomination in DIAA comes for the second time with the first being in 2014.

“It’s with utmost pleasure to be recognized among companies that maximize the benefits of digital infrastructure in transforming lives”, says Mr. Daixia, the public relations manager of Huawei Uganda.

The winners shall be announced at a gala dinner and award ceremony at the Kampala Serena Hotel on 13th August, 2015.

 —————————————-

MTN Uganda today handed over the prize money to winners of the recently concluded MTN App Challenge 2015.

Four winning teams, one from each category (M-Health, M-Finance, M-Entertainment and M-Business), took home USD 2,500 each, with the fifth team – winner of the Audience Favorite category – taking home $1000.

The overall winners received a further $2,500, taking their total prize money to $5,000.

The challenge was won by Yoza, an Android app that connects those looking for laundry services with service providers using location based services. They have registered a number of service providers on their database and will use the app to connect them to people who need their services.

The winning applications were selected at the end of a challenging 48hours of the most electrifying, inspiring weekend of innovative and idea generation, during which sleep became a distant memory. A total of 18 teams participated in the MTN App challenge.

At closing ceremony for the 3-day hackathon, held on Sunday 31^st May 2015, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda Brian Gouldie stressed MTN’s commitment to using platforms such as the MTN App challenge to help youth find gainful employment.

“As Uganda continues to battle challenges like youth unemployment, MTN looks to leverage its position as an industry leader in technology, to offer youth opportunities to create locally relevant service solutions that can be commercialized to create employment and allow them to start their own business,” said Brian Gouldie.

“In line with our vision to deliver a bold, new digital world, we’re looking to continue concentrating our efforts on the creation of brand new digital applications to enrich customer experience and deliver value for our customers while contributing to the nation’s development and economic agenda in – the core sectors of Finance, Health and Education,” he added.

MTN Uganda will this year also launch an Innovation Lab, a pioneering space that will allow users to use MTN’s technology to experiment and create new innovations; this being a key indicator of the company’s commitment to lead the way in ICT Innovation.

Most of the applications developed over the weekend run on Android and utilize MTN Mobile Money as a payment gateway for most of the services they’ve developed, which presents a further  opportunity for MTN.

All the winners will be guided by MTN Uganda on a commercialization journey through which the apps they conceptualized and showcased will be developed to become market-ready.

More information about the App Challenge can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mtnug) and Twitter Page (www.twitter.com/mtnug). Watch the press for more detail on how MTN Uganda will be leading the delivery of a bold new digital world.

The Winners:

1.   Best M-Health App ($2,500):

Name of App: Run for Your Life

Team Leader: Adeline Tushabe

Run for your life is a 3D mobile game built to create awareness about HIV, other chronic diseases and general health care. It facilitates delivery of health information by letting users answer some questions to redeem their game-life as the play a mobile racing game.

Failure (while playing) gives you questions while success gives you various tips.

2.   Best M-Business ($2,500):

Name of App: Yoza

Team Leader: Nicholas Kamanzi

Yoza is an Android App that provides laundry services to people who needs them. It targets single youth between 18 and 30. They’ve listed a number of service providers and will use the app to connect them to people who need the app.

The app utilizes “Yoza Credit” which is a coupon system (loyalty program) to encourage people to use the services.

3.   Best M-Entertainment ($2,500):

Name of App: Common Sense

Team Leader: Ssali Emma

The app challenges you by getting you to answer questions and you win points for all correct answers. The points can be used to win tangible products based on the sponsor you chose to play for.

4.   Best M-Finance ($2,500):

Name of App: MamboPay

Team Leader: Charles Muhindo

MamboPay is a coupon-based payment solution that enables individuals or organizations to send funds to various beneficiaries in terms of coupons. Coupons are tied to a specific purpose and can only be redeemed at partner service providers for that specific purpose.

It can facilitate payment for health services, for example, by letting a sponsor generate a fixed-value coupon to be redeemed at any of the registered health service providers.

5.   Audience’s Favorite ($1,000):  

Name of App: Dawa App

Team Leader: Duncan Sanya

It’s an app that provides access to patient’s medical information on the go while allowing a patient to dial a health professional at any time and from anywhere.

6.   Overall Winner ($2,500):

Name of App: Yoza App  

———————————–

Multichoice Uganda, a Pan African pay-television company, joined the rest of the world to celebrate Africa at an exciting event that took place at the Sheraton Hotel Kampala. After a month of celebrating Africa’s rich diversity, cultural history and economic potency on our DStv and GOtv platforms, MultiChoice hosted a fun-filled film screening event to pay homage to home-grown programming – particularly the African Film Industry.

“As pioneers of pay-TV in Uganda, MultiChoice is proud to have been a part of the significant revolution in Uganda’s film and television industry for 20 years since our inception in 2005. We have supported the development of original production as well as show cased the best Ugandan content on our platforms across the continent through multiple home-grown channels like the Africa Magic channels, Maisha Magic and Channel O which have, over the years, unearthed African talents to share and tell our stories to the rest of the world,” said Charles Hamya, the General Manager MultiChoice Uganda.

“Through trainings and mentorship programmes like Africa Magic stakeholders’ training, Maisha Film Lab, players in the film industry have had the opportunity to get exposed to international production standards that they have embraced to evolve the country’s film industry”, added Charles Hamya.

He further commented that, “MultiChoice is committed to ensuring that the different segments of the market are catered for, hence the range of products and services the company brings to its customers such as Box Office, the newest innovation in Uganda’s television viewing that allows DStv Premium subscribers to easily rent latest blockbuster movies at just 6,600UGX and keep such rented movies for up to 48 hours.”

In conclusion, MultiChoice Uganda’s PR and Communications Manager, Tina Wamala, said that over the years the company has used this month of May to promote Africa’s notably rich history and pay homage to out home-grown talent in a celebration dubbed Africa Month.

In this spirit, GOtv Uganda, a subsidiary of the company had an Open Weekend where it allowed all active and inactive customers access to all its exciting channels free of charge from Friday 22 May to Monday 25 May to enable GOtv customers experience the best African stories made in Africa for Africans.

————————

• Price of full DStv kit to be slashed by more than 65%
• Once in a lifetime price offer available while stocks last
• Kits to be sold countrywide at MultiChoice sales offices and agent outlets

With just two weeks to the Digital Migration MultiChoice the continents leading pay television provider has launched an unprecedented digital offer of only 99,900 Shillings for a full DStv kit which includes a decoder, a dish and one month subscription on the Access bouquet.

The price special which is the cheapest ever in Uganda’s history for a direct to home DTH satellite product represents a reduction of over 65% from the normal retail price.

Making the announcement at a press conference held at their offices Charles Hamya the General Manager of MultiChoice Uganda said this is an incredible once in a lifetime price which will only be available for three weeks. The digital migration is a major global milestone which will positively transform the broadcasting and ICT sector. MultiChoice as a company fully intends to play its part in helping the country migrate by making it as affordable as possible for Ugandans to move to full digital broadcasting”. He noted that MultiChoice Africa their parent company stopped analogue broadcasting more than ten years ago and was glad to see they had taken the right decision.

Informing Ugandans where the specially priced DStv kits will be sold Bryan Muwonge the Marketing Manager of DStv said the kits shall be available at all MultiChoice retail and agent outlets countrywide he noted “because of the technology it uses (Satellite Direct to home) DStv is the only pay television product that can be viewed in any part of the country as such we have made sure Ugandans will be able to buy DStv in whatever town or urban center they live”.

He continued by, encouraging Ugandans to embrace the migration which he said “will be beneficial for the television industry as a whole because it would promote quality digital services and create a variety of business and employment opportunities across the television value chain”.

He however cautioned Ugandans who believe the migration deadline will be extended not to do so because the UCC has repeatedly announced they are ready to switch off and that the migration is a part global agreement that requires Uganda to abide by that date.  

————————————

After a challenging 48hours of the most electrifying, inspiring and innovative idea generation, with sleep a distant memory for 18 hardworking teams, the innovators in the MTN App challenge this afternoon presented their results to a panel of judges in a well attended closing ceremony.

The challenge was won by Yoza, an Android app helps users find laundry services. They have listed a number of service providers and will use the app to connect them to people who need their services.

The event was attended by various stakeholders including Mr. James Saaka, Executive Director of the National Information Technology Authority, Michael Niyitegeka, Vice Chairman of the ICT Association of Uganda, who also served as a judge in this weekend’s competition.

Speaking at event, Brian Gouldie, the CEO of MTN Uganda commended the participants for their efforts and energy displayed throughout the hackathon, while stressing MTN’s commitment to helping youth find gainful employment.

“As Uganda continues to battle challenges like youth unemployment, MTN looks to leverage its position as an industry leader to offer youth opportunities to create solutions that will be commercialized and bring about long-term employment for them,” said Brian Gouldie.

“In line with our vision to deliver a bold, new digital world, we’re looking to continue concentrating our efforts on creation of brand new digital applications to enrich customer experience and deliver value in our propositions while contributing to the nation’s transformation agenda in – the core sectors of Finance, Health and Education,” he added.

“It’s no secret that digital innovations are at the heart of true transformation around the world. The question now is which innovation crosses the $1 billion valuation mark first; even in Africa. To be part of the digital revolution, it is crucial for Uganda to start building a sustainable Innovation Eco-system,” Mr. Gouldie further elaborated.

The CEO also revealed plans by MTN to launch an Innovation Lab later this year, further stressing MTN’s commitment to lead the way in ICT Innovation.

Most of the applications developed this weekend run on Android and utilize MTN Mobile Money as a payment gateway for most of the payments they’re built to facilitate, which presents a great opportunity for MTN.

The apps cut across four key themes of M-Health, M-Business, M-Entertainment and M-Finance and each category winner will take home cash prizes, commercialization support and other merchandize specifically chosen to facilitate their work.

The overall winner will also have an opportunity to visit Huawei’s HQ in China to truly experience innovation excellence.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer, Mapula Bodibe said:

“As a leading ICT brand in the market, MTN believes a strong focus on digitization will usher in a new world order for emerging markets. This involves providing and supporting platforms that enable technology infrastructure development and advancement,” said Chief Marketing Officer, Ms. Mapula Bodibe.

This month’s MTN App Challenge has been organized in collaboration with Outbox, a leading innovation hub in Uganda, Garage 48 and Huawei. The challenge attracted over 500 developers out of which 100 minds have been selected to turn their ideas into technology innovations.

The challenge was intentionally opened up for both students and non-students with the aim of gathering people from different fields with varying skill sets and uniting them into teams that would hopefully develop tomorrow’s big innovation.

More information about the App Challenge can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mtnug) and Twitter Page (www.twitter.com/mtnug). Watch the press for more detail on how MTN Uganda will be leading the delivery of a bold new digital world.

The Winners:

1.   Best M-Health App ($2,500):

Name of App: Run For Your Life

Team Leader: Adeline Tushabe

Run for your life is a 3D mobile game built to create awareness about HIV, other chronic diseases and general health care. It facilitates delivery of health information by letting users answer some questions to redeem their game-life as the play a mobile racing game.

Failure (while playing) gives you questions while success gives you various tips.

2.   Best M-Business ($2,500):

Name of App: Yoza

Team Leader: Nicholas Kamanzi

Yoza is an Android App that provides laundry services to people who needs them. It targets single youth between 18 and 30. They’ve listed a number of service providers and will use the app to connect them to people who need the app.

The app utilizes “Yoza Credit” which is a coupon system (loyalty program) to encourage people to use the services.

3.   Best M-Entertainment ($2,500):

Name of App: Common Sense

Team Leader: Ssali Emma

The app challenges you by getting you to answer questions and you win points for all correct answers. The points can be used to win tangible products based on the sponsor you chose to play for.

4.   Best M-Finance ($2,500):

Name of App: MamboPay

Team Leader: Charles Muhindo

MamboPay is a coupon-based payment solution that enables individuals or organizations to send funds to various beneficiaries in terms of coupons. Coupons are tied to a specific purpose and can only be redeemed at partner service providers for that specific purpose.

It can facilitate payment for health services, for example, by letting a sponsor generate a fixed-value coupon to be redeemed at any of the registered health service providers.

5.   Audience’s Favorite ($1,000):  

Name of App: Dawa App

Team Leader: Duncan Sanya

It’s an app that provides access to patient’s medical information on the go while allowing a patient to dial a health professional at any time and from anywhere.

6.   Overall Winner ($2,500):

Name of App: Yoza App 

—————————-

High Court Judge Justice Christopher Madrama on Friday dismissed a case in which Bugweri Member of Parliament Abdu Katuntu had sued MTN for allegedly operating a financial services (Mobile Money) without being licensed as a financial institution.

Katuntu had claimed he was acting in exercise of his constitutional duty under Article 17 of the Constitution, instituting a public interest litigation. He was seeking court’s intervention to declare MTN and other operators who are dealing in mobile money transfer services as amounting to engaging in financial services and as outside the scope of their Operator’s licences as telecommunications operators. Further sought for declarations, that such provision of mobile money services by MTN, not being a regulated financial institution is illegal in the circumstances and as such should be compelled to declare and refund all moneys and profits accrued under the purported illegal practices.

Before the hearing of the case, the lawyers representing MTN (U) Ltd; Joseph Matsiko, Bruce Musinguzi and Idoot Augustine, all from Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), did raise objections as to the propriety of the case against their client and further challenged the capacity of Abdu Katuntu to institute the case against their client. The judge upheld the preliminary objections raised by MTN lawyers  who argued that Katuntu did not show any individual right that he enjoyed in regard to the mobile money services, which right right had been violated by MTN. The disclosure of such a right, they argued was a fundamental pre-condition for the success of any suit. They further argued that, Abdu Katuntu had failed to show court any violation of any constitutional right or provision by MTN, which would have brought the case under public interest litigation.

—————————————

The MTN Group continues to evolve its operating model to bolster its competitiveness in the market. As part of this process, it started implementing a new business model to outsource its network operations three years ago in a bid to improve efficiency and reduce rising network maintenance costs.

In February 2015, MTN Group appointed ZTE Technologies as the Managed Services provider for MTN Uganda. Under the Managed Services model MTN Uganda will benefit from shared value by having the new Network partner take over the management and enhancement of its highly evolved network processes capabilities which is expected to significantly enhance the delivery of a superior Customer Experience.

In this transaction there are no planned job losses as all employees in the impacted Network environment will be taken over by ZTE technologies with the same employment terms and conditions. The process of migrating the said staff to ZTE involves dissolution of their employment contracts with MTN and the offer of new contracts with ZTE.

The approximately 140 staff to be affected have been informed of this transition and oriented about their terminal benefits and their immediate re employment by ZTE. In line with the requirements of the Labour Laws of Uganda, the Labour Commissioner has also been notified of the impending transmission of staff and been appraised of the processes that MTN Uganda has undertaken in compliance with Legal and Contractual requirements. Contrary to what has been reported in some Social and Print media, there will be no job cuts as all staff are to be immediately re employed by ZTE and all statutory, contractual and terminal benefits will be paid with a full guarantee of immediate re employment.

The Network Outsourcing Model has been successfully rolled out in other markets in which MTN operates. These include South Africa, Nigeria, Iran, Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, South Sudan, Guinea Conakry, Zambia, Afghanistan and Cyprus, to ensure MTN’s long term competitiveness and sustainability.

Gouldie, CEO of MTN Uganda said, “As the telecoms market matures, it is becoming essential that every effort is made to drive efficiency in order to manage our cost structures and create mechanisms for strategic advantage. This is critical to remain competitive as technology evolves. MTN is utilizing its strategic partnerships in order to drive this effectiveness and has started an ‘outsourced’ based approach by the appointment of strategic partners to manage key operational areas. This will be an ongoing focus on how MTN can differentiate itself across multiple operational environments to provide a differentiated experience to its customers.

————————————

Company recognized for the third consecutive year.

MTN Uganda was this morning named one of Uganda’s leading super brands, following a research commissioned by Superbrands East Africa, and implemented by TNS RMS, a leading market research firm.

This is the third time in row that MTN has been named a Superbrand.

MTN Uganda and MTN Mobile Money both made it to the Top 10 Superbrands of 2015/15 in 3rd and 6th respectively.

But MTN leads the Telecommunications, Internet and Broadband category with a percentage score of 86.98 while MTN Mobile Money, crucially, leads the Financial Services (General) Category with a score of 84.21.

“MTN is honored by the SuperBrands recognition. Our vision for Uganda continues to be the delivery of a bold new digital world. The SuperBrands status is further proof that our customers recognize what we are about and our commitment to quality plus the delivery of distinct and reliable services,” noted MTN’s Senior Manager Brand & Communications, Martin Sebuliba, at the presentation of the Superbrands certificate.

According to Christine Mueni of TNS RMS, Super brands are considered to have established the finest reputation in their field; they offer customers significant emotional and tangible advantages over other brands, which (consciously or sub-consciously) customers want to recognize.

“The leading brands were judged on three core criteria of quality, reliability and distinction. Brands do not pay to enter the survey and all of the key brands regionally are considered in the extensive research process,” said Mueni.

Superbrands is the world’s largest independent arbiter of branding. Top brands were recognized after an extensive research in which over 1000 consumers from Uganda’s largest cities/towns were surveyed. The research also took into consideration the views of an expert council.

——————————————-

The Uganda Communications Commission, through their ACIA Awards, awarded Airtel Uganda the ICT for Development Award for their ground-breaking innovation ‘Airtel Weza’ at the recently concluded ACIA Awards Ceremony.

Established in 2010, the ACIA Awards purport to foster innovation through the recognition and reward of outstanding ICT innovations. They provide a platform upon which outstanding ICT innovations can be showcased and propelled to further success.

The Commission handed over a Cash award of 2,500 USD and an Implementation Grant of USD 7,500 to the Airtel for the category entry “ICT for the rural disadvantaged” where they fronted the ‘Airtel Weza’ Innovation.

Airtel Weza, a ground-breaking innovation done in partnership with Grameen Foundation and Plan Uganda, is a mobile financial solution that permits Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) and other savings groups such as investment clubs to store their Group’s cash as mobile money.

Fitted with features such as Group accounts, Record Management & Mini statements as well as Mobile Banking, Airtel Weza guarantees security, accountability, easy auditing and convenience by ensuring that the groups’ money is controlled by 3 elected PIN holders who must approve of any transaction. The innovation also encourages leadership drives by empowering the 3 PIN holders to lead and offer financial advice to their group members, with support from the regional Airtel Sales Executives.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Prasoon Lal, Airtel Uganda Marketing Director, talked about Airtel’s keenness to providing a safer and more convenient experience for all their customers-including the savings groups-as the inspiration behind ‘Airtel Weza’.

“We believe mobile phones have rapidly evolved into safe and secure money transfer tools and are increasingly being used to conduct more complex transactions which include settling utility and expense bills.  The Airtel Weza service making the savings groups’ processes more secure, efficient and transparent using Airtel money,” Lal said.

Currently, Airtel Weza is being used by 134 Groups with a total number of 4,020 members in the districts of Kamuli, Tororo and Luwero districts and Airtel Uganda plans to extend this innovation to 1,000 groups in order to bring financial inclusion to over 15,000 Ugandans across the country.

——————————————-

Where to invest outside of developed real estate markets

A condotel near the beach in Bali, eco-friendly commercial space in Dhaka and affordable luxury living in Addis Ababa. These are just some of the unique investment opportunities to be found in the emerging markets.

Global property portal Lamudi reveals noteworthy opportunities for international real estate investors outside of traditional investment locations.

1. Developments beyond the city center

Across Africa, demand for affordable housing is rising. As the high cost of housing has locked many property-seekers out of the real estate market in Kampala, many are now looking for other options on the outskirts of Uganda’s capital city. Affordability, however, does not have to mean compromising on quality. ,  Mega City, one of the largest property developments in the country, is an integrated township of 1200 apartments located in Mukono, a 20 minute drive from Kampala. The  development will offer top-of-the-line facilities to cater for working professionals, including ample parking space, a cafeteria, gymnasium and WIFI connectivity. Prices start at US$40,000.

2. Environmentally-friendly property

Demand for eco-friendly property is rising across the emerging markets, Lamudi data shows. Cityscape Tower, located in the Gulshan-1 district of Dhaka in Bangladesh, is a pioneering commercial development currently under construction. As the developers seek to have the building platinum LEED certified, the list of its environmental features is extensive: CO2 sensors to control indoor air quality, an energy efficient air conditioning system, intelligent lighting, rainwater harvesting, rooftop solar panels and more. Developers Cityscape promise 44 percent lower energy consumption than other buildings in the area, as well as a 60 percent water saving.

3. Mixed-use developments in strategic locations

Ghana’s business-friendly environment has seen a significant amount of investment over the years, leading to a boom in the real estate industry. Accra, one of the Africa’s leading real estate hotspots, has become a hub of construction activity and investment is pouring in. Developments such as No. 1 Oxford Street have been designed with lifestyle in mind to cater to residents and businesses alike. The mixed-used residential, retail and recreational development is located in the prime area of Osu, known for its bustling commercial center, dining scene and nightlife. There are 10 floors of residential apartments, all of which are fully-furnished and have views over the Atlantic Ocean. From studio apartments to penthouses, restaurants to a terrace bar, No. 1 Oxford Street is strategically poised to meet the demands of the growing city.

4. High-end housing on a large scale

The biggest housing project in Rwanda to date, Vision City is a high-end residential and commercial development. It is the flagship project from the country’s largest real estate developer Ultimate Developers Ltd. This large-scale housing community will have more than 4500 units, ranging from luxury villas to apartments, once completed. It will be built in four phases over a period of eight years, with phase one slated for completion in mid-August 2015. In addition to residential housing, the development also has a town center, which will serve as the commercial hub of the estate. The town center will be a WIFI-connected lifestyle complex with commercial and retail facilities, a supermarket, restaurants, office complex, a luxury three-star hotel and convention center.

5. Property in a tourism destination

As tourist arrivals in Bali continue to increase year on year, the area’s condotel market offers one of the most lucrative real estate investments in Indonesia. Combining a condominium with the high-quality service of a hotel, condotels are usually secondary properties, with owners only permitted to stay there for a limited period of time each year (usually no more than 30 days). Wanaprasta Condotel, located close to some of Bali’s top tourist attractions, is one example that fuses modern design with the area’s beautiful natural scenery. Note that currently foreigners can own condotels for a 60-year period, which can then be extended by an additional 60 years.

6. Luxury at an affordable price

The emerging markets offer plenty of options for those looking to invest in luxury real estate. Designed to look like a blooming lotus flower, Poli Lotus International Center in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa contains luxury hotels, office and commercial space, and high-end residential buildings. Billed as the “first urban complex in Ethiopia”, the development has 13 buildings, each with 12 floors for luxury apartments. Prices range from 2.5 million Ethiopian Birr (US$120,119) for a two-bedroom apartment up to 5.1 million Ethiopian birr (US$246,424) for the most luxurious penthouse apartments.