HiPipo Money

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The festive mood was set with neon lights, gifts, free Wi-Fi, music and non-stop entertainment when MTN Uganda staged their final Internet expo of 2014 in the heart of Lira town.

Early this year, MTN embarked on a mission to take the fastest and most reliable Internet, closer to its customers in all regions that have included Central, Eastern, western and now North, providing an opportunity for customers to experience firsthand MTN’s fast Internet speeds, the latest devices and other latest technological innovations.

As pioneer in delivering a bold, new digital world, MTN Uganda has in excess of 3 million internet users and the MTN Internet expos are tailored to enable this fraction of subscribers to experience the seamless MTN Internet and other technological innovations on offer.

The Lira MTN Internet expo kicked off on 27^th going on till 29^th November 2014 attracting hundreds of enthusiastic visitors from varied backgrounds.

 MTN Uganda’s Acting Chief Marketing Officer Hazel Twesigye said MTN has used the Expo to educate and create awareness of the vast opportunities available through the use of ICT as well as expose customers to the various data options available from MTN Products LTE routers, modems, internet enabled phones and tablets.

“At MTN we are constantly keeping abreast with technology trends so as to serve our customers. The speed at which the world is moving technologically leaves us with no option but to move with it. For instance Smartphones and tablets now pose a big challenge to the traditional PC and MTN is fully immersed in delivering this new digital world to its customers. We want people to Touch, Feel and Experience World-class Internet. ” she added.

Lira Town Clerk, Mr. Daniel Kaweesi commended MTN for the unmatched initiative and for bringing it to the northern region. He underscored the valuable role internet continues to play for development, urging the business community in the region to take advantage of what MTN has to offer for their personal growth.

The Expo was crowned each day with entertainment from local artistes who included Coco Finger and Gravity Omutujju. The exhibitions also featured stalls from MTN’s partners who included Samsung, Nokia, Go Phones and Alcatel.

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This festive season DStv subscribers are getting the offer of a lifetime. DStv, the number one Pay TV player in the market has made a massive price reduction offer for customers to purchase their hardware this festive season. Effective Friday, 21^st November 2014, the high definition Decoder Explora will cost just UGX 515,000 from UGX 965,000 (decoder only) and a full installed kit for standard definition decoder for DStv can be purchased at just UGX 279,000 from 327,000UGX.

Bryan Muwonge, Marketing Manager DStv Uganda said, “We are happy to celebrate this festive season with our customers by bringing our highly celebrated latest high definition decoder the Explora offering it at just 515,000UGX from 965,000UGX, the biggest discount in the history our existence.” Revealed Bryan. “We know how the festive season can be fun packed with lots of interesting programming to watch, The Explora will ensure our customers do not miss out on any of these interesting programming to ensure that they have the liberty to catch up on all programming that the season has to offer.” Added Bryan Muwonge.

Jude Kalema, Sales Manager DStv Uganda added “There is no better time than now to join the prestigious DStv family. We urge all potential customers to come on board and relish our unrivalled content and programming for the entire family and keep them abreast with news and events around the world. Our Explora HD functionality asserts superior applications such as Catch Up and Box office (soon to be launched) as well as permitting customers to rewind, forward, and pause live television. The superior picture and sound quality is unmatched completely evolving the television experience for our customers. I therefore urge all potential customers to leverage on this price special this festive season” said Jude Kalema.

The price special will be applicable until 30^th January 2015. 

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2014 Winners

1. Single of the Year: Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J – Dark Horse
2. Artist of the Year: One Direction
3. New Artist of the Year: 5 Seconds of Summer
4. Dick Clark Award for Excellence: Taylor Swift
5. Favorite Male Artist – Pop/Rock: Sam Smith
6. Favorite Female Artist – Pop/Rock: Katy Perry
7. Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Pop/Rock: One Direction
8. Favorite Album – Pop/Rock: One Direction – Midnight Memories
9. Favorite Male Artist – Country: Luke Bryan
10. Favorite Female Artist – Country: Carrie Underwood
11. Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Country: Florida Georgia Line
12. Favorite Album – Country: Brantley Gilbert – Just As I Am
13. Favorite Artist – Rap/Hip-Hop: Iggy Azalea
14. Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop: Iggy Azalea – The New Classic
15. Favorite Male Artist – Soul/R&B: John Legend
16. Favorite Female Artist – Soul/R&B: Beyoncé
17. Favorite Album – Soul/R&B: Beyoncé – Beyoncé
18. Favorite Artist – Alternative Rock: Imagine Dragons
19. Favorite Artist – Adult Contemporary: Katy Perry
20. Favorite Artist – Latin: Enrique Iglesias
21. Favorite Artist – Contemporary Inspirational: Casting Crowns
22. Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM): Calvin Harris
23. Top Soundtrack: Frozen

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MultiChoice Uganda, through its DTT service GOtv reiterated its commitment to provide Ugandans with affordable digital services when they launched their Festive Season Campaign with a massive decoder price special in Kampala today.

“As part of our commitment to entertain Uganda we havedecided to slash the price of our STB/digital decoders to provide a festive price special of 60,000UGX for a GOtv decoder and 1 month GOtv Plus subscription to ensure as many Ugandans as possible get access to digital television at a price everyone can afford”.  Said Patricia Kiconco Segment Brand Manager GOtv Uganda.

She continued to say that “the Festive season is a season to celebrate and at GOtv we are spreading the Christmas cheer by ensuring that our customers are entertained all through this festive season. As a digital operator, we understand that content is very important that is why the GOtv channels have been carefully selected to offer a host relevant international and local channels made in Africa for Africa to cater for a variety of tasted whole family programming that encompasses great kids channels, news channels, documentaries, Soap operas and so much more” saidKiconco. She encouraged Ugandans to take advantage of this offer which starts on 18 November.

Albert Nga, GOtv’s Marketing Manager said, “This price special not only allows consumers to access digital television at a price everyone can afford but it also gives them more choice and the best possible option for joining the digital television revolution in the impending digital migration deadline slated for 31^st December this year”.

“GOtv has been actively involved in raising awareness about the digital migration process and to enable Uganda achieve speedy migration to the digital age GOtv expanded its signal foot print to cover all regions in the country using the latest DVB T2 technology which provides best signal, sound and picture quality. It is little wonder therefore that GOtv has become the obvious pay television and affordable choice to digital migration”, said Albert Nga.

For Shs 60,000 subscribers get a GOtv decoder including1month’s subscription to GOtv Plus – which gives them access to over 41 exciting local and international channels. GOtv channel lineup includes –Telemundo, Mnet Movies, Sony Max, NatGeo Wild, NBS tv, Africa Magic, MTV Base, SuperSport Select 1 and 2, Disney Junior among others.

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MTN Uganda would like to inform all its data customers that, a number of MTN data users have been experiencing varied degraded service mainly relating to:

1.    Multiple data bundle activation failure which causes  multiple charges

2.    Delayed data bundle loading

3.    Failed activation

4.    Inaccurate data bundle billing

5.    Bundle charged but not activated

MTN and its data platform Vendors have over the last three weeks been fully engaged in identifying the cause of the problem affecting approximately 7,800 out of over 2,000,000 MTN data subscribers. In a parallel effort, the customer care teams are attending to the affected customers  to deal with the issues reported on a case by case basis.

We encourage all customers affected but not yet contacted to seek assistance by calling into our customer care data help line 126 or send mail tocustomerservice@mtn.co.ugor contact us via facebook.com/mtnugor twitter.com/mtnug.Customers in Arua, Gulu, Fortportal and Mbale canalso conveniently visitour newly opened Service Centres in these towns.

MTN would like to reassure its customers that it is focused on resolution of the problem and full restoration of the service.

MTN Management.

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The anti-Corruption court sitting in Kololo on Thursday evening ruled that five of the six former MTN staff accused of Mobile Money fraud have a case to answer.

Patrick Ssentongo, Joan Nabugwawo, Brian Okurut, Angella Ayo and Eriya Baryamwijuka were found with a case to answer and tasked to defend themselves. According to the presiding judge, Justice Lawrence Gidudu the five have been tried and found calpable of the offense. Their defense starts in January 29, 2015.

Meanwhile the same court acquitted Richard Mwami, the former business manager MTN Uganda of all charges against him in the Mobile Money fraud case that cost the telecommunications giants a loss of over sh10b. Mwami represented by Lawyer David Mpanga was acquitted on grounds that he was the one who alerted MTN of the fraud and reported the matter to Police.

“I find no connection between Mwami and the case. He never participated in the theft and it is actually him who burst the racket and reported the matter to police. So there is no way he would have been party to the fraud,” Gidudu said.

Mwami and six other employees of MTN were charged with eight counts relating to theft of sh10.2b from the company’s Mobile Money system. It is alleged that the money was stolen in 2011.

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Revitalizing the experience of reliable Internet usage, MTN Uganda has launched MTN Night Shift, a service that gives customers an opportunity to surf the Internet all night at an affordable rate.

With significant investments on the data proposition, MTN Uganda has the fastest Internet on the market and is giving customers a chance to experience this with 1GB of Internet at only 2,500/- to allow customers download their favorite movies, music, games and chat all night.

“With the continuous enthusiasm and growing numbers of Internet users in the country, MTN would like to offer an early Christmas present to customers with the Night Shift Internet offer. As a business we acknowledge the relevance of  affordable Internet in the  day to day activitiesof our customers and this is one of the many ways to answerour customer’s  request for more data at an affordable price. We strive to see that our customers enjoy their lives by maximizing all services we offer’, said Hazel Twesigye MTN’s Ag. Chief Marketing Officer.

According to Ms. Twesigye, Night Shift comes at a time when MTN is putting more focus on Mobile Internet and provision of the most affordable and bestInternet services on the market. MTN Night Shift will enable customers not only  access their email, chat with friends and loved ones on social media but also do more with their Internet like download movies, watch soccer  among other things at their own pace.

To activate, a customer should simply dial *150*1# and then select Night Shift. This Internet bundle is valid from midnight to 6am.

Speaking about the offer, Paul Isabirye,a student of Information Technology at Makerere University said he is looking forward to stocking up 1GB of Data to download useful apps, create programs, chat with friends and watch the latest series online and a lot more.

With the widest coverage and best quality network, MTN Uganda guarantees incomparable Internet speed and at affordable costs.

“MTN prides itself in providing the best quality services in the telecom industry and MTN Night shift is testimony to this quest. This is all in our vision of extending a Bold new digital new world to our loyal customer”, Kiddu added.

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All couples intending to get married have been advised to check for sickle cells before tying the knot as an effort to curb the ever increasing cases of sickle cells in the country.

The advice was made by Prof. Christopher Ndugwa, a renowned Paediatrician and former head of MulagoPaediatricDepartment while receiving an Award for outstanding service to community from the Rotary Club of Bukoto, at Kabira Country Club on Tuesday evening.

Prof. Ndugwa who is also Chairman of the Polio Eradication Campaign in Uganda, runs a sickle cells clinic at Nakivuubo, currently considered a role- model clinic for sickle cell Anaemiain the East SAfrican region.

According to Ndugwa, Uganda currently registers 8% of children born with sickle Cells every year. He said the number could be higher considering that only 60% of children are born in health facilities in Uganda, and lack of diagnostic machines in the hospitals.

Ndugwa appealed to government of Uganda to consider availing diagnostic equipment to hospitals as means of making the identification of sickle cell cases easy.

“The only way of ascertaining the magnitude of sickle cells is for every child born, to undergo a test for the anemia. Our problem currently is the fact that most sickle cell clinics are only concentrated here in Kampala. The only other sickle cell clinic is in Jinja”, he decried.

He also appealed to the public to stop stigmatizing the sicklers saying it is a common cause of depression for the patients leading to death.

The Assistant Governor Rotary Association Mr. Salim Makeera who presented the award to Prof. Ndugwa said he was selected for his selfless and dedicated service for community at his sickle cell clinic.

He said Prof. Ndugwa is a multi-faceted Doctor who is in charge of many ailments including administering treatment to HIV-Aids and Polio patients.

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MTN Uganda hosted its internet users in Hoimato a networking forum to recognize and appreciate their loyalty and dedication to MTN Brand which has translated to high usage of their productsand services over the years.

The forum was intended to avail a platform for MTN customers to interact and express their appreciation and voice out any other concerns on a one on one interface with MTN Officials so as to get first hand answers and solutions to their concerns. In addition to this, MTN used the forum to update customers on current and future projects aimed at improving services.

The forum which took place at Hoima Resort Hotel on 31st October 2014 comes on the heels of the recently announced growth of MTN Uganda subscriber base to 10 million and continued increase in MTN Internet Users subscriber base across the entire country.

Available figures indicate that MTN Ugandahas steadfastly widened its internet usage base with a significant subscriber growth of 124% increase vs2012. This was supported by the increasing investment in Data Infrastructure 3G and 4G, Data Centers, and investments in the undersea cables of Eassy, WACs and SAT-3.

“We are extremely proud of our momentous subscriber base growth milestone but also much more elated by the significant growth in the internet usage across the country. MTN continues to lead the telecom market from all fronts and we are very grateful to have the largest number of internet users as we engage with them on a daily basis through the available platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+ and Instagram. Internet has become such an integral part of our daily lives as people need to stay connected to what’s happening around them moment by moment. The future is definitely digital and MTN will be leading from the front.” said Timothy Serwadda –MTN’s Perfect 10 Program Manager.

The Chairman LC 5, Hoima District Hon.George Tinkaapplauded MTN for the forum adding that the gestures made the region feel appreciated and taken important. He also hailed MTN for the great services offered like the fastest Internet speeds, affordable call rates and Mobile Money servicesadding that they are contributing factors for fast business growth of Hoima and the South Western region generally. He also added that he has observed MTN’s customer centric approach which a good way of doing business.

Serwadda added that since MTN Uganda launched its Mobile Network operations in 1998 and since inception MTN’s cumulative investment has been in excess of UGX 1.7 Trillion. In 2013, the company injected more than UGX 140 billion in upgrading the Network infrastructure and adding another 400Km of national fibre. By December 2013, MTN Uganda’s total Fibre infrastructure exceeded 5000km.

During the forum Serwadda thanked the enthusiastic guests for choosing to be part of the Y’ello family and making MTN Uganda the most popular Ugandan brand on all platforms to date. 

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MTN Côte d’Ivoire today announced that the company has paid 75% of the new telecommunications operator unified license acquisition cost to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire.

Indeed, given that the GSM license expires on 1 April 2016, after 20 years of operation, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire had anticipated the allocation of the new telecommunications operator unified license as of 15 December 2015, by receiving the required advance payment representing 50% of the license cost amounting to CFAF 100 billion.

By paying 75%, which is above the required 50% minimum, MTN CI obtains the extension of the operating term of the unified license for 17 years, for commissioning all services and products associated to 2G / 3G / 4G /  LTE and upcoming new technologies.

The CFA F 75 billion cheque handing over ceremony took place on 15 December 2015 at 19:30 at the premises of the Prime Minister in the presence of Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of the State of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Bruno KONE Nabagné, the Minister of ICT and Postal Services and Government Spokesman, the CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire and CEOs of all operators concerned by the renewal of their licenses.

For MTN, this CFA F 100 billion investment confirms its commitment to work as a key player for telecommunications development for the Cote d’Ivoire economy and its clients.

Through this new license opportunity, MTN Côte d’Ivoire is consolidating its positioning as the leading provider of the bold new digital world to the Ivorian market.

MTN Cote d’Ivoire announces partial payment of the new telecommunications operators unified license cost

MTN Côte d’Ivoire today announced that the company has paid 75% of the new telecommunications operator unified license acquisition cost to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire.

Indeed, given that the GSM license expires on 1 April 2016, after 20 years of operation, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire had anticipated the allocation of the new telecommunications operator unified license as of 15 December 2015, by receiving the required advance payment representing 50% of the license cost amounting to CFAF 100 billion.

By paying 75%, which is above the required 50% minimum, MTN CI obtains the extension of the operating term of the unified license for 17 years, for commissioning all services and products associated to 2G / 3G / 4G /  LTE and upcoming new technologies.

The CFA F 75 billion cheque handing over ceremony took place on 15 December 2015 at 19:30 at the premises of the Prime Minister in the presence of Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of the State of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Bruno KONE Nabagné, the Minister of ICT and Postal Services and Government Spokesman, the CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire and CEOs of all operators concerned by the renewal of their licenses.

For MTN, this CFA F 100 billion investment confirms its commitment to work as a key player for telecommunications development for the Cote d’Ivoire economy and its clients.

Through this new license opportunity, MTN Côte d’Ivoire is consolidating its positioning as the leading provider of the bold new digital world to the Ivorian market.

About MTN Group

Launched in 1994, MTN Group (Mobile Telecommunications Network) is a leading emerging market operator operating in 22 countries of Africa, Asia and  Middle East : Afghanistan, South Africa, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As of 30 September 2015 MTN recorded 233 million subscribers across its operations.

About MTN Côte d’Ivoire

MTN Group became shareholder of Loteny Telecom, now called MTN CI following a change of denomination in December 2005 after a the acquisition of the majority stake of the company from SOW Group. MTN CI is a global phone operator ” mobile + fixed + internet” offering services and innovative products and strategically customer centric. As a committed corporate citizen, MTN CI has more than 65,000 points of sale throughout the country. As at 30 June 2015, the number of regularly registered “mobile” subscribers was 8,248,641.

To follow all news about MTN CI and have exclusive information, visit:

www.mtn.ci, www.mtnbusiness.ci,  www.mtn.ci/MTNCI/fondationmtn,  www.facebook.com/MTNCotedIvoire,  www.facebook.com/FondationMtnCoteDIvoire,  www.twitter.com/MTN_Cotedivoire  and www.youtube.com/MTNcotedivoire