HiPipo Money

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TLC’s search for its next African presenter is back! This year the popular entertainment TV channel, in association with Colgate Optic White, is looking for that special person who has the winning style and Colgate smile to land the chance to present TLC’S MOST EXTREME, a brand new, four-part series coming to TLC Entertainment(DStv 135) in Q1 2017, plus an extra one-off special documenting the winner’s story.  Featuring some of the most hilarious, gripping and outrageous moments from TLC’s history, TLC’s Most Extreme will be a must see for die-hard fans of the channel and a fantastic platform to launch a new presenting talent to DStv subscribers across Africa.     

From Monday 25^th July to Sunday 21^st August, TLC fans from across the continent are invited to submit a 90-second video audition showcasing their presenting skills and explaining why they have what it takes to be the perfect presenter.  Candidates will also be required to read a pre-written script to camera, details of which, plus full entry criteria, can be found on the Next Great Presenter website.

Last year, over 1500 TLC fans from across the continent entered the highly-contended competition, and after 60,000 votes, Namibia’s David Mbeha was crowned the winner. This time around, the competition is set to be even bigger, with more amazing prizes up for grabs for the lucky winner, including a luxury holiday for two, plus of course the opportunity to travel to London to film the four part series in one of TLC’s studios. 

“The success of TLC’s Next Great Presenter 2015 exceeded our expectations in every way and we are extremely excited to roll the competition out for a second year and amplify it further though our partnership with Colgate Optic White. After receiving more than a thousand entries from across the continent, it only made sense to bring this campaign back and once more showcase the exceptional talent that Africa has to offer,” says Lee Hobbs, VP of Channels, Emerging Business, Discovery Networks CEEMEA.  “This year, we will we be looking for contenders who were made to be in front of the camera; with the enthusiasm, charisma, style and smile needed to make our TV screens light-up and join the likes of Buddy, Randy and Oprah in the TLC hall of fame. That is no mean feat, but we know our African viewers will take up the challenge and show us what they’ve got!” 

“Colgate is excited to be part of this experience. TLC’s Next Great Presenter allows us to really bring Colgate Optic White to life – fashion, style and a perfect smile,” said Stuart Cryer, Marketing Director, Oral Care.  “We look forward to many Colgate Smiles lighting up TLC screens as contestants live the Optic White brand!”

Each video audition will be reviewed by a team of experts who will select the top twelve to advance to the Boot Camp stage during which three finalists will be selected by a panel of judges including executives from TLC, DStv and Colgate. But, in the end it will be up to the TLC viewers to vote for their favourite finalist, with the winner set to be revealed live at a star-studded event in Johannesburg later this year.

For your chance to become TLC’s next African presenter, visit the Next Great Presenter website for complete details on how to enter. For further updates, keep watching TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) and join the conversation on Facebook at “TLC Africa”, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TLC_Africa and on Instagram TLC_Africa

For more information log onto www.dstv.com

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Standard Chartered Bank’s Cynthia Mpanga made history when she was elected unopposed by members of the  Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) during their 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Hotel Africana on Saturday July 9, 2016. Cynthia Mpanga becomes the second female president of PRAU. The first PRAU female President of was Goretti Masadde in 2010. Cynthia is who currently the Country Brand and Marketing Manager for Standard Chartered Bank Uganda. The PRAU President, Cynthia will provide strategic direction as well as oversee all the activities and programmes of the Association.

Other members of the Governing Council elected on that day are; Sheila  Kangwagye as Secretary General, Hellen Kawesa as Treasurer, Stella Nkini Ndiwalana as Deputy Secretary General,  John Fisher Sekabira  as Director for Programmes, Peter odeke as Vice president, Paul Mwirigi as Director PR and A.G Musamali Director Disciplinary. The Governing council is the leadership body of PRAU steered by a team of 13 members who implement the functions and policies that govern the Association, provides strategic direction and oversight of the operations of the Association.

PRAU AGM also elected three (3) Student Representatives to the governing council. Mr. David Wabukye, and Tabitha Agaba are from Cavendish University whilst Isaac Sebuliba  is from Makerere University.

The PRAU AGM is the supreme decision making body of the Association that deliberates and formulates policies for the Association. It also puts into place or returns office bearers to any posts in the Governing Council.According to the PRAU constitution, only fully paid up members can attend the AGM and participate in the election and they are the only persons eligible to elect or be elected to any post.

.”I am very honored and humbled by the extreme confidence that the communicators in this industry have in me. We have a vast array of talent and very seasoned PR practitioners in this industry but they all put their weight behind my candidature. That places a huge responsibility in me to deliver to their expectations. For me, this is a fresh challenge and I know exactly what needs to be done to move this Association forward. It’s exciting times for PRAU as an Association and the communicators in Uganda can look forward to the next journey with great optimism. “, Mpanga said at a press briefing shortly after she was elected President.

“The elections were highly competitive, well planned, executed by a highly credible election committee from private and public sector and I have every confidence that the new leaders elected are the right ones to take the Association forward.”Mpanga added.

At the AGM , the PRAU Treasurer Hellen Kaweesa noted that membership had grown by 47% driven largely by a robust member registration exercise and use of social media platforms to engage practitioners. It was noted by the outgoing PRAU President Henry Rugamba that the new PRAU Patron, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, incoming Minister of Information and ICT & Communication, as and according to the PRAU constitution is the new Patron of PRAU and that was invited to officiate over the event.

According to the PRAU PR Director Paul Mwirigi, the elections were in line with the PRAU vision of being the leading Public Relations professional association in Africa through enhancing ethical practices and excellence.

The Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) was founded in 1976 as an umbrella organization of all public relations practitioners and professionals in Uganda. It is affiliated to other regional and global public relations bodies. The Association embraces local and foreign practitioners, and participates in local, regional and international forums to enable its members, develop capacity and attain a competitive edge in the business world. 

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The newly appointed MTN Uganda top executives are ready to strategically face any challenges, as the company seeks to consolidate and strengthen its market leadership position.

MTN recently announced the appointments of two new executives in two strategic positions, that included ‘sales and distribution’ and customer experience.

Keith Tukei who holds more than 20 years of experience in the telecom industry (with further experience, distributing fast-moving consumer goods – FMCGs) was named the new General Manager – Sales & Distribution while Dorcas Muhwezi was appointed to the position of General Manager – Customer Experience at MTN Uganda. Both positions report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

On his appointment to his new role Tukei said, “It feels great to be associated with MTN a leading global telco player in Africa but most especially it’s a humbling experience to take on the challenge of sustaining MTN distribution leadership in this beautiful country I call home.”

Tukei has worked for Vodacom in South Africa for the last two years and in Tanzania for the past one year as executive of emerging markets and Head of Sales and Distribution. He has also worked with Airtel in Sierra Leone for seven years as Sales & Distribution Director and later as Commercial Director responsible for the entire Commercial function.

While recently announcing the new appointments, outgoing MTN Uganda CEO, Brian Gouldie told staff in a statement that, “Before joining the telecommunications sector, he (Tukei) worked for Coca-Cola in Vietnam for seven months, HatYai Bottling Company Limited in Thailand for a year and Century Bottling Company in Uganda for more than 7 years. He is a qualified Chartered Marketer (CPD), with a MA Marketing Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing,”

Tukei’s appointment is in line with the defined MTN Group operating model with the separation of the MTN Mobile Financial Services function from that of Sales and Distribution. This model is designed to ensure that MTN Uganda has sufficient capacity and capability to drive both key strategic areas at the same momentum.

On the other hand, Dorcas Muhwezi has worked with MTN Uganda for the last 14 years, and has been acting as General Manager – Customer Experience for the last nine months prior to her confirmation in the position.

“She has been instrumental in leading the operational team through the SIM Registration process that took place in November through to December 2015 and has been ongoing since then,” Gouldie added.

Previously, she worked in the Network Group in a number of Senior Management capacities, her final role being that of Senior Manager for Network Quality Assurance.  

Muhwezi is an electrical engineer and a certified ‘ITIL Service Manager’. She has a Masters Degree in Computer Science and Communication Engineering together with a B.Sc. Degree in Electrical Electronics.

“Her substantial experience and qualifications puts her in a good position to become the ‘Voice” of the customer and to ensure that a branded customer experience becomes a strategic differentiator going forward for MTN Uganda,” Gouldie concluded.

Commenting on her latest appointment, Muhwezi said, “I am excited about this new role in Customer Experience and the new challenges that have come with it. The rapidly changing landscape of telecommunications means our customers have new expectations and service needs and I am pleased to have been given this opportunity to provide solutions to these service needs.”

The appointment of Muhwezi into a senior executive role is a testimony of MTN Uganda’s commitment to talent development of its staff. Her appointment is a further demonstration of MTN’s leadership diversity as she becomes the third female to be appointed onto the Executive leadership team. 

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Phaneroo, the biggest weekly Christian meeting in Uganda, is to mark two years of a phenomenal existence with a two-day celebration from the 12th to 13th August 2016 at the Kampala Lugogo Hockey grounds.

Phaneroo, which Greek word means ‘to make manifest’ is a fellowship gathering over four thousand men and women every Thursday 5-8pm at the MTN arena, Lugogo.

‘Phaneroo is a force; an army; a model. It is not just one man. It is a people with a mandate, conviction and burden to see the testimony of the greatness of any child of God,’ says Apostle Grace Lubega, the Vision Bearer, ‘For this year’s celebrations, we are expectant; we believe to see a great manifestation of God’s power, an outpouring of his spirit and a radical transformation in the lives of multitudes.’

The anniversary celebrations will include a series of evangelism activities in and around Kampala for example the much anticipated “Yesu Yasasula campaign (Jesus Paid it all)” and massive street preaching. There will be a celebration service on 12 th August. The celebrations will be crowned with a powerful healing service, the ‘Healing Chronicles’ on 13th August.

These anniversary celebrations are an indelible cornerstone of history; a critical building block on Phaneroo’s eternal legacy.

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Africa’s ‘skills of the future’ requires firm partnerships between NPOs, private and pubic sectors

A bilateral deal to set up a Kshs10 billion science and technology institute in Kenya was recently signed in a move that is bound to accelecrate growth and create employment. The deal was signed between the Kenyan government  and its South Korean partners, including Samsung Electronics. 

Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy provides extensive, hands-on training to learners in the technical field. The programme forms a core part of Samsung’s vision to fast-track the entry of African youths into the electronics job market and to reduce the shortage of scarce skills in the IT industry.

“Our aim is to make sure that every African child get access to education no matter where they are – be it in a rural area lacking infrastructure or perhaps in an existing infrastrastructure but lacks educational resources – by providing access to technology,” said Abey Tau, Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship Manager for Samsung Electronics Africa.

Samsung sees education as the seed of innovation and we believe digital technology can completely transform the learning process, as well as the nature of teaching and learning, to create inclusive environments for everyone.

Samsung hopes to instill a love of learning in students so that they may have equal access to opportunities and go on to become active participants in the economy.

 “We see our efforts – along with those of our government and NPO partners – as an ecosystem. Samsung’s aim is to increase the number of learners accessing technology, an aspect vital to their education process. This in turn allows learners to learn apt skills which will prepare them for the workplace of the future and acquiring in-demand skills is a critical step not only for individual, but also for social and economic development and the upliftment of the continent,” said Mr Tau

“Africa has a beautiful story to tell. And a responsible corporate citizen, Samsung is committed to  help write this story through the innovation, expertise and technology we provide,” added Mr Tau.

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Abey Tau is the Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship Manager for Samsung Electronics Africa. With over 10 years’ experience in the local and global development arena, Abey was a South African finalist in the 2014 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) / Mandela Washington Fellow and was selected by the National Empowerment Fund as one of 56 young junior managers for a secondment in Paris in 2011. He continues to sit on the Board of AIESEC at Monash University.