HiPipo Money

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China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), the Chinese state-owned company contracted by the government of Uganda to develop Uganda’snew standard gauge railway network, has dismissed newspaper reports that it is one of the Engineering firms blacklisted by World Bank over fraud and corruption.

A source from aBeijing based Consultant said no international organization has ever put CHEC on its blacklist.

“There must be a misunderstanding. One of the subsidiaries of CHEC’s Mother Company was put on the blacklist before CHEC became part of the group. The World Bank’s debarment of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) originated from the alleged engagement in collusive practices by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) UNDER World Bank-financed road projects in Philippines. The alleged event happened in 2002 where as CCCC was established in 2005. Indeed, at the time of the allegation, CHEC was a fully independently operated company and was totally irrelevant to CRBC as well as the alleged engagement in collusive practices. That is the reason why the World Bank’s debarment on CCCC only applies to “projects related to roads and bridges”.

In a related development, the Chinese Transport Ministry has written to Ministry of Works and Transport of Uganda endorsing CHEC as a company with strong capability and30-year international operation experience to implement the railway project in Uganda.

The letter said CHEChas completed/is constructing several railways projects in China including the two contract packages of high speed rail which forms part of the Lanzhou to Xinjiang and Shanghai to Kunming High speed rail network

“These high speed (250 km/h) railways have higher technical and engineering requirements than the standard 120 km/h railways such as Uganda’s standard gauge railway” the letter stated. Adding that;

“Chinese government is very aware of CHEC’s capacity in most sectors of infrastructure, including rail. Because of government’s confidence in CHEC, the rail sections awarded to it are often very complex and geologically complicated”. Said a letter signed by Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantang. The East African Community member states have set March 2018 as the target for the upgrading of the regional railway network to standard gauge system.

CHEC officials have said as part of the partnership with UPDF, the company has embarked on preparations to build a pioneering UPDF Corps of Engineers by training army officers in infrastructure development.

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Selected students to receive Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degrees from Chinese University

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda today held a dinner to send off the winners of their International Scholarship Program.

The dinner, held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, was attended by various stakeholders from boththe public and private sectors as well as CNOOC management and employees.

Speaking at the dinner, Mr. Chen Kai, the Head of Human Resource at CNOOC Uganda, said that the CNOOC International scholarship program is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities, which in partnership with the Chinese Embassy in Uganda is aimed at offering opportunities in higher education to Ugandan nationals.This program is part of CNOOC’s efforts to increase the national content participation in the Oil and Gas industry as well as equip Ugandans with advanced skills to improve their livelihoods.

This year, one hundred and fifty Ugandansapplied for the program. After a rigorous screening process, five people emerged winners; with three of them winning scholarships to study the Bachelors’ Degree in Petroleum Engineering and the other two winning scholarships for the Masters’ Degree in Oil and Gas Engineering.

All five students will pursue their studies at the University of Petroleum in Hua Dong, China which is directly affiliated to the Ministry of Education and boasts of a complete education system, nearly 20,000 full-time undergraduates, over 5,000 postgraduates, about 700 overseas students and more than 70,000 registered correspondence network students. According to Mr. Xiao, “The overwhelming number of applications we received for this year’s scholarship opportunity shows that there is a budding interest in the Oil and Gas sector amongst Ugandan nationals.CNOOC’s commitment is therefore to support these students, want to actively participate in the developing Oil and Gas Industry in Uganda.”

“The scholarship winners are going to be fully supported by CNOOC Uganda which will cater forboth their tuition fees and living allowances. We believe that when our scholarship winners return to Uganda, they will take up active roles in the fast-growing Oil and Gas industry,” Kai added.

Patrick Kabanda, one of the recipients of a scholarship for the Masters’ Program in Oil and Gas Well Engineering expressed his excitement at the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of the Oil and Gas industry.  “I am eager to acquire the knowledge and skills that will make me a valuable resource to Uganda’s Oil and Gas industry.”

“I believe we need more local skilled laborers in the Uganda Oil and Gas industry and this scholarship will give me the chance to be part of this workforce,” commented Ruth Nassazi, who won a scholarship for a Bachelors’ Degree in Petroleum Engineering.

The Guest of Honor and State Minister for Minerals, Honorable Peter Lokeriscommended CNOOC for the initiative. “I would like to commend CNOOC for giving back to the country in which they are operating. It is important for Ugandans to learn about what is a new and viable industry in order to be able to take advantage of the employment opportunitiestherein. We also need Ugandans offering technical support to the international companies that are already operating in theoil and gas industry.”

“I encourage the winners to use this opportunity very seriously and translate the knowledge and skills that they acquire into a means of improving their lives and building the oil industry in Uganda,” he added.

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Microsoft today announced that three new Lumia devices: the Lumia 530, Lumia 630 and the Lumia 930, are now available in Uganda. All of the new arrivals are powered by Microsoft’s latest version of its mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8.1.

Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones are even more personal, with new features including Action Centre, which shows new activities and notifications at a glance; and Senses, a suite of features that takes the work out of managing data use, storage space and battery life. Windows Phone 8.1 also makes it easier for IT professionals to manage devices, and for professionals to connect to essential business apps and services.

These new elements integrate beautifully with Windows Phone signature features like Live Tiles, which have been improved to add the possibility of a third row of tiles, as well as transparency, giving even more personalization with unique backgrounds. Extensive on device search, a reworked calendar, improved People Hub with direct app integration and the new Word Flow keyboard make Windows Phone 8.1 an extensive update.

Lumia 530

Locally available as a dual SIM 3G variant, the Lumia 530 will expand the reach of Windows Phone, allowing more people to enjoy innovations and Microsoft services found in high-end Lumia smartphones. These include:

• A powerful quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor delivering a fast user experience forfavourite apps, gaming and internet browsing on the 4-inch display
• Seamless integration with Microsoft services such as Skype and Microsoft Office
• Popular social apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber and WeChat
• asy switching between two SIM cards, helping people manage their data costs
• Voice-guided selfies with the 5MP rear camera
• More content and apps with 4GB of on-board memory, expandable via aSD cards up to 128GB

An additional 15GB of free cloud storage on Microsoft OneDrive that lets people sync, store, access and share files between Lumia 530 and computers, laptops and tablets.

Lumia 630

The first Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone to hit the market is the Lumia 630. “We hit a sweet spot with the Lumia 520, and together with our partners ended up with a real hit. With the Lumia 630, we set a new standard for affordable smartphones. The device combines Windows Phone 8.1 with quad core processing and uncompromised cloud-connected experiences from Microsoft,” said Kingori Gitahi, Product Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices.

With a vibrant design with changeable covers, the Lumia 630’s quad-core Snapdragon processor provides a faster social experience on leading social apps like WhatsApp and WeChat.Benefiting from high-end Lumia apps such as Nokia Camera, maps and navigation from HERE the device brings people a premium experience at an excellent price. The Lumia 630 also boasts a 4.5-inch Clear Black screen, which makes games, apps and entertainment look fantastic.

Lumia 930

At the high-end, the Lumia 930 maintains a language of innovation while combining the very best of Microsoft and Lumia. A powerful 2.2GHz Snapdragon quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM ensure the Lumia 930 delivers superb performance.

With a 20MP Pure View camera, ZEISS optics and optical image stabilization, the Lumia 930 also comes with unparalleled HD video and four high-performance microphones that enhance the clarity of your subjects and block out unwanted noise. Integrated Dolby Surround Sound also makes for a similarly rich audio experience when watching movies or listening to music. The five-inch, 1080p Full HD, Clear Black screen display provides a deeply detailed viewing experience and Nokia Rich Recording delivers a flawless video experience. LTE-ready and with a 2420 mAh battery, the Lumia 930 will efficiently keep going all day (and longer) while built-in wireless charging adds to the convenience.

All new Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones come with the strong suite of fully integrated Microsoft services. These include full mobile version of Office, with favourites like Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and OneDrive – which now offers 15GB of cloud storage completely free. Windows Phones are also the only smartphones with Xbox built-in, meaning your gaming experience travelling from phone, to PC, to Xbox.

Windows Phone 8.1 is now available to download to existing Windows Phone 8 devices.

Special launch offer

Customers can enjoy a one week (8^th September – 12^th September) offer of the three devices from Midcom stores along Kampala Road and Acacia Avenue for: 

• Lumia 530 – UGX 350,000
• Lumia 630 – UGX 480,000
• Lumia 930 – UGX 1,800,000

After the offer, the devices will also be available from Simba Telecom, Daj Communications, Go Phones, Airtel stores, MTN stores, Midcom stores for:

• Lumia 530 – UGX 370,000
• Lumia 630 – UGX 520,000
• Lumia 930 – UGX 1,900,000 

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This month’s Lamudi Social media challenge featured Mr. Andrew Mukiibi, the President of the Association of Real Estate Agents of Uganda, and Mr. Simon Kaheru, Head of SMS MEDIA as chief guests.

On Thursday September 4th Lamudi Uganda once again held the prize giving for their social media challenge at their offices. The event featured a brief presentation from AREA Uganda (Association of Real Estate Agents) and SMS media about the IT industry and real estate. The winner of the challenge, David Nalwebe, and the two runners up were presented with their winnings of 300,000 UGX and gift hampers respectively by the guests of Honor, the president of the Association of Real Estate Agents of Uganda Andrew Mukiibi and SMS media head Simon Kaheru.

This also presented an opportunity to announce the upcoming East African Real estate investment conference in November, which Lamudi will participate in. Due to the current and potential utility of Lamudi’s growing database, they expect to be integral to the conference. Companies in attendance will be looking to Lamudi for insight into where to invest and into current and future market trends.

Shakib Nsubuga, Country Manager of Lamudi Uganda said that “we’re excited about the prospects of working with AREA and welcome areas initiative in embracing technological advancement to enhance productivity and reduce cost in the Real Estate business. Our social media challenge is growing by the day and we’re happy to see the general public embrace our brand and dive in to this challenge. We have produced incredible works of art that tell the fascinating tale of the regular Ugandan experience through the eyes of our users.”

The affiliation with AREA is just another step in Lamudi’s plans to become an integral part of the real estate landscape. By serving as a hub of information and a marketplace simultaneously, they offer the kind of comprehensive service that both buyers and sellers can support.

ABOUT LAMUDI

Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 600,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online.

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M-NET’S POWERFUL NEW EAST AFRICAN CHANNEL NOW AVAILABLE ON DStv IN UGANDA          

The colours, the patterns and the undeniable artistry of East Africa’s beautiful fabrics have always told a unique story of their own – one of imagination, expression and creativity.  Taking its inspiration from this most authentic of sources, a few days ago M-Net revealed the brand new logo for its customised East African TV channel Maisha Magic (DStv channel 161).   Tonight (Wednesday September 3) the powerful Maisha Magic channel and its standout statement logo took pride of place as guests converged at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Kampala to welcome the newest addition to the MultiChoice family of channels.

“Today is a phenomenal day for M-Net. It is hugely pleasing to see our company’s long investment into talent and skills development in East Africa transform into an entire channel, one which offers our audiences another relevant, entertainment choice. Of course, our viewers and our content partners are the heroes of this moment because it is their passion for their beloved home, this incredible part of Africa, which drove this channels’ creation and will drive its success. And just like the fabrics of East Africa which were so much our inspiration in creating the channel branding, Maisha Magic will weave its own stories, creating its own strength, its own unique canvas, with its own personality.” 

These were the words of M-Net East Africa Regional Director Michael Ndetei who spoke at the event which was attended by special Guest of Honour Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission Eng Godfrey Mutabazi,Chairman Multichoice Uganda Steven Musoke as well as film and TV industry stakeholders.

Addressing the guests, Eng Mutabazi, emphasised that as the country draws closer to achieving Uganda’s digital migration process with the switch off of the analogue television broadcast signal for a smooth transition to digital broadcasting, the importance and relevance of investing in the creative and production industries cannot be overstated. 

 “As the régulator we  are keen and aware of our role in creating an enabling environment for the industry to thrive by puting in place incentives , plus the legal and policy framework needed to regulate the industry effectively”, he added.

Mr. Charles Hamya, General Manager Multichoice Uganda, confirmed that M-Net has been building steadily on its investment in the East African market,  “Maisha Magic is a channel we are very excited about and have been planning to launch for quite a while as part of our commitment towards promoting the development of quality programming across the continent. The programming will be specifically dedicated to showcasing the best East Africa has to offer in terms of film production, music videos, series and entertainment –  a fantastic avenue for us as Ugandans to tell our story across the region’ he stated.

Available 24/7 to DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact subscribers, Maisha Magic was created very specifically to meet East African tastes, and as such includes a wealth of East African programming, along with telenovelas from Latin America as well as other carefully selected commissioned and acquired content.

Highlights on Maisha Magic in September include –

·         Lifestyle: Maisha Magic also now becomes home to Mashariki Mix, where Sarah Hassan and Nick Mutuma explore the worlds of fashion, food and fun, in two versions of the show – one Swahili, the other English. And as the show’s tagline says, ‘If it’s happening in East Africa, then it’s happening on Mashariki Mix.”

·         Drama: Another major highlight for Maisha Magic is a second screening of the prime time drama Kona, a sensational show that pits an up and coming boxer against a series of unexpected competitors, inside and outside the ring. For viewers who missed Kona the first time round, it’s a must-watch odyssey into the concepts of family, faith and fight. The show propelled Brenda Wairimu, Nini Wacera and Lwanda Jawar to continental fame and, alongside a talented cast, the trio shine.

With a huge variety of genres, programs, stars and stories Maisha Magic has definitely announced its arrival onto the Kenyan film and TV landscape in style. Now, all that’s left to say is – DStv channel 161, go!  Fans of the channel can also engage with Maisha Magic on Facebook and Twitter.

MNET launches New East African Channel on DStv

MultiChoice Uganda celebrated the Launch of a new East African Channel “Maisha Magic”, the East African focused TV brand revealed by M-Net, Will be specifically tailored to meet local DStv subscriber viewing needs. The channel will be screened 24/7 to DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact subscribers on channel 161. 

Speaking at the Launch Charles Hamya the General Manager MultChioce Uganda said the programming on Maisha Magic will be specifically dedicated to showcasing the best East Africa has to offer in terms of film production, music videos, series and entertainment, we are confident the new channel will be a hit given the amount of raw talent available across the region, richness and diversity in cultures which are the basic ingredients required for very exciting television.

To shed more light on the new channel that is yet to become home to many Ugandan movies, Mr. Michael Ndetei, M-Net East Africa Regional Director, said “M-Net has been building steadily on its investment in the East African Market, and whilst the Africa Magic brand has come to represent a powerful philosophy about pan-African cohesion, we recognized that there was great potential for a customized East African television brand, as such M-Net put in place a detailed project a few years ago to carefully build its technical, staffing and content capacity to bring  Maisha Magic to life”. He went on to say “we have always believed that East African talent, and East African stories are as vital and as compelling as those found elsewhere in Africa. This is a fact proven by the success of East African content at the first two Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards”.

“Maisha Magic will highlight our very own local content from all East African regions and all daily highlight programs from Big Brother Africa 9, including the live Sunday eviction shows” Mr. Ndetei added. He thanked the East African filmmakers and producers for their strong support and corporation towards the realization of the new East African channel Maisha Magic.

Commissioning the new East African Channel, The Executive Director Uganda Communications Commission Mr. Mr Godfrey Mutabazicommended MultiChoice Uganda for their commitment and corporation towards boosting local content on both their platforms DStv and GOtv. Such content not only enriches our population with information and knowledge relevant to them but also grows our film industry and gives a platform to discover and exhibit our local talents. He congratulated MultiChoice on achieving this tremendous milestone and thanked them for taking a keen interest in investing in the local sector which lesson he encouraged the rest of the business community to partake.

Among the interesting programs to catch on Maisha Magic will be, sitcoms, telenovelas, reality, drama and music. Highlighting our very own Comedy Club Uganda hosted by Ann Kansiime; the dramas Rush and The Tendo Sisters.

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• Music fete set to host the first ever Congolese musician “Charmat”
• Uganda’s Jazz ace Brian Mugenyi and Hip Hop sensation Ruyonga to feature
• Kenya’s “Just A Band” to thrill revelers at the Museum

The seventh edition of Blankets and Wine Kampala is set to step out of the norm when its present’s a mix of jazz, hip hop, afro-pop, disco and electronica music with the headlining acts being Kenya’s best house, funk, and disco band called “Just a Band” and Congo’s “Charmat” on Sunday, 14^th September, 2014.

Just a Band’smusic has explored various musical directions such as, but not limited to jazz, hip-hop, disco and electronica and is going to provide a good mix for Uganda’s predominantly afro-fusion lovers that have attended previous events at the Uganda Museum.

They will performing alongside Uganda’s latest jazz sensation, Brian Mugenyiwho has continued to impress many music lovers with his mastery of the saxophone and the always tantalizing hip hoper Ruyonga of the ‘Tutuuse’ fame.

The seventh edition of Blankets and Wine Kampala, the premier Afro-based musical festival sponsored by Tusker Malt Lager will be held at its proverbial home the Uganda Museum with stellar performances by impeccable African talent.This time round, Tusker Malt Lager is promising to raise the bar by delivering a unique, and unforgettable experience.

“Just a Band’s music has continued to dominate the Kenyan and international airwaves since 2003, when the band was formed and having them at Blankets and Wine is a great platform for Tusker Malt Lager to show appreciation to our consumers by giving them the best,” says Tusker Malt Lager Brand Manager, Phoebe Nakabazzi.

Just a Band are renowned for their second single ‘Ha-He’ released on 17^thMarch 2010, accompanied by a music video featuring a character known as Makmendewhich was subsequently described as Kenya’s first viral internet meme by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Fast Company.The group, that consists of Bill, Jim and Dan is known to write, record and engineer their own music.

The event kicks off at 1:00pm on Sunday14^th September, 2014. Online advance tickets are now on sale via www.easyticket.co.ug and are selling at UGX 35,000; week prior to eventwill be atUGX 40,000. On the event day, revelers will pay with UGX 60,000 at the gate. Tickets are available at all Uganda Wines and Spirits Distributors retail stores.

Blankets and Wine is a quarterly, picnic style music festival that started two years ago and has grown steadily to one of the most eagerly awaited for music events in Kampala. It is an opportunity to come discover a rare but yet very unique intriguing music environment.

‘Afro-fusion music lovers in Uganda are always encouraged to pack their picnic baskets, carry a blanket or kikoy, Maasaishuka or picnic chair, some wine and drive down to the venue with their friends and family and come share this music and lifestyle experience’ added Phoebe

In line with its support for responsible drinking, Tusker Malt Lager will be maintaining a strict ‘over 18 only’ policy for sale of alcohol.