HiPipo Money

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Right from the get go, GOtv has been punching well above its weight and this month the dynamic pay TV operator continues to champion its audiences’ right to great entertainment. This time it has partnered with the heavy hitters of African television, M-Net and SuperSport, to launch a new movie AND a new sports channel on June 20, offering even more action and entertainment to its GO-getters!

From love stories that will melt the heart, laugh fests to keep you giggling or action to get you fired up, M-Net Movies Zone is destined to become a popular viewing choice among fast growing GOtv Plus audiences. The channel has also conveniently scheduled family movies during the day, with comedies and romance scheduled at night. There will be six new movies released every week on the channel and if you miss any movie, the titles will be re-screened to give you more opportunities to view.

And the best news is that there are absolutely no ad breaks on this channel.  So you won’t go to commercials in the middle of that tense scene or have to wait until after the advert to see what happens next. Of course, in the M-Net tradition, you can expect to see some of the biggest stars in the world on M-Net Movies Zone so there’s Hollywood glamour and glitter to add a special sparkle to your day! In June look out for Laws of Attraction (Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore), Step Up (Channing Tatum), The Man (Samuel L. Jackson), Hidden Assassin (Dolph Lundgren) and Let Go (Kevin Hart).

Also making its debut on GOtv Plus is SuperSport Select 2, the sister channel to the already very popular SuperSport Select.  While the original Select channel will continue to screen African football; live games from the EPL, UEFA Champions League and Italian football; as well as delayed Spanish and Bundesliga games; plus other FIFA/CAF football, the reality is that the channel had so much sport (soccer, boxing and athletics) that the only way to accommodate it all was to launch a second channel!

SuperSport Select 2 will also include exciting football action as well as more boxing and athletics, plus some basketball. So whether you have hoop dreams, football fantasies, or track hopes, the channel is not short on inspiration. See some of the worlds’ fittest and fastest athletes as they race for glory, fight their way to the top and simply be the best at what they do.

“We all love a good story,” says GOtv Country Manager Patricia Kiconco “Whether it’s a game or a film, we all have our favorite characters and we want to see them shine. It’s emotional, watching a goal being scored or seeing a touching movie scene. So with these two new channels we are saying to GOtv Plus subscribers, here are more stories to make you happy and keep you entertained. GOtv is committed to ensuring that our audiences will always know that when it comes to providing value and delivering content, we are focused on being a market leader.”

The two channels are the latest additions to GOtv Plus which also includes news, kids, lifestyle and music programming. 

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MTN Uganda has today handed over 21 scholarships to lucky students who participated and excelled in an online aptitude exam under MTN Uganda’s 21 days of Y’ello Care. There were 5 regional winners from the Central, Northern, Western and Eastern/Southern each with an overall winner Joseph Owori, a student from Namilyango College; he had the highest score.

The aptitude exams were part of an initiative to popularize and encourage usage of an e-learning platform that MTN Uganda and Gayaza High School launched on the 31^st of June 2013.

This e-learning platform is an initiative geared at impacting and empowering learners with in the country through improved electronic educational content and user enabling apps.

 It gives students and teachers in Uganda free online access to educational material from the national syllabus, past exam papers and other relevant study material. Students are also able to share experiences and have access to teachers all the time to learn.

Speaking at the handover of the scholarships at Kibuli Secondary School in Kampala, Anthony Katamba, MTN Uganda GM Corporate Services said, “Education and ICT are both areas that are very close to our hearts at MTN because of their potential to transform the socio-economic status of a community. In fact education is one area that we have decided to focus our social investments as MTN Uganda. As the leading communications company in Uganda, we are very proud to champion the cause of e-learning.”

21 days of Y’ello care is an annual MTN group initiative in which staff take 21 days of their work schedule to take part financially, physically and emotionally in activities that touch and impact the lives of the people in the areas in which they do business. 

The theme this year has been “investing in Education,’ but skewed towards ICT in education. The 21 scholarships were funded through staff contributions. Individual departments with MTN also undertook separate projects in various institutions of learning, all under the theme ICT in education.

Mroue explained that all over the developing world, governments are strained by all the social requirements they need to invest in, and many a times, they are not able to fully invest in everything.

“It therefore calls upon private entities like MTN to come in and supplement government efforts through such investments in social infrastructure whose impact cannot be measured, and yet they make a whole lot of difference. As the number one corporate citizen, we are committed to doing our part,” Katamba said.

Jessica Alupo the Education minister thanked MTN Uganda for their continued support to Ugandans in different areas. “There is no sector that MTN Uganda has not touched with their social investments. And these are all very noble investments. If we have more private partners picking a leaf from MTN, government would be able to concentrate on building infrastructure and policy issues,” she said.

Below is the full list of all winners

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Madhvani Foundation has today announced that it has received scholarship applications in excess of 1,400 this academic year from students in various universities across the country that require financial assistance to complete their education. This year’s applications will be examined under the new leadership of Hon Anthony Butele who takes over from Hon Henry Kyemba as the Chairman of the Madhvani Foundation Scholarship committee.

Commenting on his appointment, Hon Anthony Butele said, “I am honoured to be entrusted with such a pivotal role in an organization that is doing so much to shape the socio-economic landscape of the country through supporting the growth and development of a competent and skilled talented human resource pool. We will continue to dedicate our time and resources to ensuring that students with the highest potential but without adequate financial backing receive some much needed support through a transparent selection process.”

Speaking about the applications he said, “It is students like these that give Madhvani Foundation a sense of purpose to continue dedicating large amounts of money from year to year in order to support their education. They are all brilliant students and all they need is someone to give them a little push so they can realize their career dreams. The applications will be scrutinized carefully and any form of fraud or canvassing will not be tolerated and will result in the disqualification of an applicant’s entry. We hope that this year even more students will benefit from the opportunity offered by the Foundation. Applicants will be notified of any progress in the application process through our website and successful candidates will be contacted for personal interviews in July.”

He concluded by advising all candidates to always remain hopeful and reassured them that through its over 10 years of support, the scheme has maintained its standards of transparency as well as a fair selection committee and this will continue.

Applicants should check www.madhvanifoundation.com for updates as often as possible.

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Speedway Motorsports Club (SMOC) together with Total Uganda on Wednesday 12^th June launched the fourth round of the Mountain Dew National Motocross championship at the Total Filling station, Wampewo Avenue .This adrenaline filled race will take place on Sunday 16th June 2013 at the Lubiri Grounds Mengo.

SMOC decided to bring great motocross entertainment closer to the people therefore the choice of Lubiri track that is proximally located and enhances the mobility of spectators better than any other venue. Bringing a national motocross championship (with the last one having been held in 2005)  to this venue that’s popularly known for rally sprints wouldn’t have been possible if not for our major sponsors MOUNTAIN DEW, TOTAL ,IAA/Resolution health , UAP/AON , Safe Solutions and Fotogenix.

The track which has been modified up to the latest FMU acceptable standards; with particular attention taken in terms of a design that ensures rider safety and level grounded competition.

 SMOC received a huge boost from the invaluable TOTAL Uganda (5 Million ugx) Fuel package, since 2012, this company’s pertinent support has come a long way in improving the motocross sport in general by providing fuel and cash incentives to venue owners and event organizers who in turn trickle these fringe benefits to the riders and spectators through international level tracks, fuel for riders at all events let alone coordination fuel for the general race organization.

TOTAL has also added glamour and plush to our events by cash sponsoring MX Prize giving budgets (to a tune of 3,000,000 cash for trophies and certificates), this has greatly impacted on the rider motivation and drive leading to better competition   .

To raise spectator hairs, Jarred Van Vuuren , an 18 year  South African  freestyle motocross rider was sourced to feature as the special guest rider for this race , for the first time in Uganda, spectators will pay to watch the rider show off great sky jump antiques while utilizing the adrenaline triggering ramp built by world renown American fmx rider Justin Homan, the excitable performance from the 18 year old freestyler is expected to give a huge boost in terms of attendance  .

 Betterstill 10 time National champion Arthur Blick Junior returns to the dirt track(due to public demand from his fan base ), the charged stalwart vows to put up an exceptional feat against all MX1 competitors

Mountain Dew who is our title sponsor and has injected the biggest lot in this race,has also laid out an array of great activities like video gaming competitions and artiste performances by  Bebe Cool and Bobi Wine  and  lots of prizes for winning among others, Mountain Dew’s all out sponsorship to motocross has led the sport to grow from small competitor and spectator  numbers to mammoth crowds like the one expected at this weekend’s race, they are at the forefront of motocross development in Uganda .

IAA/Resolution Health will provide emergency medical attention and health support for the event, with their wealth of experience in motocross, their priceless sponsorship has averted injury based risks at all races in Uganda for the past 5 years, they are one of the reasons that rider numbers are growing , the group’s marriage with motocross is one that cannot be done without.

Motocross in Uganda and SMOC in particular  has had a deep relationship with UAP/AON for over 7 years , the insurers not only cover our third party liability at races but have also sponsored our national  teams travel to international races like in Kenya and South Africa, for this race they will cater for any liabilities arising with our spectators while negotiations are underway for UAP to offer travel insurance to our equipment and team when they travel for the upcoming Central African Challenge this month.

Fotogenix Limited will provide us with event equipment while Safe Solutions will give us the very crucial Fire Fighting equipment for the day.   

Gates open at 8am and entry fee is 10,000/= per person (which comes with a free mountain dew).

The title sponsor for this race is Mountain Dew while co sponsors are;   TOTAL UGANDA, IAA Healthcare/Resolution Health, AON / UAP, Safe solutions and Fotogenix.

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British Airways is poised to become the first airline in Europe to introduce both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 into its fleet.

The airline will take delivery into the UK of its first two 787s on consecutive days, June 26 and 27, followed by its first A380 on July 4. They will arrive around mid-morning. 

Keith Williams, chief executive, said: “The delivery of these exciting aircraft opens a new chapter in British Airways’ history. We are proud to be leading the way in Europe in operating both these aircraft types.

“Over the next 12 months, we will take delivery of new long-haul aircraft at an average rate of one every two weeks.

 “These deliveries form the centrepiece of the £5bn investment British Airways is making in new aircraft, smarter cabins, superb lounges and new technologies to make travel more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

“Both aircraft types make major environmental advances and will contribute toward our ambitious targets for noise and carbon reduction.”

Following their arrival, both aircraft types will begin a complex ‘entry into service’ programme, which will see pilot and cabin crew training taking place at Manston Airport in Kent, customer service trials at Heathrow and short-haul flying for both aircraft, including flights within the UK.

Seats on the A380 are currently on sale for travel from October 15 to Los Angeles and from November 15 to Hong Kong. However the airline is advising enthusiasts eager to be on the very first long-haul services to hold off booking as the dates of the inaugural services are yet to be announced.

The first destinations for the 787s, and the date tickets go on sale, will be unveiled shortly.