HiPipo Money

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Before MTN launched their services and products in Uganda, Celtel had such a supernormal monopoly that it was common for so many Ugandans to refer to the few available mobile handsets as Celtel.

Even when Celtel was overly expensive and only affordable to the wealthy, it enjoyed an obvious monopoly that it was hard to imagine another telecom service provider ever stepping in and taking over the market.

When Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) entered the Ugandan market, not only did they revolutionize the entire telecom landscape but also went ahead to become the market leaders.

With innovation after innovation, affordable services and customer centered packages, MTN has since become the comfortable market leader with the biggest number of subscribers at about 7.9 million.

It is MTN’s affordability and customer centeredness that probably inspired Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL)’s Mango brand, which focused more on University students and other low income earners at the time. However, not even the existence of Mango prevented MTN from strengthening their position at the top.

MTN came in with amazing promotions that are part of the reasons that aided their rise to the top of the market. Such promotions as MTN Zone, a service that allows subscribers to make cheap calls depending on traffic in their location, have enabled so many subscribers to make affordable calls. MTN Zone is just to mention one out of so many other promotions and packages that have created affordability of telecom services over the years.

There was a time when telecom services had become affordable, but handsets were still expensive.

That is when MTN introduced the cheapest phones in the market called Kabiriti. You must remember Kabiriti, a promotion that was spear headed by Bobi Wine. This was a clear statement that MTN were here for a real revolution. The campaign promotion saw thousands own phones at affordable rates for the first time. With the success of Kabiriti, other telecoms followed suit, bringing on market cheaper promotional headsets.

MTN took the revolution a notch higher into the financial sphere when they introduced MTN Mobile Money, the game changer. In about four years, MTN Mobile Money has become a huge brand in itself. It has become a strong part of people’s day to day lives as it enables financial transactions of individuals, companies and other businesses.

To go a notch higher, MTN Mobile Money went abroad after a partnership with Western Union. With the new partnership, MTN Mobile Money subscribers can now send and receive money from any part of the world where Western Union operates.

In the internet world, MTN has had a number of innovative packages as well. They were the first to introduce MTN Broadband Internet, where Orange came in as a stronger competitor.

MTN then introduced the amazingly fast 3G internet and has recently introduced the 4G LTE super fast internet, the first of its kind in the region. MTN serves the biggest market of Mobile Internet users, with charges from as low as 500 Uganda Shillings.

MTN introduced the MTN Data Center which provides companies with such services as network collocation as well as a range of hosting or management services. This has helped reduce their clients’ operating expenses and lowered the risks associated with the same.

When it comes to social-corporate responsibility and giving back to the community, MTN has obviously led in the field, with the MTN Marathon being one of their most prominent ventures.

The MTN Marathon directly impacts the people, since all proceeds there from are pumped into projects that directly benefit needy communities.

The story of MTN is therefore that of a service provider that not only eliminated monopoly but went ahead to become the best; the story of a revolutionary market leader.

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MTN Foundation has handed over 10 houses to families in Kiryandongo who were displaced by the 2010 Bududa landslides. This is as a result of a pledge that was made by MTN Uganda to contribute towards the construction of houses in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organisation that focuses on building low cost houses for the under privileged. The 10 low cost houses constructed at a cost of UShs.135 million.

 “At MTN Uganda, we realize and understand the importance of continued support towards the communities where we operate. The landslide that displaced the people of Bududa shocked the whole country and the world and deeply touched us at MTN and that’s why we decided to come in and help,” said Mazen Mrouè, CEO MTN Uganda.

On the evening of March 1^st, 2010, three entire villages were erased and over 400 people buried alive in one of the worst Bududa landslides. Most of the over 8,000 affected victims, with no homes, destroyed gardens, animals and livelihood were relocated to temporary camps in Bududa.

To date, 4000 people have been unaccounted for. Eighty nine households (406 individuals) have since been transferred by government to Kiryandongo District where they were allocated 2.5 acres of land. Since then, government has relocated the displaced families to various camps. The government is also initially providing agricultural in-puts, equipment and food items for six months as they prepare to plant their own food.

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Mroué thanked the government for its efforts in resettling the affected families. He reiterated that the selection criteria for the beneficiaries of the houses, was set by MTN’s partners, Habitat for Humanity. It was based on consideration of the most vulnerable groups in the camps which included the women and children particularly families with babies and young children that need to be together to be able to cope with issues of hygiene, food and safety.

“Governments all over the world are over whelmed by emergencies like these, and most times, especially in the developing world it is important for partners to answer the call and provide support for the relief efforts. As Uganda’s number one corporate citizen, we believe it’s our obligation to support government efforts in areas like these,” Mroué said.

The partnership between MTN and Habitat for Humanity spans over 10 years. The first houses built through this partnership date back to 1999, with the first homes being in Mbale and Hoima districts. Since then, MTN Uganda has built a total of 237 homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity housing close to 1380 individuals; this is the largest number of homes funded by a corporate company.

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its’ Corporate Social Investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Over the past five years since its launch, the MTN Foundation has supported a number of initiatives in the areas of Education, Health, Arts and Culture, Environment, Community Development and Low cost housing.

The MTN Uganda Foundation partners with both public and non-profit credible organizations to execute sustainable projects in each of the chosen focus areas. The Foundation is committed to ensuring that the selection and approval of its projects are conducted in a manner that is transparent, systematic, efficient, and effective while promoting its mission.

In 2013 and onwards, the MTN Foundation will focus on three key areas so as to leverage scale to achieve significant development impact. The three sectors will be Education, Health and National Priority Areas.

-Ends-

MTN Freebie Fridays Get 50% Bonus Airtime youtube.com/watch?v=26RvFZ… @mazen_mroue

— HiPipo.com (@hipipo) May 10, 2013

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading telecommunications firm in country with more than 7.7 million customers as of 31 December 2012.

Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug; www.youtube.com/mtnug; www.facebook.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 December 2012, MTN recorded almost 190 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at www.mtn.com and www.mtnfootball.com.

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Talent Africa presents A YMCMB Affair at Club Venom on Saturday May 11th featuring the official YMCMB and Lil Wayne’s official DJ, DJ 4our 5ive. For those who don’t know YMCMB stands for Young Money Cash Money and they are the music label that Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga and many other hip hop artist are signed to.

They are currently one of the most successful labels in hip hop music. DJ 4four 5ive will be playing a live 3 hour music set in Club Venon, alongside DJ Nijo from Kenya and Uganda’s latest music sensation AirporTaxi.

The dresscode is “dress to kill” for the men and “miniskirts” for the ladies. It is definitely going to be a wild night to remember. Tickets are 20k in advance and 30k at the door. The event is sponsored by Club Venom, Zuku TV and Talent Africa.

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In Picture (Left – Right) Hon. Speaker of Parliament and Patron of the Busoga Tourism Initiative(BTI) Rebecca Kadaga,  MTNs Corporate Affairs Manager, Justina Ntabgoba, MTNs GM Corporate Services, Anthony Katamba & Hon Edward Baliddawa, MP Kigulu County North Iganga District

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Kampala, Uganda – 9th May, 2013

MTN Foundation has handed over a donation of UShs. 10 million towards the unveiling of Kagulu Hill, in Busoga Region.

Kagulu Hill located in Buyende District and some 30km from Kamuli town is an imposing attraction that apart from its scenic splendor has deep cultural and historical significance in Busoga.

Kagulu Hill rises at 3,600ft above sea level and while at its summit, it offers a magnificent panoramic view of Busoga, Lango and Teso regions.

The combination of the majestic impression of the rock and the scenic beauty that it offers of its surroundings and the cultural heritage it signifies have for many years drawn the locals to Kagulu Hill.

“Uganda is endowed with plenty of natural and cultural resources which can form the basis for a very lucrative industry, creating employment and generating income, and as MTN Uganda, we realize and understand that tourism has the power to play a significant role this,” said Anthony Katamba, GM Corporate Services, MTN Uganda.

The Honorable Speaker of Parliament and Patron Busoga Tourism Initiative, Rebecca Kadaga, said that MTN Uganda’s contribution will go a long way in supporting the initiatives efforts in making Kagulu Hill a valued tourist attraction added to the Eastern Uganda Tourist Circuit and be able to spur socio-economic transformation of the people of Busoga.

She thanked the MTN Uganda Foundation for their support towards the drive.

As part of the effort to raise awareness to a much wider audience of this beautiful attraction in Eastern Uganda, the Busoga Tourism Initiative (BTI) is organizing an official unveiling of this jewel through a climbing competition scheduled for the 11th May 2013.

Since 2009, in the area of tourism, the MTN Foundation has partnered with Community Based Tourism Initiative (COBATI), a non profit NGO whose main purpose is to support local people in Uganda to participate and benefit from tourism and its related initiatives. MTN’s partnership with COBATI was specially designed to empower the Nubian Community in Bombo, and indeed Uganda as a whole, through rural-based tourism.

The Nubians are essentially known and reputable for preserving their cultural heritage and traditions, expressed through unique colourful handcraft, dance and culinary skills.

“We are a multi-faceted cultural country. This directly means that we have a lot to show the world. We have various traditions practices that in such colourful and beautiful ways capture our way of life which besides being a source of national pride, should be used to better our lives,” Katamba concluded.

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its’ Corporate Social Investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Over the past five years since its launch, the MTN Foundation has supported a number of initiatives in the areas of Education, Health, Arts and Culture, Environment, Community Development and Low cost housing.

The MTN Uganda Foundation partners with both public and non-profit credible organizations to execute sustainable projects in each of the chosen focus areas. The Foundation is committed to ensuring that the selection and approval of its projects are conducted in a manner that is transparent, systematic, efficient, and effective while promoting its mission.

In 2013 and onwards, the MTN Foundation will focus on three key areas so as to leverage scale to achieve significant development impact.

The three sectors will be Education, Health and National Priority Areas under which Tourism falls.

-Ends-

About MTN Uganda

Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading telecommunications firm in country with more than 7.7 million customers as of 31 December 2012.

Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug; www.youtube.com/mtnug; www.facebook.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare.

About the MTN Group

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31 December 2012, MTN recorded almost 190 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit us at www.mtn.com and www.mtnfootball.com.