HiPipo Money

Reuters reports that Facebook Inc introduced the biggest change in years to its popular newsfeed on Thursday, with a new look and focus on photos that is expected to make the social network more ad-friendly and may entice users to spend more time on the website whereas BBC reports that Facebook has revamped its news feed with three key changes being made to the social network.

·         The website switches from a three-column format to two-columns letting the main news feed take up more space. This allows all posts – whether they are friends’ updates or adverts – to take up a bigger proportion of the web browser with more prominence given to images and video rather than text describing a link.

·         A pop-out black bar is added to the left-hand side of the page. This contains app bookmarks, links to specific friends, the chat and calendar tools, and the live updates ticker.

·         In addition to the standard news feed, users can select other alternative feeds. These include one which shows all the updates posted by friends rather than just the ones selected by Facebook’s algorithms; one dedicated to organisations and people the user “follows”; a page featuring only posted photos; and a music-themed feed containing updates from artists the user likes, concert announcements and details of songs their friends are listening to through services including Spotify and Rdio.

As we anticipate seeing the roll out of these changes to most uses in the next several days, we shall look forward to see the users’ reaction. Many times users have threatened to leave Facebook due to changes (especially privacy related) but they have hardly left.

MTN Group announced results for the year ended 31 December 2012, that reflect a solid progress in growing subscribers, revenue and EBITDA.

With the results, MTN has reported that, during 2012, data revenue across the Group increased by 58.5%.

Highlights

•       Group subscribers increased 15,1% to 189,3 million

•       Revenue increased 10,9% to R135 112 million

•       Data revenues increased *58,5% to R14 574 million

•       EBITDA increased 7,0% to R58 564 million

•       EBITDA margin stable at  ***42,9%

•       Capex of R30 101 million positions the Group for continued growth

•       HEPS increased to 1 089,1 cents (+1,9%)

•       Foreign exchange losses (Iran, Syria and Sudan) negatively impacted HEPS by 178,5cps

•       Final dividend per share of 503cps

•       Revised dividend policy to absolute growth

EBITDA= earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

HEPS = Headline earnings per share

Capex = Capital Expenditure

About MTN Uganda the report states that “Uganda delivered strong results in a competitive market with local currency EBITDA up 22,0% excluding the profit on the sale of towers. Data revenue increased *86,4% (855,0%)(LC) supported by a strong performance in MTN Mobile Money. With 78% of our subscriber base registered and more than 2 million transactions each month, MTN Mobile Money now contributes meaningfully to Uganda’s revenue. We concluded the tower transaction with ATC during 2012, which saw the business sell 962 towers to ATC. This transaction will have a negative impact on reported margins in 2013 given the higher associated lease costs.”

British Airways has announced special fares for its corporate customers travelling to Canadian cities of Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver making it a lot more affordable for Ugandan travellers. The United Kingdom flag carrier announced a series of ‘Discover Canada’ fares, with return flights starting from as low as $570.

The discount fare runs from March 9, 2013 and includes fares to Calgary at $910 with outbound travel between 15^th April – 31 May 2013 whereas Toronto and Vancouverat a cost of $570 and $910 respectively with outbound travel between 15 and 30 April considering a return anytime within the next 12 months. All fares are exclusive of taxes and surcharges, with one free stopover permitted. The new offer comes at a time when Europe is headed towards summer making Canada look more attractive than ever.

According to the airline, the new offer, which is valid for flights from Entebbe to the select Canadian cities, affords its Ugandan customers the opportunity to make fantastic savings while travelling on its award-winning World Traveller (economy) cabin.

Commenting on the current offer, Faith Chaitezvi, British Airways Country Commercial Manager said “the special fares are just another way of British Airways appreciating its clients. Canada is currently in the fall season and it is important to note that summer will be here soon; and since Canada is a lovely tourist site, what other better time than now to book your tickets.”

“This year will see a lot of great ‘value for money’ fares for all our BA customers to various destinations for you to enjoy our products and services globally.” Faith concluded

All potential customers for more details should visit www.ba.com or contact their travel preferred agents.

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Kampala, Uganda

Worldwide, one out of every 100 cases of breast cancer is male. According to records from the radiotherapy department at Mulago Hospital, five to six new cases of male breast cancer are registered every year.

While men are less at risk than women, their chances of surviving the ailment are lower as men because the male breast tissue is smaller than that of women and therefore quickly ravaged by the cancer.

In commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day, UHMG in partnership with USAID Uganda, AAR and Integrated HIV Counselling and Testing Kampala has taken a stand to ensure that men too, receive regular testing and attention that is given to their female counterparts by spearheading a drive for free Breast Cancer screening for couples for the period between Mar 1 2013 – Mar 8 2013.

“We would like to take advantage of the International Women’s Day to highlight the plight of Breast Cancer among Men. We are therefore encouraging all men to support the women they love this Women’s Day week by going with them for FREE breast cancer screening at any AAR or Good Life Clinic” said Daudi Ochieng the Communications Manager, USAID Uganda Goodlife Integrated HIV Counselling and Testing Services Project.

Most male breast cancer patients tend to seek treatment in advanced stages of the disease since they rarely get screened for breast cancer. Women are more likely to feel the tumour while breastfeeding, bathing, or through self-breast examination.

 “If detected in the first year there is an 88% chance of survival making it important for regular checkups in order to save the lives of men and women alike.” Added Mr. Ochieng.

Although cancer of the breast is not directly linked with HIV, the rates of all cancers have doubled with the advent of HIV. According to experts, HIV has increased incidence and prevalence of cancer. 50% of cancer patients at Hospice Africa Uganda HIV-positive.

To that end, couples who go for Breast Cancer screening together at AAR & Good Life Clinics will also access Free HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing during this time to improve quality of life through early diagnosis and integrated HCT services

Participating AAR Clinics include; Acacia Health Centre, City Health Centre, Kabalagala Health Centre, Ntinda Health Centre and Bugolobi Health Centre, while the following Good Life Clinics will also offer this free service: Ntinda Hospital, Alpha Medical Clinic, Ikan Medical Centre, The International Medical Foundation, Kairos Medical Centre, and Mulago II Medical Centre among others.

About UHMG

Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG) works through private institutions to improve the quality of life in rural and urban poor communities of Uganda. UHMG works towards increasing access to affordable quality health solutions in malaria, HIV/AIDS, family planning and maternal and child health interventions.

British Airways offered 2 return tickets to London at the recent International School Uganda (ISU) PTA fundraising dinner dance as part of the airline’s Corporate social initiative. The tickets were won in a raffle by Yolande Cook, Protea hotel and Amber Rheinhart, ISU.

The annual event comprised parents, teachers and friends of ISU who have committed to support the school scholarship fund which provides pre-university education of an international standard for socially and economically disadvantaged Ugandan students aged 16-18 years, usually orphaned or otherwise lacking adequate parental support.

The three-year and a quarter scholarship estimated at $12,000 per student, enables them to obtain an IB Diploma to pursue University education. The qualifying students are required to have attained grade one results at the Uganda Certificate of Secondary Education (o-level).

Beginning April 5, 2013, KLM will operate daily flights direct from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda to Amsterdam, said a company statement which added that “KLM will be the first carrier to offer direct daily flights to the premier transfer hub in Western Europe: Amsterdam Schiphol”.

Flight from Entebbe operated with Airbus 330-200 equipment will depart at 23:30 and arrive in Amsterdam 06:45 of the next day whereas the return flights will depart Amsterdam at 11:00 and arrive at Entebbe at 22:15 of the same day, with an intermediate stop in Kigali. This is a similar route like Brussels Airlines with three times weekly flight between Entebbe to Brussels and Brussels to Entebbe via Kigali.

Other Flights from Entebbe to Europe are those to London Heathrow by British Airways and from Entebbe to Istanbul by Turkish Airlines