East African Business Notifier

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Chambers has announced the launch of the Dubai Business Forum, a key event in the advancement of trade and investment between Africa and the Middle East. The prestigious event will be hosted at the city’s Madinat Jumeirah from 1–2 November 2023 under the theme ‘Shifting Economic Power: Dubai and the Future of Global Trade.’ According to data from Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Africa region recorded the highest regional growth in the value of chamber members’ exports and re-exports during H1 2023.  This key economic indicator witnessed year-on-year growth of 81% to reach a total value of AED 477.2 million, up from AED 264 million in the corresponding period in 2022. As one of the six new nations set to participate in the BRICS bloc from the start of 2024, the UAE will play a significant role in reshaping the world economy to leve...

Africa is experiencing a demographic revolution with youth constituting the vast majority of its inhabitants. According to the United Nations, 70% of people in sub-Saharan Africa are under the age of 30.   Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world with approximately 50 percent of people below 16 years of age.  While this demographic trend presents immense opportunity for the continent, it also poses a significant challenge for governments as they grapple with the need to effectively educate, skill and build the capacity of the youth. The inability to harness this youthful energy can result in dire social, economic and political consequences. To mitigate these perils, African governments must explore innovative approaches to youth management and empowerment, collaborating with civil society and the private sector to secure a brighter future for the continent. The Youth Demographic Time Bomb Africa's youthful population presents a double-edged sword. On one ha...

Airtel Africa’s Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya has challenged the telecommunications industry in Africa to leverage emerging technologies to enable all people in the continent to connect, engage and transact with the rest of the world. Speaking at the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Dr Ogunsanya noted that through these technologies, telecom players have an opportunity to step up efforts to bridge the digital divide, drive financial inclusion and deepen availability of affordable smart devices. He cited Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) as a powerful tool for predicting customer behaviour and deepening insights about customer needs and preferences. Opportunity also exists in intelligent connectivity, a concept that foresees the combination of 5G, the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate technological development and enable new disruptive digital services. “The telecom industry is in a unique position to make it easier for people to enter the...

In bid to curb climate change effects in Uganda, CEOs have been urged to integrate sustainable practices in their business model to avert risks associated with climate change. The call was made during the 14th edition of the Annual CEO Forum held at Kampala Sheraton Hotel last week. Running under theme, "Navigating the Climate Crisis: A Call to Action," the 2023 CEO Forum attracted over 100 business leaders and key decision makers who convened to deliberate on key issues that not only drive organization success but champion sustainability conversation in the society. Country Team Leader, CEO Summit Uganda, Stephen Mukasa, urged CEOs to forge collaborative solutions that will address the climate crisis in Uganda by adopting a robust corporate sustainability in the day to day operations. Mukasa said “ Such a forum enables us to compare notes as thought leaders in different spheres, on how we can embrace sustainable practices for our businesses and communities, by drawing inspir...

As Uganda marks  the close of  Customer Service Month, it's the perfect time  to recognize the vital role of customer feedback in enhancing the overall customer experience. A customer-centric approach, guided by the voice of the customer, is key to ongoing improvement. Prioritizing exceptional customer service is more than a commitment; it is embedded in an organization's culture.  Recognizing that customer experience is central to success requires a culture of teamwork and innovation, involving every team member in creating memorable customer interactions. Customer feedback is a fundamental element of any customer service strategy. It's not just data; it's a direct line of communication with customers, a potent tool for organizational progress. For any business, your approach to feedback is systematic -- gather input through surveys, social media, and direct interactions, offering a broad spectrum of insights. Attentive listening to our cust...

  British International Investment (BII), the UK's Development Finance Institution (DFI) and impact investor has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amsterdam-based ILX Management (ILX), an SDG and Climate-Focused Emerging Market Private Debt Fund.  This MoU is a sign of our shared intent to co-finance up to US$500 million of debt transactions to facilitate long-term sustainable development across developing economies and low-income countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. BII and ILX will invest across a broad range of sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing and agribusiness to increase the flow of capital into impactful businesses and projects.   This new partnership will enable both parties to leverage each other’s expertise and provide additional financial firepower across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.  ILX and BII will share information on prospective projects, emerging technologies, and financial ...

SGA Security Uganda this year celebrated their customer service week in a unique way by organizing a breast cancer advocacy in partnership with Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organization (UWOCASO).  This is in line with both companies’ desire to come together to change and impact lives. Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organization is an NGO that was started in 2004 by breast cancer survivors in a mission to fight cancer in Uganda through empowering women at risk of and/ or are living with the cancer.  The organization also helps in empowering families and communities through providing appropriate and evidence-based information and practices, awareness, supportive care, and advocacy. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, by the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer.  In Uganda, breast cancer ...

Airtel Uganda, Uganda’s leading and first 5G telecommunications company together with Huawei, have today extended the opportunities of the internet to teachers, health workers, social workers and local leaders in Kanungu District by connecting them with 200 Smartphones.  The initiative aims to empower these vital community members with, smart devices, internet connectivity, transforming the way they serve and impact their communities. The event, held in Kanungu, featured a keynote address from Airtel Uganda's Legal and Regulatory Director, Mr. Dennis Kakonge, who emphasized the transformative power of the internet when used for productive activities. "In today's fast-paced world, access to information and seamless communication is vital for personal and community development.  "Airtel Uganda understands the transformative potential of smartphones, which is why we are proud to be at the forefront of providing affordable services," Kakonge remarked. The smartphones...

The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) will introduce a ‘Cancer screening programme for corporates’ to cater for individuals who, due to busy work schedules, find it difficult to spare time for regular health checks. Mulago’s pledge for the new initiative follows engagements during last week’s International Breast Cancer Awareness Day, with Stanbic Bank Uganda and the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) management. “We would like to introduce the corporate screening initiative to help bring the services nearer to corporates employees with busy working schedules such as Members of Parliament, bankers, and others,” Dr Israel Luutu, a representative of the Executive Director at the facility said. Stanbic Bank donated two beds and Pap smear kits that are used to collect cervical cell samples to aid early cervical cancer testing . W hile handing over the equipment, Diana Ondoga the Stanbic Bank Uganda Manager for Corporate Social Investment (CSI) said, “the adage that prevention is better than cure is...

   An innovative solution to use artificial intelligence to identify optimal locations for the installation of Electric Vehicle charging points has won the premier ‘TotalEnergies Uganda rEVolution hackathon’ (#TErEVolutionUG). The solution presented by the TBKN team was announced winner at an awards ceremony held  today in Kampala. The ceremony marks the conclusion of a three-months hackathon challenge  launched by TotalEnergies Uganda which aimed at providing an opportunity to young  Ugandans to propose solutions that will assist in identifying optimal locations for Electric  Vehicle (EV) charging points in Kampala. TBKN received a cash prize worth UGX 18,500,000, while first runners-up ISBAT University  received UGX 11,100,000. Tying in 3rd position was Data Knight and Shalom who received  UGX 3,700,000 each. “Addressing today’s carbon neutrality challenge requires a collective focus on innovation. In  Uganda, the Company is part of th...

South Africa will host the 7th Global Alcohol Policy Conference scheduled to take place from the 24 – 26 October 2023 at the Cape Town Convention Centre, in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference will be held under the theme:   “Investing in people before profits: building momentum towards the Framework Convention on Alcohol Control” . The biennial gathering aims to emphasise the need for proactive steps at both national and especially global levels to address alcohol harms. It comprises several plenaries that focus on Gender-Based Violence and Alcohol; Alcohol Pricing Policies; Regulating Digital Marketing of Alcohol; Disrupting the Impacts of Conflict of Interest; and New initiatives in promoting impactful policies and Reducing Industry Influence. These plenaries will be led by some of the world’s leading researchers, activists, and scientists. More than 400 delegates from across the globe will attend the alcohol policy conference, the first time to be held in Africa. Co-hosted ...

This morning, dfcu  Bank has announced a partnership with Pesapal, a renowned secure payments service provider, to introduce Merchant Acquiring services that will facilitate seamless Card and Mobile Money payments for the Bank’s customers.  The partnership is expected to address the increased demand for digital payment solutions and give customers more electronic payment solutions to facilitate a variety of transaction needs. The rise in digital transformation and i ncreasing adoption of electronic payments among Ugandans and the world over indicate a growing preference for these services amongst both individuals and businesses.  Businesses which do not offer electronic payment services stand the risk of losing business and revenue to those who have adapted their operations to meet their customers’ needs. When dfcu Bank announced a campaign committed to fulfilling its digitalization agenda in 2021, the financial institution noted that delivering banking services to its cu...

  BY PAUL TENTENA According to an inventory done by the National Forestry Authority in 2017, Uganda has lost half its forestry cover in the past 30 years alone, from 4.9 million Hectares to 2.5 million Hectares. 65% of forest degradation takes place on private land as land owners choose land use change from forestry to agriculture and industry or settlement over biodiversity conservation. Moreover, forestry contributes 6% of the GDP of Uganda and more than 90% of the population depend directly on forest for their energy needs including firewood and charcoal. According to Uganda’s State Minister for Environment Sam Cheptoris c observing Uganda’s tree species diversity through the establishment of tree seed banks’ which serves to remind us of our bio-diversity and unique heritage that provides us with food, medicine, building materials, fibre and economic support for our well-being, is very key to withstand climate change. “ My Ministry pledges to sustain the mo...