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CAK’s Shaka Kariuki outlines ambitious five-year consumer protection goal at the global consumer congress.  

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Influential leaders from government, business, and civil society convene in Nairobi for the Consumers International Global Congress 2023, a quadrennial event focusing on policies, best practices, and accountability necessary for global consumer protection. With the theme ‘Building a resilient future for consumers,’ the conference delves into digital futures, fair finance, sustainable consumption, and fortifying global consumer protection.

Shaka Kariuki, Chairman of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) spoke to Samuel Sanya at the sidelines of the congress, below are excerpts of the conversation; 

Q: Mr. Kariuki, in your view, what’s the impact of information asymmetry on consumers, and what steps are being taken to address this through consumer education?

A: To me, consumer education is a challenge, globally. So, there is need for education from the top and all the way to the bottom of the pyramid. Like the Deputy President (Rigathi Gachagua) said, the consumer needs to be informed and made aware of their rights. That’s a journey that needs to be progressed – on this, the CAK is doing a good job. We are not perfect, but we are headed in the right direction. 

Q: On the issue of investigative capacity. When you compare consumer bodies in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) and Europe – places like Germany, where investigations have led to product recalls, in most cases vehicles. Could you say we lack requisite capacity?

A: Not necessarily, those product recalls in Europe are because the manufacturers are locally domiciled there. We are not manufacturing those cars so we cannot recall them. But we have investigated local products such as local juices and edible oils – we can ensure that the correct information is being put out on the labels. We can investigate the amount of cholesterol and so on.

Q. How closely are consumer bodies in East Africa like the CAK, collaborating with larger ones in Hongkong and Europe, especially on exchange of information? 

A. We actually do a lot of collaboration. As you mentioned, there is someone here from Hong Kong and from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US. We also work closely with the Competition and Markets Authority of the UK. Across the globe, we are in constant communication with our sister organizations and this helps us with transfer of knowledge be it from there to here and here to there and to other areas as well to ensure that we have best practice in what we implement as consumer law.

Q: Considering current trends in consumer education and protection and from a regulatory standpoint; what do you hope to see in five years time? 

A: I am very passionate about education and I would hope that every consumer is aware of their rights. In five years, my aspiration is for consumers to be aware of their rights, and that there is an entity where they can go to have those rights addressed.  

Regardless of whether one is a supplier, or a buyer – even if they don’t have enough buying power – their rights should be protected. Even for the ordinary citizen at the bottom of the pyramid; if they are dealing with a big bank – they can come to CAK and the authority will address their concerns. I would like to see a 100% aggrievance addressal rate in five years.

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Business

Vivo Energy Uganda announces Joanita Mukasa Menya as new Managing Director.

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Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that
distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants, announced today that the
Managing Director, Johan Grobbelaar, will be leaving to take on a new role within the Vivo
Energy Group.
Under Johan Grobbelaar's leadership, Vivo Energy Uganda solidified its market-leadership
position by expanding the Shell service stations network, launching sustainability projects,
and driving innovation in its services. His commitment to operational excellence and
customer satisfaction has been a driving force behind the company’s sustained growth and
success in the downstream energy sector in Uganda.
Joanita Mukasa Menya is appointed Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda with
effect from September 1st. With extensive experience in sales and management, she
was previously employed at Unilever Uganda Limited as Country Lead and at Nestle
Equatorial Africa, where she served as Country Lead for Uganda and regional markets.
She is recognised for her innovative approach to leadership, business strategy and
excellence in delivering sales targets.
With Vivo Energy recently marking its tenth anniversary in Uganda, her strategic acumen,
experience and in-depth business knowledge of the sector makes her an excellent choice
to lead the company into its next stage of growth.
Menya, a certified transformational coach and the company's first female Managing
Director, envisions Vivo Energy Uganda continuing to focus on innovation, customer-
centric services, and sustainable business growth as key components of its future.
“I am honoured to take on this role at such an exciting time for Vivo Energy Uganda. I look
forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Johan and leading the company
towards even greater achievements,” said Menya.
Commenting on the leadership change, Hans Paulsen, the Executive Vice President for
East and Southern Africa at Vivo Energy, said: “We are immensely grateful to Johan
Grobbelaar for his outstanding contributions to Vivo Energy Uganda. Under his leadership,
the company has achieved remarkable milestones and strengthened its position in the
market. We are equally excited to welcome Joanita Mukasa Menya as the new Managing
Director. Joanita’s expertise and vision align perfectly with our strategic goals, and we are
confident she will continue to drive the company’s success in Uganda.”
ENDS.

Notes to editors:
The Vivo Energy Group operates and markets its products in countries across North, West, East,
Southern Africa and in the Ocean Islands. The extended Group has a network of over 3,900 service
stations in 28 markets operating under the Engen and Shell brands and exports lubricants to a
number of other African countries. Its retail offering includes fuels, lubricants, card services,
convenience stores, restaurants, and other non-fuel services. It provides fuels, lubricants, liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) and chemicals to business customers across a range of sectors including
marine, aviation, mining, construction, power, transport, agriculture and manufacturing.  It is
continuing to develop innovative energy solutions to enhance sustainability.
The company employs around 6,000 people and has access to over 2.1 billion litres of fuel storage
capacity.

For more information about Vivo Energy, please visit www.vivoenergy.com.

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Business

OVER UGX 1 BILLION: KYAZANGA MASON AND BUDUDA CASUAL WORKER CLAIM THEIR SHARE OF THE OVER UGX 1 BILLION LOTTO JACKPOT

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– August 9, 2024 – ITHUBA Uganda, the official operator of the
Uganda National Lottery, is thrilled to announce the first 2 winners of the historic
LOTTO jackpot Draw on August 3, 2024. Samuel Mbonimpa, a mason from Kyazanga,
Lwengo District and Zeverio Namisi, a factory worker from Kawempe have emerged as
the first 2 winners to claim their winnings out of the lucky 5 winners who won their share
of the UGX1 Billion LOTTO jackpot.


Mbonimpa, 30 years old travelled to Kampala for the first time on Thursday to claim his
share of over UGX 1 billion at the ITHUBA Head Office after playing the LOTTO draw
17 on Saturday, August 3, 2024, using the USSD code *278#. The Division 5 prize of
UGX 932,340,000 will be shared among five winners who matched four of the six
winning numbers.
The second jackpot winner to come forth and claim his windfall is Zeverio Namisi, 27
years old, a factory loader in Kawempe. Namisi who played at a Kenkom shop and
clinched over UGX 186 million with a wager of UGX 9000.
Michelle Van Trotsenburg, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at ITHUBA
Uganda, congratulated the winners and expressed pride in celebrating this monumental
moment with all jackpot winners.
She stated, "We are delighted to celebrate this life changing moment with the winners of
Uganda’s largest LOTTO jackpot. It’s a testament to the trust that Ugandans have
placed in our National Lottery after only nine weeks, from June 1, 2024, when we
started ticket sales."
Winners are encouraged to come forward and claim their prizes at ITHUBA Uganda's
offices.
If your numbers match our draw results, visit any registered retailer or the location
where you purchased your ticket to validate it. Those who played via USSD and the
website can check their numbers using https://nationallottery.go.ug/info/ticket_checker

“As Ugandans celebrate Namisi and Mbonimpa's success, we encourage the other
three jackpot winners to come forward and claim their winnings at ITHUBA Uganda's
head offices. If you believe you are one of the lucky winners from this draw or any other
previous draws held by the Uganda National Lottery, please visit any registered retailer
or location where you purchased your ticket to validate it,” Michelle Van Trotsenburg
added.
For more information about the Uganda National Lottery, upcoming draws, and how to
play, please visit www.nationallottery.go.ug or follow us on our social media channels.
For enquiries please contact the toll free Player Helpline at 0800 334433.
Winnings are tax free
Players must be 18 years or older. Play responsibly.

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Business

MTN Uganda Kicks Off the MTN ICT Expo 2024 Accelerating Business Transformation with Digital Technology.

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MTN Uganda successfully held the inaugural MTN ICT Expo 2024, a landmark event set to revolutionize Uganda's digital
landscape.
The Expo, held on the 1st and 2nd of August at the prestigious Mestil Hotel, brought
together industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to explore the transformative
power of digital technology under the theme ‘Accelerating Business Transformation with
Digital Technology.
Building on the resounding success of the inaugural MTN ICT Solutions Conference in 2023,
this year’s Expo, endorsed by the Ministry of ICT, aimed to further establish MTN Uganda as
a pioneer in technology solutions. The event focused on four pivotal service areas: Cloud
Solutions, Unified Communications, Internet of Things, and Digital Services.
 Cloud Solutions: Enabling businesses to store, manage, and process data through
cloud-based platforms, enhancing scalability and reducing IT costs. Examples
include MTN's cloud storage services and data backup solutions.
 Unified Communications: Integrating various communication tools such as voice,
video, messaging, and conferencing into a single cohesive system, improving
collaboration and productivity. MTN's solutions include VoIP services and virtual
meeting platforms.
 Internet of Things (IoT): Connecting devices and systems to the internet to collect
and exchange data, enabling smarter operations and automation. Examples include
MTN's smart agriculture solutions and connected home devices.

MTN Uganda | Media Release

 Digital Services: Offering a range of digital tools and platforms that enhance
business operations and customer experiences. These include MTN's mobile money
services, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing solutions.
The Guest of honor, Hon. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Uganda
Ministry of ICT and National Guidance. commended MTN Uganda for organizing the MTN
ICT Expo and thanked all participating partners. “The government recognizes the private
sector’s crucial role in the Digital Transformation Roadmap for Uganda, which aligns with our
2040 vision. We appreciate MTN’s leadership in driving digital transformation and supporting
youth skilling,” said Hon. Zawedde
In her remarks, Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of MTN Uganda, emphasized the company's
unwavering dedication to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in ICT. "MTN Uganda's
commitment to investing in countrywide network coverage, sustainable and green data
centers across the country, and digital skills development for the young workforce aligns with
our Ambition 2025 to lead digital solutions for Uganda and Africa at large," said Mulinge.
"We are proud to drive Uganda's digital transformation and support both the private and
public sectors with our cutting-edge technologies."
Ibrahim Senyonga, General Manager of MTN’s Enterprise Business Unit (EBU),
highlighted the vital role of digital technologies in driving efficiency, innovation, and growth in
enterprises. "Our partnerships with leading companies such as Bayobab, Chenosis, ,
Infobip, , Galooli, Chrif Group, Cisco and Microsoft have enabled us to offer a
comprehensive range of enterprise solutions that cater to the unique needs of businesses,"
said Senyonga. "The MTN ICT Expo is a testament to our commitment to enabling
enterprises to thrive in the digital age."
MTN Uganda has been a crucial driver of digital transformation in the country, with
substantial investments in infrastructure, innovation, and partnerships. The company has
greatly expanded mobile and fiber network coverage, enhancing internet accessibility across
Uganda. MTN's Mobile Money service has revolutionized financial inclusion, offering millions
of Ugandans access to digital payments and financial services. Additionally, MTN has made
significant strides in deploying 4G and 5G technologies, fostering a dynamic digital
ecosystem through collaborations with various sectors, and promoting digital literacy to
empower individuals and businesses.
MTN Uganda has also supported several significant national digital transformation projects,
including the First National Digital Census and Digital Agent Payments, facilitating efficient
data collection and financial transactions, and UCC RUCUSAF Projects, connecting 4,200
homesteads to digital platforms.
The MTN ICT Expo 2024 showcased the latest innovations and underscored the profound
impact of technology on businesses, the public sector, and the broader community.

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