Uganda - Pison Public Relations

Uganda’s private sector growing steadily

Recently, Stanbic Bank’s purchase managers index posted 51.8 in April, down from 53.2 in March signaling a further improvement in the health of the Ugandan private sector. However, the pace of growth fell below the average observed across the series so far since June 2016.

According to the PMI report, Business conditions in Uganda’s private sector witnessed further increases in output and new orders, which subsequently led to an expansion in workforce numbers. Furthermore, purchasing activity rose for the second month in succession. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures persisted as rising cost burdens fuelled output price inflation.

The onset of the rainy season as well as the recent developments in the Oil and Gas sector have driven expansion in Agriculture and Construction sectors respectively. However, there has been pressure on the UGX against the dollar trading above the 3,700 mark as at the end of April, amid demand from commercial banks and the energy sector. This led to the slowdown in the services and industrial sectors.

Stanbic Bank’s Fixed Income Manager Benoni Okwenje said, “Staffing levels increased boosted by heightened client demand and planned business expansions. Employment rose across three out of the five sub-sectors, the exceptions being industry and wholesale & retail where respective stagnation and contraction were seen. Businesses further responded to higher demand by expanding their purchasing activity for the second consecutive month. Meanwhile, competition among suppliers led average lead times for inputs to shorten further during April.”

Elsewhere, higher raw material prices underpinned an increase in cost burdens in the period under review. Overall input costs rose across all five monitored sub-sectors, continuing the trend observed since the survey’s inception. Accordingly, businesses across the five monitored sub-sectors increased their average selling prices at the start of the second quarter.

The Stanbic PMI is a composite index, calculated as a weighted average of five individual sub-components, New Orders (30%), Output (25%), Employment (20%), Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15%) and Stocks of Purchases (10%). Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions on the previous month, while readings below 50.0 show deterioration.

7th May 2018/0 Comments

News

Uganda must skill youth to become job creators and not job seekers

Uganda’s youth unemployment rate is an issue of deep concern for a country with the world’s youngest population. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), 78% of Ugandans are below the age of 30 with just under 8 million youth aged between 15 and 30. The country has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Sub-Sahara Africa. Every year, 4 million young people enter the workforce. This number is expected to increase to over 8 million by 2040.

With a population growth rate that is not in tandem with the prevailing job market, sustainable solutions have to be implemented. This cannot be a one man effort but rather a deliberate action from both the public and private sectors.

As such, Stanbic Bank Uganda, together with the Ministry of Education and Sports, have been organizing the annual National Schools Championships (NSC) for the last 2 years. The bank identified and recognized the need to equip secondary school students with financial and entrepreneurial skills as a vital part of its Corporate Social Initiative (CSI).

Currently in its 3^rd edition, NSC involves reaching out to students at a pivotal level of their education, before they join university, college and other tertiary institutions. The idea is to equip them with basic business/enterprise building skills as well as nurture a ‘can-do’ attitude while still young and preparing them mentally as self-starters.

Last year, over 3000 students from 40 secondary schools across Uganda participated in various challenges with a finale that required creating a bank simulation project. The project’s aim was to inculcate a savings culture, the ability to understand how to make money, manage and spend it.

Mary Hill High School in Mbarara, who emerged winners in the Championships, pioneered the bank’s simulation project. The students-only venture comprised of 190 customers holding either a Current, Fixed, or Savings account.

Evelyn Mugisha, the 2017 championship winner notes the simulation project has encouraged students to adapt a savings culture with a discipline which was previously not evident.

“The students deposit a minimum of UGX 5000 which they can only withdraw on Tuesdays and Wednesday after classes between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. They have trusted the mini bank to keep their money with the bank,” she says.

This approach empowers students with the basic tools to understand the most important aspects of making money.

As a new addition to the Championships, for the first time this year, students will participate in a boot camp where they are expected to creatively think and come up with practical business ideas.

Sixty secondary schools registered for the 2018 NSC and are currently participating in entrepreneurial competitions all over Uganda, to come up with the most innovative and vie for ultimate prize—a study trip to South Africa.

The conversation concerning the challenge of youth unemployment and finding long lasting solutions is not only local but global. Listed as the United Nations Eighth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), is the reduction of the unemployment rate especially for young people. Numerous interventions, both on a macro and micro level, have been put in place to up-skill and create an environment that encourages young innovative thinking. With the National Schools Championship, Stanbic Bank is adding value and being part of the solution.

2nd May 2018/0 Comments

5 Things that Make Uganda the Most Beautiful Country in Africa

Are you looking for a awesome travel experience in Africa, and the world at large but not certain yet which country to visit? Uganda is a very incredible destination with lots of amazing attractions and features and would definitely recommend it for your next safari tour in Africa. You will be surprised by the weather, friendly people, lakes, wildlife, birds, primates, landscape and much more. Perhaps it’s another great destination in Africa that offers exciting life time gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. I believe it’s one of the most beautiful to visit for gorilla tracking safaris.

Security

Of course without the Permanent Peace and Stability, nothing much would be known about the beauty of Uganda.

Under the Wise Command of H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, UPDF has restored peace in Uganda. For the last 30 years, the Country is stable making it easier for the tourists to access any corner of Uganda.

Great Weather

If you want to enjoy a holiday vacation under the sun and in a warm serenity, Uganda is famous for having the best sunny days even during the so called rainy seasons. Its only in Uganda where it shines immediately after rain and the country is all year destination since nothing ruin your tour holiday. When the country’s cool weather, you will definitely enjoy your Uganda safari tour each day of your stay even though you chose to travel in April, May and November the known rainy season months.

Safe & Secure

The first concern that some people have when they think about Uganda is that it might not be safe. Surely the country is safe and secure for travel and tourism in any corner of the country. Just go ahead and plan your visit to Uganda and enjoy your trip in any part of the country provided it’s your best place of interest.

Exotic & Unique Culture

Where else can you find friendly and welcoming people than in Uganda? Though the country is known for mountain gorillas, culture and the friendly people is another interesting travel aspect that every traveler enjoys while in Uganda. The people’s culture in Uganda is unique and you get a memorable Uganda safari tour when you combine your travel interest with a cultural excursion. There is too much living history in the present, many amazing cultural dances, songs, and way of life. When you head out for a culture tour its really new adventure of a life time.

Amazing Mountain Gorillas

There is much more to see and enjoy on a Uganda gorilla safari tour to Bwindi, Mgahinga National Park the two spectacular gorilla homes in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are endangered primate species that live in forested vegetation of Virunga Massif and Bwindi Impenetrable. When you chose to explore the beautiful gorilla parks, the hilly landscape, forest habitants and the complete guidance of park rangers make the trek one in a million. No wonder its Uganda’s top tourist attraction that inspire thousands to visit the country. However, if you want to track gorillas and hike volcanoes, or track golden monkeys just go for a gorilla tour to Mgahinga National Park.

Delicious Food

You will be surprised that whatever you chose to taste or eat in Uganda is delicious provided it’s prepared by lodges or hotels that have good history in the travel world. Even snack taste great. But avoid eating foods or things sold on the streets for hygiene purposes and good health. There are plenty of dishes and foods including local, Italian, Indian, English and much more. The saddest time is heading back home and lives behind the delicious cuisines.

24th April 2018/0 Comments

News

Uganda set for common wealth games

Sixty-nine athletes will carry the Ugandan flag at the Commonwealth Games for the next 10 days. This is an improvement from the 65 athletes, who represented the country in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014.

For the first time in the history of the Games, Uganda has a netball team, She-Cranes. The team’s recent performances have stirred huge excitement and anticipation that they could bag one of the three medals at the games.

She-Cranes, who are ranked seventh in the world, open their account against second-rated New Zealand tomorrow. It will be an uphill task for the She-Cranes against New Zealand, the runners-up at the last edition of the Club Games.

She-Cranes captain Peace Proscovia said recently they are bracing for the big stage to face the world’s best. To qualify for the Games, She-Cranes won the Africa Netball Championship in June last year.

So, by now, they must be psychologically prepared to take on New Zealand, England, Malawi, Wales and Scotland. Top-ranked Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica respectively won top honours in 2014.

The Rugby Cranes, making their second appearance at the Games in the Sevens event, also have good momentum. However, with top guns such as England, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa and Kenya, the Rugby Cranes could be reduced to simply improving on their performance four years ago.

They finished twelfth out of 16 nations at the 2014 games. Yet, as history has shown, boxing, and track and field events have offered more medals. This is compared to shooting, weight-lifting, badminton, cycling and swimming, the other disciplines in which Uganda is represented.

Netball

Thursday@11am: Uganda v New Zealand

Saturday@7am: Malawi v Uganda

Sunday@10am: Uganda v England

Tuesday@10am: Wales v Uganda

Boxing Action starts Thursday

Swimming starts Thursday

Athletics

Cycling starts Thursday

Badminton Starts Thursday

Weight lifting Starts Thursday

Shooting Sunday

Courtesy: The Observer Uganda

5th April 2018/0 Comments

News

Uganda to promote country’s tourism in China

Uganda will soon contract private companies to market the country’s tourism sector in all provinces of China.

This was revealed by the chairperson of Uganda Tourism Board, Daudi Migereko.

Migereko said although China exports 123 million tourists to the world annually, Uganda was only receiving 19,175 visitors from there.

“That number is so huge and therefore we need to tap more of those tourists so that we can earn more foreign exchange. China is our leading bilateral development partner in the world, I see no reason why more Chinese should not come to enjoy our tourist attractions,” Migereko said.

Migereko revealed that already, the Ugandan embassy in Beijing and the consulate in Guangzhou were doing a great job in marketing the country’s tourism potential.

“Also, there are many investment opportunities in tourism and other sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing. These are the areas we can work on together with the Chinese to benefit both countries,” Migereko said.

He added that several Ugandan universities had introduced the study of Chinese language while many Ugandans had been sent to China as way of improving the two countries’ relations so that “when the Chinese tourists come here, they can find guides who understand their language”.

“Uganda has been active in the Chinese market and we are now prioritizing it as major area for current and future tourism growth. Uganda has participated in the Guangzhou expo in 2017, translated a Uganda country guide into China and has hosted Chinese operators in Uganda to showcase what we can offer,” he added.

And to show that Uganda is serious about attracting Chinese tourists, the government will send a team of technocrats and tourism sector players to China to try and market what Uganda has to offer. The team will be leaving Uganda on March 11.

Migereko also revealed that with the revival of Uganda Airlines, Beijing and Guangzhou will be top priority flights because of the high traffic exchange between the two countries.

“We are also working on putting up several airports in Uganda to ease movement of tourists from one part of the country to the other,” Migereko added.

Uganda currently earns 1.5 billion U.S. dollars from the tourism sector, with most of the visitors coming to check out the country’s national parks.

***End***

6th March 2018/0 Comments

News

World Cup Trophy Tour to shine Ugandan Tourism

As we get closer to the World Cup in Russia 2018, the trophy tour among a few selected African countries started already and Uganda is among the lucky ones for the second time the World Cup Trophy tours Uganda, the first time being November 15, 2009 at the Lugogo Cricket Oval.

The excitement that comes with this tour gets all Cameras rolled onto the visited destination and as Uganda for the second time hopes are high for a being a great tourist destination in the same period as International Media will focus more on the Pearl Of Africa.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour powered by Coca-Cola has already seen the Trophy tour among other African countries starting with Ethiopia (24-25th February), then Kenya (26 – 27th February), Mozambique (28th February), South Africa (1-3rd March) and Uganda (5-6thMarch).

His Excellency, President Of the Republic of Uganda will again be the Arch viewer of the Trophy and the only person allowed to have a feel of it on touch though with gloves as it has been with other state heads in the respective countries.

The Tourism sector anticipates a lot of turn up on visitors from both neighbouring countries and the globe at large that will have to share the same opportunity with locals.

Remember entrance to Lugogo Cricket Oval will just be buying a bottle of Soda at the Entrance and observe the Trophy at full glance coupled with some bit of Entertainment.

3rd March 2018/0 Comments

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