On Friday 17th March, 2017 MTN Uganda recognized and awarded five (5) female winners of the 5th annual edition of the MTN Women in Business under the theme: Survival of the fittest: Partnering for success, at an event that was held at Kampala Serena Hotel and hosted by Ms. Lois Aber – Brand Manager at Uganda Breweries Ltd. These awards celebrated the achievements of Ugandan women entrepreneurs who against all odds continue to excel in the predominantly male dominated field of business.
The award ceremonial was graced in large numbers, Guest of Honor for the evening, Hon. Maria Kiwanuka was among those that confirmed their attendance, and Ms. Phuti Mahanyele – Executive Chairperson at Sigma Capital and an accomplished female business leader in South Africa also did attend the ceremony.
In an address that emphasized perseverance, Ms. Mahanyele spoke of the need to nurture relationships with family and also encouraged women entrepreneurs to seek out and engage with potential partners internationally because international partners continue to seek out good investment ideas from across globe.
On the other hand, Hon. Maria Kiwanuka offered advice to those engaged in business to stand up for their rights.
“Pay your taxes but also follow up government programs and demand for accountability of how the tax funds are appropriated,” she said.
In honor of women and specifically those engaged in small to medium business, MTN Uganda together with its partners Stanbic Uganda, Huawei Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel, UAP Insurance, Vivo Energy, to name a few set a tremendous night for these women both the nominees, winners, and the guests.
The winners were selected by a panel of distinguished judges who are industry captains in their respective fields of business from a pool of nominees in four categories; MTN Women in Business – CEO of the Year, Excellence in ICT, Excellence in Financial Services, MTN Staff Woman Champion.
The People’s Choice (Survivor of the Year) Award were chosen from New Vision/Bukedde’s entrepreneurship programs and the final five selected went through a popular public vote while MTN Staff Woman Champion category comprised of ladies working with MTN but impacting their communities through entrepreneurship.[related-posts]
Here are the Final Five Female Winners of the 2017 MTN Women in Business
MTN Women in Business – CEO of the Year
Amelia Kisakye Kyambadde who previously had been working as a banker and currently she’s the Managing Director of Seroma Christian High School. Mrs. Amelia now succeeds Alice Karugaba; Founder of Nina Interiors who won the award in 2016.
In an interview she had with Summit Business, Mrs. Amelia was asked “What challenges do you experience as a woman in business?”
In her response, “Being a woman in business is my number one problem in our Uganda today because women are not seen as strong beings in society it very hard for women to lead men that is why I would say that her lordship Madam Kadaga has been at least my inspiration.”
Mrs. Amelia emerging as the winner of the CEO of the Year accolade, from all the partners and sponsors of the event, she gets; a learning trip to South Africa to meet successful SMEs, MTN 4G LTE CPE with 60GB for 6 months plus fixed line package, MTN fixed line with free minutes for 6 months, Easy Accounting service for 1 year, and MTN Kazi bundle for 6 months from MTN Uganda. As well as a Huawei Mate P9 from Huawei Uganda, a weekend for 2 at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa, bed & breakfast from Kampala Serena Hotel, Fuel for a year up to UGX 1million, car servicing for a year up to UGX 1million, and a Shell Gas Lite Kit from Vivo Energy and Finally! A domestic policy cover of up to UGX 160million from UAP Insurance.
MTN Women in Business – Excellence in ICT
Mrs. Eugenie Nsubuga Windt; CEO and Founder at Swanair Travel & Safaris / Carlson Wagonlit Travel. This award was held by Susan Ajok; Executive Director at Straight Talk Foundation, who won in 2016.
With 23 years of experience in the Travel business, Mrs. Eugenie in an interview with MTN Uganda, said her first area of interest was in insurance but later a friend in the travel business sold to her the idea of starting up a business in the travel industry, of which she did in December 1993.
“For anyone to succeed, persistence, belief in themselves and change of attitude are a must have values,” she said.
Mrs. Eugenie having won this accolade, receives; a learning trip to South Africa to meet successful SMEs, MTN 4G LTE CPE with 60GB for 6 months plus fixed line package, MTN fixed line with free minutes for 6 months, Easy Accounting service for 1 year, and MTN Kazi bundle for 6 months from MTN Uganda. As well as; Huawei Mate P9 from Huawei Uganda, a weekend for two on a bed and breakfast basis from Kampala Serena Hotel, Fuel for a year up to UGX 500,000, car servicing for a year up to UGX 500,000, and a Shell Gas Lite Kit from Vivo Energy and Finally! A Gold Motor Comprehensive Insurance policy cover up to UGX. 50,000,000 from UAP Insurance.
MTN Women in Business – Excellence in Financial Services
Mrs. Lydia Oile; a Senior Manager at Le Memorial Medical Services, takes on this honor that was previously achieved by Jacqueline Birigwa Nuwamanya – Managing Director at Rural Communication Centre LTD.
In an interview with UGO Uganda, Mrs. Lydia said as a little girl, she always wanted to an Air Hostess.
“Now I see them on the plane and say what a fool I was. Thinking of being on a plane was something that I wanted,” she said.
Mrs. Lydia has trained as an anesthetist, done hair dressing, reared pigs, owned a bar and sold clothes but all were not her calling. She now owns an interior decor company, make detergents and a hospital.
Having won this award, Mrs. Lydia also gets; a learning trip to South Africa to meet successful SMEs, MTN 4G LTE CPE with 60GB for 6 months plus fixed line package, MTN fixed line with free minutes for 6 months, Easy Accounting service for 1 year, and MTN Kazi bundle for 6 months from MTN Uganda, Huawei Mate P9 from Huawei Uganda, Dinner for two at Lakes Restaurant from Kampala Serena Hotel, Fuel for a year up to UGX 500,000, car servicing for a year up to UGX 500,000, and a Shell Gas Lite Kit from Vivo Energy and Finally! An Individual Medical Insurance Policy cover up to UGX 18 million from UAP Insurance.
MTN Women in Business – MTN Staff Woman Champion
As we mentioned before, this award was one of a kind since it wasn’t recognized in the previous MTN Women in Business awards. The MTN Staff Woman Champion category comprised of ladies working with MTN but impacting their communities through entrepreneurship.
Donna Namujju Kaddu Mukasa – Capital Projects at MTN Uganda (Co-Director at Lincoln Medical Limited) emerged as winner for the category.
Donna receives; profiling in Souvenir Magazine, Business Expo booth, Masterclass attendance, and a Gala Invitation from MTN Uganda. As well as, Huawei Mate P9 from Huawei Uganda, Facial & full body massage at Maisha Health Club from Kampala Serena Hotel (All Nominees in this category will get this special treat from Serena Hotel), and finally! Fuel of a year up to UGX 300,000, and Car servicing for a year up to UGX 300,000 from Vivo Energy.
MTN Women in Business – People’s Choice Survivor of the Year
Unlike the 2016 Customer’s Choice Award category, which has been set up to encourage participation by MTN’s customers, this year it was the People’s Choice Survivor award category. The nominees were chosen from New Vision/Bukedde’s entrepreneurship programs and the final five selected went through a popular public vote to claim this award.
Sarah Nkonge – Teacher, Politician, Farmer, and Business woman did claim this accolade. She also claims, a learning trip to South Africa to meet successful SMEs, Business Development scholarship for 1 year with Summit Consulting sponsored by MTN, MTN Wingle package with free 10GB for 1 month, MTN fixed line with free minutes for 1 month, Easy Accounting service for 1 year, and MTN Kazi bundle subscription for 6 months from MTN Uganda.
She also gets Huawei Mate P9 from Huawei Uganda, Dinner for two at Explorers Restaurant courtesy of Kampala Serena Hotel, Fuel for a year up to UGX 500,000, car servicing for a year up to UGX 500,000, and a Shell Gas Lite Kit from Vivo Energy, and Finally! An Individual Medical Insurance Policy cover up to UGX. 18 million from UAP Insurance.
Using the example of his wife Barbara, MTN Uganda’s CEO Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte paid glowing tribute to women business owners, who continue to prevail despite the fact that they bear the responsibility of being wives and mothers at home, coupled with running their enterprises in an environment in which they have to endlessly prove to everyone that their products are good despite being Ugandan and produced by the female gender.
CEO @wimMTNUG giving closing remarks at #MTNWiB17 Awards.Operating small businesses is tougher than big businesses b’se it requires your all pic.twitter.com/aAyR5HtEcY
— MTN Uganda (@mtnug) March 17, 2017
“They (women) ought to be respected”, he concluded.
Editor’s Note: A big congratulations to the 2017 Winners and Nominees of the 5th annual MTN Women in Business.
