By Joshua Masinde Essar had earlier paid US$ 3 million in licence fees to receive Uganda’s sixth mobile licence Warid Uganda could have been sold by the end of the week if everything went according to plan. Essar Group, one of the largest Telecommunication industries in India is the intending …
Read More »Ugandans spend less on MTN calls as competition bites
By Independent Team MTN’s Average Revenue per User (ARPU) which describes how much money each subscriber spends on average on the network has declined, according to its latest figures. Following on a pattern set in the past, Ugandans have continued to spend less on phone calls as they make shorter …
Read More »Donors: Good performance to be rewarded; poor penalised
By The Independent Reporters Paul Wade, World Bank Senior Economist and Chair of the Joint Budget Support Framework Task Force explains how the newly agreed Joint Assessment Framework (JAF) works. What challenges is the Joint Assessment Framework (JAF) addressing? The JAF is a tool for helping the government of Uganda …
Read More »PTA Shs 40bn bond tests investor appetite
By Patrick Kagenda The Eastern and Southern African Trade Development Bank (PTA Bank) announcement this month that it had raised Shs 8.5 billion of its Shs 40 billion corporate bond has focused fresh attention on Uganda’s capital market. At the launch of the Shs 8.5 bond on the Uganda Securities …
Read More »PTA bank president explains bond offer
By Patrick Kagenda The PTA bank last week raised Shs 8.5 Bn in the first tranche of its Shs 40Bn bond issued on the Ugandan market. Dr. Michael Gondwe, the PTA bank president explains its strategy. How do you rate the performance of your bond? The bond took quite a …
Read More »Satchet alcohol ban causes Shs 20 billion loss in taxes
By Patrick Kagenda Two months after the ministry of Health recommended a ban on production, sell, and consumption of alcohol packed in sachets allegedly because it had killed 18 people, the measure remains controversial in parliament, Cabinet, and the public. The Independent’s Patrick Kagenda talked to the Uganda National Bureau …
Read More »Juba: Building market not way out for Uganda
By Amon B. Mbekiza Parliament is in a tag-of war with the Foreign Affairs Ministry over Shs 17 billion the ministry needs to build a market for Uganda traders in Juba, Southern Sudan. Whatever reasons parliament has, this money should not be passed. For starters, this is the wrong ministry …
Read More »Shilling could end year at 1,700 to the dollar
By Patrick Kagenda Buoyed by returning off-shore investors especially in the oil sector, increased remittances from Ugandans working abroad, and inflows from exports, the shilling has appreciated 25% against the dollar over a six months ending October 31. Globally the dollar has seen some depreciation lately, against other currencies. It …
Read More »Roads ministry seeks regional harmony on weighbridges
By Patrick Kagenda Works and Transport minister John Nasasira’s decision to suspend weighbridges across the country might finally put Uganda in harmony with its regional neighbours. Nasasira allegedly suspended the operation of weighbridges after it was discovered that the weigh bridge attendants were extorting money from truck owners, operators …
Read More »MTN’s Shs 200bn loan sparks comparison with bond offer
By Patrick Kagenda MTN has set a precident in acquiring quick money from Uganda’s financial market. It is the first to raise money through a syndicated loan in the country’s history. Will other corporations also follow? Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusime Mutebile says MTN’s Shs 200 billion syndicated bank loan …
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