The biggest challenge to business in Uganda is the tendency of senior managers to want to do the day-to-day work. We call it the leadership dilemma. This is not about paying attention to the details that matter. It is micromanaging and it sacks. In the process, this obscures the big picture — of furthering top leadership mandate to think long-term by focusing on technology investments and the customer. Great leaders micro-monitor instead of micro-managing. You do not ask someone to do something and then show them how to do it and be breathing instructions on their throat all the time…
Who cares? The frustrations of doing business in Uganda, part 1
Uganda has many enterprising people, but few successful businesses. Why? If anything explains the high poverty levels in many parts of the country, it is not an unwillingness to work hard—most Ugandans still sweat to survive. Nor is it because of a lack of enterprise and optimism: on the permanently traffic-jammed streets of Kampala, the country’s main commercial city, hawkers gingerly ease their way between cars trying to sell almost anything from snacks to books, car parts, carpets, shoes, and even toilet paper. They do the right things – wake up early. Work 365 days a year. Do your best.…
My take on the proposal to require NSSF to pay 20% to members
Download a copy of this article: On 12th May 2020, I received a rare call from one of the bank executives. He wanted to ‘pick my mind’ about the NSSF’s briefing to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over the implications of the proposal to require NSSF to pay 20% to members. According to NSSF, the proposal has implications that could distress the NSSF as a retirement scheme and the economy. My take is NSSF should pay highly affected members first, gradually pay other members. Below, I show how this is possible. The objective of saving is to…
Tanzania Breweries Limited
Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) is the leading and largest brewery company in Tanzania. The company commands a market share of over 70% in the Tanzanian alcoholic beverages market. The company produces and distributes popular beers such as Kilimanjaro Lager, Safari Lager, Ndovu Special Malt, Tusker Beer and Castle Lager. The global beer industry has been undergoing a process of consolidation over the past decade. Ten years ago, 10 companies controlled 51% of the global beer industry and today, 4 companies (Ab Inbev, Heineken, Carlsberg and CR Snow) control the same amount. The African beer market is one of the few…
Centenary Bank Chief on the future of banking
Whatever innovations in jazzy products that come, they must be in a context where people’s money is safe and people have confidence that it is safe”, Dr Simon Kagugube, Acting Managing Director of CERUDEB. [Note: This article was first published in Summit Business August 2009 issue.] The recent entry of many international banks into the Ugandan market has created stiff competition in the industry and brought in a wave of innovative products. Banks are increasingly looking for a competitive edge through innovation, cost-cutting, and mass marketing. Mustapha Bernabas Mugisa met with Dr. Simon Kagugube, the Acting Managing Director of Centenary…
How can mainstream media like Newspapers survive amid social media?
CNN and other televisions had to re-invent. They embraced social media and digital publishing, as well as leveraging from their news anchors and other celebrities to increase their social media presence and following. And that was not enough.
