Business

By Independent Team & Agencies AS expected, Tullow Oil and its partner Heritage Oil have won back rights to explore for oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a year-long dispute, the country’s hydrocarbons minister, Rene Isekemanga Nkeka, has said. Congo’s previous hydrocarbons minister, Lambert Mende, in February 2008, …

By Agnes Asiimwe Dr. Sebbaale Kato is the CEO of Case Medical Centre in Kampala and a senior lecturer in the department of surgery of Makerere University, a pioneer laparoscopic surgeon and gastroenterologist. Kato is also chairman of Uganda Cricket Association, a golfer, and a born-again Christian. What’s your day …

By The Independent Team This is a new self-help book for brand strategists, marketers, and corporate managers whose salient point is one: A brand is only valuable as long as it’s moving forward. Just as a shark must keep swimming to stay alive, brands must keep moving forward to maintain …

By Patrick Kagenda But analysts warn strategy could backfire if inflation spirals Did the Central Bank intervene late last month in the local foreign currency market? According to media reports, unnamed Central Bank officials confirmed it had intervened on March 25 to prop up an already strong dollar against the …

By Patrick Kagenda Will Kenyan, South African giants leave Ugandan kiosks in the mud? As Kenya’s leading supermarket chain, Nakumatt gets ready to open shop in Kampala, it seems set on competition with Kenyan rival Uchumi and South African stores Game and Shoprite. Retail market watchers, however, say the Nakumatt …

By Patrick Kagenda Existing supermarkets sell about 30% Ugandan goods while the 60% is imported from Kenya, Dubai and South Africa. Ugandan commodities include mineral water, sugar, Mukwano laundry soap, Mukwano cooking oil, Britannia juices and other juices from Ugandan cottage industries, Biscuits, Sweets, Nuts, Soft Drinks, Coffees, Honey, Milk, …

By Agnes Asiimwe Wasula runs Afrigo Band as a business How did you end up in entertainment? I was a fan of the Cranes Band, and Moses Matovu who was the band leader, is a first cousin. When the Cranes collapsed Moses, Sam Tamale, Omar Matta, and I pooled resources …

By Patrick Kagenda Crown Beverages Ltd, the manufacturers of soft drinks Pepsi, Mirinda, Evervess and Seven Up are re-shaping the packaging of their products. Simon Lugoloobi, the Chief Executive Officer at Crown Beverages Ltd, told The Independent that the company was injecting US$13 million (Shs 26 billion) to import the …

By Joseph Were As it enters the last quarter, the Uganda Revenue Authority is set for a new record in net collections despite a general cloud over the economy. Compilation of its third quarter (Q3) figures must still wait for the March figures but projections based on January and February …

By Agnes Asiimwe What are your management guiding principles? I am an entrepreneur, I am not a manager. I manage by hiring managers with better brains than mine. For one to qualify to manage my enterprise, they have to be very good and outstanding, well educated and of integrity. They …