Buganda Kingdom and Airtel Uganda have renewed their partnership for another three years, extending a collaboration that began in 2014 into 2028, with new emphasis on education, technology and income-generating initiatives.
Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga witnessed the renewal and highlighted health, youth talent development and other initiatives as some of the areas in which the partnership has supported the Kingdom over the past 12 years.
“The partnership has produced tangible results in areas that directly affect the lives of our people, including health and the identification and development of young talent through the Masaza and Ebika competitions,” Mayiga said.
The partnership has supported campaigns against diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria and fistula, particularly through the Kabaka Birthday Run.
However when the partnership was renewed both Airtel Uganda Managing Director Soumendra Sahu and Buganda’s Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga focused on the social, digital, and cultural impact of the alliance rather than publishing a total cumulative financial valuation
Under the renewed agreement, the two sides are expected to expand their cooperation into education and income-generating initiatives, as well as water-related projects and other development programmes.
The Second Deputy Katikkiro and Minister of Finance, Oweek Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, said the partnership should also address the quality and accessibility of technology services available to people in the Kingdom.
“As we renew this partnership, we need to raise the standard of technology services available to the people of the Kabaka,” Nsibirwa said.
Airtel Uganda Managing Director Soumendra Sahu said the company had also supported programmes targeting young people, including entrepreneurship training and initiatives aimed at improving digital and technology skills.
“Through this partnership, we have started several initiatives, especially for young people. We have helped people learn how to start businesses and develop in the world of technology, and we expect to achieve even more over the next three years,” Sahu said.
Majestic Brands Managing Director Remmie Kisakye described the relationship with Airtel as a 12-year partnership that had contributed to the growth of the company.
“Our journey with Airtel over the past 12 years has transformed the way we operate, taking our reach from about four million people to 11 million. Both sides have worked hard to fulfil their commitments, resulting in significant achievements,” Kisakye said.
The renewal ceremony was attended by Nsibirwa, Ministers Oweek Israel Kazibwe Kitooke and Noah Kiyimba, as well as technical officials from the Buganda Kingdom.
Airtel Uganda remains platinum sponsor of several major Buganda Kingdom activities, including the Kabaka Birthday Run, Kabaka’s birthday celebrations, coronation anniversary celebrations, Iftar activities, Bika competitions and the Masaza Cup football tournament where atleast Airtel Uganda injects in 1 billion annually.
Airtel provides Shs 1 billion annually to finance and sponsor this Kabaka Birth Day Run aflagship event for the Kingdom and general Kingdom Activities like the Masaza Cup, Bika football, and coronation celebrations have broken down to figures like Shs 170 million per year under specific sponsorship memorandums
