By Our Reporter

Airtel Uganda has been awarded Uganda’s Largest Tax Payer and recognised for their compliance in remitting taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

The announcement was made during the Uganda Revenue Authority 14th Taxpayers Appreciation Awards – 2019 held in Kampala on Friday.

Airtel Uganda paid Shs136 billion in the financial year 2018/19 winning the Excel Award for the year.

“Airtel has contributed over Shs136 billion in the financial year 2018-19 making it the biggest contributor of income tax in the last financial year,” a statement from Uganda Revenue Authority read in part.

Handing over the award, the Minister of Finance Hon. Matia Kasaijja congratulated Airtel upon the achievement and lauded the company for their contribution towards the development of Uganda through tax.

Mr. V.G. Somasekhar, the Managing Director of Airtel Uganda, thanked Uganda Revenue Authority for recognizing their contribution to the company’s GDP and the work they are doing to remain complaint. He also thanked Uganda Communication Commission, Ministry of Information Communication and Technology and the Government of Uganda for the support rendered to Airtel.

“It is an honor for Airtel to be recognized as the largest tax payer in Uganda. We are thankful to our customers and partners who have made Airtel their network of choice,” he noted.

“We believe leadership is a responsibility – one that we have happily taken on and this recognition is yet another milestone and an affirmation that Uganda has noticed. We remain committed to the leadership of the telecommunications sector and compliance is an integral aspect of that commitment,” he added.

The award comes on the heels of the company’s massive investment in innovation, network and infrastructural expansion.

Edwin Musiime leads Hon. Chris Baryomunsi and his entourage during the inspection ceremony during last year’s Homes and Property expo.

By Our Reporter

The Homes and property Expo returns this November in a huge way.

For all the interior design enthusiasts and modern construction trend fans , the Sheraton Kampala gardens will be the place to be come November 15th, 2019.

The Homes and property Expo which is returning for the 12th edition will be a 3-day event running from the 15th to 17th of November.

The expo, that is organized by Crest Group Limited, is a one stop shopping point and information hub for all things construction and real estate, a number of property developers, realtors, construction companies, building material distributors, interior designers, landscapers, and so many others participating.

There are lots of prizes to be won, and a variety of discounts on selected items, that will be available for sale during the expo.

“I believe real estate in the long run is an industry worthwhile our investment at National and individual level. So we call on all Ugandans, new home owners and prospect real estate owners to come to this year’s Home and property expo. There are plenty of minds to tap into and it’s a great networking place,” Edwin Musiime, CEO Crest Group Limited explains.

By Our Reporter

Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Uganda, has visited Kiswa Primary School in Bugolobi, Kampala and donated school materials and sanitary towels worth Fifteen million Uganda shillings to enhance its Schools’ Education Support programme.

The donation was handed over by Vivo Energy Uganda Managing Director, Mr. Gilbert Assi in the presence of the school community, Vivo Energy Group Chairman, Mr. John Daly, Non-Executive Director, Ms. Hixonia Nyasulu, Executive Vice President for East and Southern Africa, Mr. Hans Paulsen and staff.

Kampala Capital City Authority’s Director of Education and Social Services, Miss Juliet Nambi Namuddu was the guest of honour at the colourful function that was also attended by the Mayor of Nakawa Division, Hon. Ronald Bamwezo under whose jurisdiction the school is located.

Speaking at the school visit, Mr. Gilbert Assi remarked that education is one of Vivo Energy’s priority areas of community investment. “We believe in empowering the future generation of leaders by giving them opportunities to learn. We hope that the support that we have given to this school today will in turn lead to improved literacy, better grades and overall improvement of the school’s performance.”

He added, “Vivo Energy Uganda’s Schools’ Road Safety Education programmes have in the past five years trained pupils in over 120 primary schools as road safety ambassadors. Kiswa Primary School was one of the first schools that we approached at the time. We are pleased that this relationship has progressed to the point where we are confident in the abilities of the children to support fellow children to observe safe road practices. We focus on children as the future drivers in order to inculcate in them a culture of road safety at a young age. Children can also be effective in influencing their parents’ behaviour and through these efforts, we would like to win them over first as a way to reach their parents.”

Ms. Aisha Bagaya Ntege, the Head Teacher of Kiswa Primary School commended Vivo Energy Uganda for identifying the school’s challenges and supporting the administration to address them. “Our school population consists of over 2000 children, drawn from the less fortunate communities near and far from our location. We try our best to manage the existing challenges such as limited learning resources, nutrition, absenteeism of female students due to poor management of menstruation and more. I am delighted that companies such as Vivo Energy Uganda have a heart for the communities around them and reach out to support education. We appreciate this gesture.”

KCCA Director of Education and Social Services, Ms. Juliet Nambi Namuddu expressed her appreciation to Vivo Energy Uganda for supporting education in Uganda: “On behalf of KCCA, that manages public schools in the city, we commend Vivo Energy Uganda for continually partnering with us to make education experience for the children less of a challenge. We encourage like-minded organisations to join us in a similar initiative.” Adding, “It is a sad reality that one out of 10 African girls skip school or drop out of school entirely due to lack of menstrual products and proper access to proper sanitation according to United Nations Children’s Fund. However, this hindrance to the education of female students is now a priority for the KCCA and for the Ministry of Education.”

Vivo Energy Group Chairman John Daly and Non-Executive Director, Ms. Hixonia Nyasulu are currently in the country on a business familiarization tour of Vivo Energy Uganda.