By Our Reporter
Uganda’s branding and marketing professionals are set to converge in Kampala for the inaugural Datamine ASC Summit 2025, a high-level forum exploring how emotional intelligence, cultural storytelling, and brand authenticity are reshaping business strategies in today’s crowded markets.
Scheduled for Friday, June 27 at Hotel Africana, the one-day summit is being hosted by Datamine Centre for Professional Studies, the country’s leading Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)-accredited study centre. It will feature Canadian brand expert and acclaimed author Graham Robertson, in his East African debut.
“Brand building is no longer about pushing messages; it’s about forming deep, emotional connections that inspire loyalty and trust,” said Robertson, whose career spans work with industry titans like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and the NFL.
Under the theme “The Art and Science of Emotional Connections in a Competitive World,” the summit will bring together executives, creatives, and strategists from across Uganda’s media, beverage, tourism, and banking sectors. The agenda includes a closed-door C-suite session, an open plenary with keynote addresses and expert panels, and an evening networking forum aimed at fostering collaboration among practitioners and policy shapers.
Nation Media Group’s Head of Marketing, Hajara Ddagire Batuuka, emphasized the relevance of the summit’s focus. “This is the work we live and breathe at Nation Media—understanding people and building lasting emotional bonds with them,” she said.
Uganda Breweries’ Digital & Media Manager, Caroline Ampaire, echoed this, calling the summit “a perfect space to unpack what’s working for some of Uganda’s most-loved brands.” The event also enjoys support from industry giants including Plascon, VisionFund Uganda, Stabex International, Zeus Group, Pepsi, and the Uganda Tourism Board.
Renowned names in music, marketing, and media will share case studies and strategies. Uganda Musicians Association President Cinderella Sanyu will speak on brand influence and authenticity, while Buzz Activate’s Country Manager Laura Muhumuza will discuss youth engagement through memory-based branding. Nation Media Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa will weigh in on rebuilding trust in media amid digital disruption.
A headline panel moderated by MTN Uganda’s Brand Sponsorships & Events Manager, Johnpaul Okwi, will examine “emotional relevance in brand strategy,” with speakers from dfcu Bank, Uganda Breweries, Kansai Plascon, Saladin Media, and the Uganda Tourism Board.
“This is more than a summit,” Okwi noted. “It’s a professional inflection point a moment to elevate how we connect with today’s emotionally intelligent consumers.”
Datamine’s leadership describes the summit as a bridge between academic insight and market practice. CIM tutor and marketing manager Festo Mwebaze Syalhasha urged professionals, students, and entrepreneurs to attend, calling the event “essential” for staying relevant in a rapidly changing industry.
Individuals can attend for UGX 150,000, while organizations may reserve a table of eight for UGX 2,000,000. Attendees will also receive curated learning materials developed in collaboration with Beloved Brands. Payments may be made via Airtel Money Pay (4379648) or MTN MoMo Pay (303914), registered under Basewood Consult Uganda Ltd.
Datamine ASC Summit 2025 marks a decisive step in shaping Uganda’s marketing landscape one built not just on data or reach, but on meaning, memory, and emotional connection.