Following the Minister of ICT, Frank Tumwebaze’s announcement, Uganda Communications Commision has lifted the ban on sale and replacement of SIM cards in Uganda. This comes after Ugandan telecommunications companies were advised by UCC to immediately cease the sale of SIM cards through hawkers, street vendors, street agents and any other establishments that are not licensed by Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) or other municipal and town authorities.

In the wake of today, after a couple of resolutions by the Uganda Communications Commission, new guidelines have been issued as regards the replacement, and acquisition of a new sim card. They Include;

-A customer seeking to acquire, Upgrade or replace a SIM Card must physically appear and present his/her original National ID to an operator’s designated customer care agent at a designated customer care centre or registration point.

-The Operator must verify the authenticity of the National ID card using an Electronic Biometric Card reader, match the applicant’s live biometrics with biometrics on the card, and obtain real-time verification with the NIRA database through the API.

-The Operator must obtain a fresh Photograph of the applicant

-The Operator must register the applicant for the SIM Card and ensure that the applicant expressly gives authority to the Telecom Operator to access and match his/her details with the National Identification Database maintained by NIRA.

-The Operator must retain a record of all registration details of the applicants. With regards to lost SIM Cards, the applicant must present a valid letter from the Uganda Police Force confirming the loss of the customers Sim Card.

According to government officials, the enactment of the Registration of Persons Act 2015 makes the national ID a mandatory document to use for any form of registration services, SIM card registration inclusive.  Operators have tested readiness to conduct real-time online verification of customer’s information with the NIRA database and have been fully allowed to resume sale of SIM Cards.

On Friday 4th May, WAZIHUB, an Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation program was launched in Kampala, Uganda, as a collaborative problem solving and innovative approach to the foster creation of IoT products and services.

The launch which took place at Hive Colab, one of the consortium partners in Uganda is a collaborative problem solving and innovative approach to enable win-win outcomes for EU and African partners while tackling key societal problems and challenges by applying IoT and Big Data in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The launch was officiated by the Minister for ICT, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze who expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the WAZIHUB program and promised support for hubs in Uganda to help play their role in innovation in the country. He also promised to continue his best to enhance talents in ICT innovation.

The WAZIHUB launched with the main objective to support startups in IoT Products and
services with 30 percent female lead and 50 percent first market replication, expand the
IoT regional ecosystem inclusive of hubs, countries and partners to 20 African countries, 40 tech hubs and 200 Industry, SME and Government. WAZIHUB also aims at reaching stakeholders through awareness and communication and lastly to build capacity through training, support and mentorship.

Saturday 5th May saw the launch of the WAZIHUB accelerator program which aims at providing IoT startups and entrepreneurs with technical and business capacity building through training boot camps, seminars, growth hacking resources and workshops.

WAZIHUB’s “Out-of-the-Box” IoT development kit includes SDKs, IoT Gateway and Big
Data Platform. The kit offers all the features to develop IoT sensor application. From this training, the first Cohort of entrepreneurs will be selected as beneficiaries of the project and will be supported with practical training on how to build IoT solutions and with resources and funding connections to build successful businesses around IoT and Big Data.

They will also get help with building their prototype and deploying their
products rapidly. This project is implemented by 14 partners all over Africa and EU, including Sonatel, Create-Net, UPPA, Innotec21, Orange, UGB, WITU, iLab Africa, Kumasi Hive, Maker Space Foundation, Buni Hive, Hive Colab among others. In Uganda, WAZIHUB is implemented by both Hive Colab and WITU HUB.

Hardly two months after Pulse was launched, MTN Uganda is still giving more and more
benefits to current users of the newest and freshest community platform in town.
MTN Uganda has today partnered with SafeBoda on the MTN Pulse platform to provide
a unique travelling lifestyle to the youthful and outgoing Pulsers.

Under the partnership, SafeBoda will provide free rides worth UGX 5,000 that will be
given out to MTN Pulsers every month based on MTN Pulse bundles that they activate.
In addition, MTN Pulsers will be able to access the SafeBoda application at no cost with
the URL being zero rated as part of this partnership.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership Hellen Kirungi, Youth Segment Manager of
MTN Uganda, said that customers will be required to buy as many MTN Pulse bundles as
possible to stand a chance to win the SafeBoda credit worth UGX 5,000. This UGX 5,000
credit voucher code will be redeemed by dialling *157*4#

In addition, she highlighted the reasons for partnering with SafeBoda:
“Our MTN Pulsers are always on the move as they go on about their hustles, visiting
friends and relatives and partying in different parts of the city. SafeBoda is the safest,
fastest and most affordable way to get around Kampala. What’s better, they can also
load SafeBoda credit and pay for the service using MTN Mobile Money. With cashless
trips the SafeBoda experience is even more convenient for users.

MTN Pulse is a community platform that targets the youthful population in Uganda,
giving them the power to be themselves, unleash their full potential and live life with No
Fear.

“We are aware that our MTN Pulsers move a lot on boda bodas but do so with a lot of
fear. With this partnership we look forward to MTN Pulsers using a safe means of
transport to move with no fear. There is no fear in terms of safety since they can use
helmets when riding and no fear of spending a lot on transport money as the service is
affordable”, said Hellen Kirungi.

Brenda Nambatya, the Brand and Partnerships Manager for SafeBoda Uganda,
highlighted the safety that comes with using their services.
“In Uganda, the death toll from road accidents is increasing at a worrying rate, the
number of people killed in boda accidents more than doubled between 2011 and
2016. Our aim is therefore to constantly innovate to professionalize transportation and
ensure safe access to mobility especially for the youth.”

SafeBoda has successfully leveraged their competitive advantage by building a
known, quality brand and by offering a great product, allowing customers to
electronically hail a trained boda boda rider and to travel with a helmet.

This is a Press Release from SafeBoda

On 23rd and 24th May, the Blockchain Association of Uganda with support from the Government of Uganda will host the Africa Blockchain Conference at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The conference, which will be held under the theme “The role of Blockchain Technology in Africa’s transformation” is scheduled to host policymakers, leaders in Industry, academia, youth, entrepreneurs and blockchain enthusiasts.

Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger platform that allows creation and management of decentralized systems and processes, which enhance efficiency and transparency of transactions across institutional or business operations. Blockchain
Technology, also described as the ‘technology of trust’ is disrupting and redefining traditional governance and business models across the world from the way information is
created, managed and shared to the way products and services are delivered.

While addressing the journalists at the Association offices at the Nakawa Business Park,
the Chairman of the Blockchain Association of Uganda, Kwame Rugunda, said he concurs
with the recent remarks made by President Yoweri Museveni regarding the need to
change Africa’s lag in innovation. While addressing delegates at the World Customs
Organization Conference in March 2018, President Museveni told delegates that Africa
had largely missed out on the industrial revolution, with the exception of the Iron Age
and stressed that Africa was now entering the digital revolution and that “Africa will not
miss out again!”

While reiterating these same remarks, Kwame Rugunda, explained that Africa is at the
right time to adopt this technology. “We have already seen glimpses into how it is
disrupting traditional models in areas such as finance, procurement, insurance, health,
identity management, contracts, governance, to mention but a few. Now is the right time
to engage with this novel technology, because each wave of technology presents
a profound opportunity, particularly for the early adopters,” he said.

The Africa Blockchain Conference is aimed at spurring engagement from both the public
and private sectors, by sharing understanding as to how it can be adopted and the
impact.

“The conference will focus on how we can build a blockchain eco-system and position
ourselves to be part of global discussions. “Some of the immediate benefits of using
blockchain include enhanced efficiencies with greater transparency and accountability in
our business and governance systems which are key factors in enabling Uganda become
an investment destination, and catapulting our economic growth” Rugunda noted.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Vincent Bagiire
affirmed that the government is keen about embracing technology innovations. “We
are actively engaged in the discussions on blockchain and have collaborated with
different stakeholders to ensure we have the right information to advance our agenda
as government,” he noted. He added that the government recognizes the growing
trends in the technology sector and is positioning itself to be at the forefront so as to
take advantage of these opportunities.”

In attendance was also Stanbic Bank IT Manager Pius Okullo, who emphasized the need
for banks to adopt the growing form of technology that is Blockchain. Stanbic Bank is
also a partner of the upcoming African Blockchain Conference. In his remarks, Mr
Okullo noted; “It is a fast-growing form of technology and we are glad to be part of the
conference. There has been a great form of adoption and we would love to re-echo is
bitcoin only is not Blockchain, the technology is a whole lot bigger and interesting”
The Africa Blockchain Conference will showcase different but relevant use cases in
different sectors to demonstrate the value and importance of blockchain technology. The
conference will feature key global blockchain stakeholders who will be building a case for
the adoption of blockchain technology in Uganda and in Africa.

Steven Kirenga the Marketing and Communications Manager, National Information
Technology Authority further confirmed as a partner of the conference. In his remarks, Mr
Kirenga briefly explained what their role will be and what they bring to the table. “ We
are very grateful to partner with the Blockchain Association of Uganda and looking
forward to integrating the Blockchain technology that many don’t understand. We hope
when the conference is done, many will understand what Blockchain really is.”

The conference speakers and panellists will come from the host country Uganda, as well
as Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Europe, the United States and Asia. The topics of
the discussion will include governance, regulation and policy, cryptocurrencies and digital
assets, cybersecurity, innovation and technology, risk and investment opportunities
among others.

After rolling out a new version of Gmail, Google added a snooze function has been carried over to the web and is now making its way to the Gmail app on Android.

Snooze for Gmail works just like it does with Inbox. Simply tap snooze (in the overflow menu) when viewing an email, and you can pick a time for the email to ping your inbox again. It’s a way to remind yourself to deal with the email in question. Gmail has the same UI as Inbox with suggested snooze durations as well as the option to set a custom snooze.

If you have snooze available on mobile, it won’t have its own icon in the top bar the way it did in Inbox. Instead, you can access snooze by tapping the overflow icon in the top right corner when viewing an email.

Once snooze is selected, you can choose when you’d like the email to pop up at the top of your inbox, with options like “later today,” “tomorrow,” and “this weekend.” You can also choose a custom time and date if you wish. When using the new Gmail on web, snooze now appears in a hover menu over each message along with other actions like archive, delete, and mark as read.

Source: Android Police, The Verge

Early last month, Uganda Communication Commission on March 6th, 2018 published a notice signed by Engineer Godfrey Mutabazi, the Executive Director UCC, that online data communication platforms required “authorisation” from the commission and tasked all of them to apply for authorization before the end of April.

UCC emphasized that any content, whether by way of audio, video, visual, sound, still or moving pictures or a combination was a form of communication service that is subject to the regulatory control of the Commission.

In that regard, UCC asked every electronic Media news provider to apply and obtain authorization from the commission. In a leaked email dated April 19th, 2017, It was learnt that of the many e-media news outlets, only 14 had applied for the licences with only Nile Post Uganda Ltd and China Haijiang Online Africa Ltd had been fully authorised while the other 12 had their applications being processed.

An excerpt of the letter stated;

This is to confirm that the following providers have applied for and the commision is considering their applications for authorisation to provide Online Data Communications Services in Uganda;

In the wake of last week, UCC sent out a communication to all Internet service providers (ISPs) directing them to suspend the provision of carriage services to any Online Data communication service provider online/Electronic Media News provider) that is not listed above and/or had not presented an authorization certificate or other express clearance from the Uganda Communications Commission.

Apparently, the letter brings to book that every company that shall not have a license shall be switched off by UCC with the help of Internet Service providers who are the telecoms in this case.  

When the Ugandan government proposed a social media tax come July 2018, one of the reasons highlighted was that it was to promote online platforms that have been developed by Ugandans. We could not agree more that Ugandan technological talent has to be showcased out there and in the spirit of promoting Ugandan creatives, we introduce the SOO (Sigma Omega Omega) app.

Developed by Candia Alex and Mawa Fred, the app is meant to help users find and offer products and services easily. It comes with bug fixes and maps to give location access to the trader. In its latest version, 1.0.8, the SoO app comes with a mini-google maps feature that provides a directory to the nearest church, embassy or even kafunda to a user.

The Sigma Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. app was created to help build a closer-knit community among members: you can join conversations, share photos, learn about events, and find contact info for all members.

What gives SOO an edge over similar platforms like OLX and JUMIA UG, is the fact that in addition to products, a range of services such as legal, engineering and construction to mention but a few can be traded. The app gives the user the choice to trade as an individual or company and to reach a service provider by phone, email or even location. SOO is easy to use and navigate with all the important features on the same page yet not congested.

If you have services to offer, this is the app for you. Under the gigs tab is an array of services needed by other users where one can land themselves a juicy gig. The application process is not as complicated as Freelancer’s or Up-Work’s, I must add. Following the recent Facebook scandal, a lot of users are worried about data privacy which SoO guarantees.

A missing feature that would make the app better is an embedded pay system, like Freelancer, uses PayPal. With that, a user will not have to worry about bulky cash transactions or go through the bother of transferring funds between mobile money and bank accounts. The future is cashless, no?

SoO comes free of charge for the Android user, we are yet to receive an update on SoO for iOS or whether the app will come at a cost in the future. The app definitely has a future on the Ugandan tech scene but for now, I’d give it app a 5/10. If you are for Buy Uganda Build Uganda, I’d advise you to add this app to your collection.

For many, the first feature they would look out on a phone is a camera right after storage capacity. I’m speaking pixel size, camera aperture and image stabilization. Now since the Huawei P8, Huawei Technologies has not disappointed its users with its camera specs. The Huawei P9 was one of the first cameras ever made with a dual camera system. With every phone, comes a better camera and now, Huawei might as well redefine the history of phone photography with its latest invention.

Meet the Huawei P20 Pro, expected to be released this April with all the phone specs you would kill for. History is being made with the first ever triple camera on a phone coming with this batch. Huawei is no-doubt snatching the phone camera championships from Apple and Samsung’s hands with this one.

The Huawei P20 Pro features the world’s first Leica Triple Camera promising 3x optical zoom, phase detection, LED flash and laser autofocus. The primary triple camera system is a collection of a 40MP RGB, 20MP monochrome and 8MP telephoto lens offering an unparalleled advanced camera system with artistic vision. Imagine all your desired sharpness, color accuracy, focus and contrast in one phone! And that is just the primary camera. The secondary camera on its own is a 24MP lens guaranteeing stunning selfies by day or night.

More than ever, low-light performance for any smartphone camera is a desired feature and nothing was left to chance with the Huawei P20 Pro. The camera boasts of a Night-Mode feature where the camera shutter will open for up to six seconds to take clear and sharp multiple shots in low-light. Not forgetting the 5X Hybrid Zoom that the camera is set to achieve along with geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama and HDR features. Forget struggling to capture moving actions, with its AI image stabilization, the phone promises instant blur-free capturing of fleeting moments.

There is so much to anticipate about a phone with four cameras and we could go on and on, but this is the part where you agree that this could be the greatest phone camera 2018 will see. Intelligent phone photography just got redefined

Ever since the Uganda Communication Commissions called off the registration and replacement process of new and lost sim cards in the country about 2 months ago in an attempt to curb down violence and protect the public against misuse of identity in crime related scenarios, everyone has patiently waited when the process will loosen up so they can get back their sim cards and favourite numbers back on air.

Well, the good news is MTN Uganda being one of the leading telecom companies in the country has today announced the replacement of sim cards in selected few MTN service centers within the country. This comes after the officials from NIRA and UCC have provided the company with the necessary equipments to help verify the ownership of the sim card intimes of replacement and purchase.

To get your SIM Card replaced, you need to present an original national ID for Ugandans and a Passport for foreigners accompanied by a letter from Police stating the lost of your SIM card at any of the following center.

Kampala

Shoprite-Clocktower along Ben Kiwanuka street, Shoprite-Lugogo Mall, Forest Mall, Mukwano Mall, Kyaggwe Road and Kampala Road, Opposite Bank of Uganda.

Mbarara

Plot 5, High Street.

Fort Portal

Opposite Mpanga Market

Jinja

Casino building, Lubas Road.

Gulu

Plot 15, Nehru Road.

Arua

Oradea Complex, Adumi Road

Masindi

Plot 28, Port Road, Opposite Post Office

MTN Uganda’s much loved Gaga Wednesdays that was meant to end last week has been given yet another extension.

Following an exclusive article we published last week about the ending of the campaign, MTN has decided to extend the much loved offer, a close source intimated to this website.

The primary aim for its inception was to increase app downloads of the My MTN app that have since shot from 50,000 to over 100,000 downloads. Gaga Wednesdays was extended two times and this will be the third extension.

It has not yet been noted up to when the offer will be running but what is for sure is that Gaga Wednesdays is back and might be here for quite a while.

Gaga Wednesdays is a weekly data offer at slashed prices where MTN customers get to buy upto 4GBs of internet for as low as UGX 2500. ​To access the offer, download the MyMTN app from your app store. This offer is available every Wednesday and is valid for 24 hours ( from the time the offer is activated)