Airtel Uganda announces new calling rates

Airtel Uganda has announced its new harmonized calling rates to all African destinations, cutting costs for Ugandans who communicate with family, friends and business associates across the continent. 24 May 2012 14:03

HTT awarded 'Africa Loans Deal of the Year' by The Banker

Helios Towers Tanzania (HTT), a subsidiary of Helios Towers Africa (HTA) and reportedly the first tower company in Tanzania, has been awarded 'Africa Loans Deal of the Year' by The Banker magazine. The award follows the completion in December 2011 of HTT's US$85 million equivalent deal. 3 May 2012 14:03

Retail outlet opens multimedia store

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] Kenyan retail outlet Nakumatt Holdings is opening a multimedia store that will be branded as Planet Media and is reportedly valued at KSh 25 million (USD 312 000). The store will feature Kenya's largest selection of books, toys and entertainment mediums including music and movie CD's and DVD's alongside a fully fledged interactive gaming section. 2 May 2012 10:21

2012 African Banker Awards shortlist announced

The African Banker Awards has released the shortlist of nominees for the 2012 competition. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 30 May 2012, which makes its debut in Africa. This year's event coincides with the annual African Development Bank (AfDB) meetings in Arusha, Tanzania 24 Apr 2012 16:14

Visa appoints PocketMedia Solutions

Visa recently appointed PocketMedia Solutions' Z-Card to communicate important information about its Visa Debit Card in Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. 23 Apr 2012 11:11

Carlson Rezidor strengthens African presence

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has just entered its 68th and 69th territories with new properties respectively in the Republic of Guinea and Gabon following on from the opening of a property in Ethiopia in January this year. 16 Apr 2012 11:44

Report finds improved business regulations for East African SMEs

A new International Finance Corporation and World Bank report shows that the business environment for entrepreneurs in all five economies of the East African Community (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda) improved in 2010-2011, as the countries implemented critical regulatory reforms. 12 Apr 2012 11:07

Mobile money transfer service launches in Uganda

The Western Union Company and MTN Group yesterday, 29 March 2012, announced the launch of a mobile money transfer service in Uganda, allowing MTN customers to send and receive money across borders using just their mobile phones for the first time. 29 Mar 2012 10:14

AfDB's 2012 annual meeting takes place in Tanzania

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) will hold its annual meetings, themed 'Africa and the emerging global landscape: challenges and opportunities' in Arusha, Tanzania, from 28 May to 1 June 2012. 14 Mar 2012 12:22

The pain of being a printer in Kenya

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] Anyone reading the Kenyan dailies would think the country will be holding an election in the next few weeks. Although a date for an election has not been fixed, political campaigns are already in top gear as people jostle for the increased political seats created by the new constitution. One of the main beneficiaries on an election are usually the printers. Unlike previous years where they would expect to be laughing all the way to the bank, this year, they could be crying as they run away from banks - literally. 24 Feb 2012 09:53

Airtel Money launches in Uganda

Airtel Uganda yesterday launched its mobile money platform named Airtel Money. The service provides consumers with convenient access to affordable and innovative financial services through their mobile phones. 1 Feb 2012 10:11

Cross-border telephone remittances increase in Africa

[Anna McGovern] More people in Africa's poorest countries have mobile phones than have bank accounts. That reality is spurring mobile service companies to explore how they can capture a share of the potential banking market by enabling migrants from these countries to transfer funds back home to their families. 24 Jan 2012 11:28

The mind of a Kenyan shopper

[Carole Kimutai: @CaroleKimutai] It is that time of the year - the season of promotions, raffles, freebies and sales. But marketers in Kenya have to work twice as hard because of high inflation that has seen the cost of living go up. Basic commodity prices have almost doubled in the last 12 months and consumers have been forced to dig deeper into their pockets and make tough choices when it comes to purchases. 12 Dec 2011 16:00

L'Oréal opens new subsidiary in Kenya

At an inauguration ceremony held last week, L'Oréal opened its new subsidiary in Kenya, which will be the hub for expanding the group's activities in East Africa, a region which also includes Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The group's subsidiary in Nigeria opened in September. 12 Dec 2011 12:13