tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79604771854868996212024-03-04T12:23:00.637-08:00Damali SsaliDamali Ssali is a Ugandan Trade Development Expert with over 15 years in senior management. She holds an MBA from France's Grenoble Ecole de Management.
She is also a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, an Associate of the Institute of Public Private Partnerships and a member of The Africa List.
Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-68140150587114413762020-11-02T23:20:00.002-08:002020-11-02T23:20:30.297-08:00Ian Rumanyika is taking PR Masterclass to the Masses through his Node Group. Ideation Corner Ep16.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b6cX2KTpZVc" width="320" youtube-src-id="b6cX2KTpZVc"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On this episode of the Ideation Corner, I hosted Ian
Muhimbise Rumanyika. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ian is a seasoned communications and marketing specialist
with experience spanning over a period of twelve years, in public relations and
marketing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Away from the academics, Ian is also the Managing Director
of Node Group. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Node Group is a consultancy firm that focuses on digital
media management, public relations management, research, strategy development
and training. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-84422457880852012952020-11-02T23:17:00.001-08:002020-11-02T23:17:59.729-08:00Tony Otoa demystifies Stanbic Business Incubation, Oil and Gas: Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Ep 15.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HEI6jWZhRbU" width="320" youtube-src-id="HEI6jWZhRbU"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On the 15th episode of the Ideation Corner, I host Tony Okao
Otoa.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tony is the Executive Director of the Stanbic Business
Incubator. The Stanbic Incubator is mandated to support the development of
small and medium sized enterprises in Uganda</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In his role at the Stanbic Incubator, Tony designs
strategies, manages and implements activities to support entrepreneurs in an
incubator setting.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prior to this, Tony worked with Total as both the National
Content Manager as well as the Public Affairs Manager.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also, Tony has worked in civil society both in the United
Kingdom and Uganda, focusing on the oil and gas sector in the East African
Region. <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-74190512561605071562020-10-17T22:38:00.002-07:002020-10-17T22:39:37.386-07:00Innocent Kawooya and his Kampala Mayoral Candidacy<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmshkHn5J3Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="rmshkHn5J3Q"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Innocent Kawooya is a nominated aspirant for Kampala Lord
Mayor position 2021 to 2026. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hosted him on the 14th episode of the Ideation Corner to
hear his plan for transforming Kampala. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the Ideation Corner is a non-partisan platform, Innocent Kawooya made
it here because he was our first guest for the Ideation Corner as seen here.<o:p></o:p></p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvv2YT8voT8 <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-34619739634320308972020-10-17T22:35:00.001-07:002020-10-17T22:35:25.988-07:00Patricia Atim explains how Kanzu Code developed the Women in FinTech Hackathon winning Product.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rt46FzZZzYk" width="320" youtube-src-id="rt46FzZZzYk"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Kanzu Code Ladies won the first of its kind Women in FinTech
Hackathon held in Kampala between 12th to 17th September. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In this episode, I talked to Patricia Atim, the team leader
of Kanzu Code Ladies at the sidelines of the Women in FinTech summit held on
18th September, 2020. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She explains how they managed to develop this B2B product
and what they believe it can do.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-9615134527602787412020-10-17T22:33:00.002-07:002020-10-17T22:33:31.495-07:00Damali Ssali delivers keynote speech at 2020 Women in FinTech Summit<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q2A58T_OTlI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q2A58T_OTlI"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I delivered the keynote address at the 2020 Women in FinTech
summit. My topic of discussion was Financial Technology - the case of Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Women in FinTech summit was a culmination of the week
long Women in FinTech Hackathon that attracted over fifty (50) participants and
had fifteen (15) women led teams. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Women in Fintech Hackathon was organised by HiPipo under
its Include Everyone Programme in partnership with ID8, Crosslake Tech,
Modusbox, Mojaloop Foundation and Level One Project.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-28766592642524924572020-10-17T22:31:00.002-07:002020-10-17T22:31:48.181-07:00Damali Ssali discusses Funds Sourcing and Financial Management with Young Developers.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwI5htiFdUo" width="320" youtube-src-id="iwI5htiFdUo"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Women in FinTech Hackathon and Summit Mentorship session by
Damali Ssali. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Damali Ssali, FCCA, MBA is a Ugandan Afro-optimist with a
natural interest in business, innovation, entrepreneurship, and women
empowerment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the producer and
host of the weekly Ideation Corner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Women in Fintech Hackathon attracted over fifty (50)
participants and had fifteen (15) women led teams.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Women in Fintech Hackathon was organised by HiPipo under
its Include Everyone Programme in partnership with ID8, Crosslake Tech,
Modusbox, Mojaloop Foundation and Level One Project.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-18496314877181570582020-10-17T22:29:00.001-07:002020-10-17T22:29:31.681-07:00Laura Nakigozi demystifies Poultry Farming. Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Episode 12.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZ2bRRlmFLI" width="320" youtube-src-id="xZ2bRRlmFLI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Laura Nakigozi is a 27-year-old founder and CEO of
Cloverdale Farm, located in Kitemu, along Masaka Road. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Laura ventured into poultry farming in 2017 with 50 birds,
and has since then expanded to current 22,000 birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through her farm, Laura, is also providing training to her
fellow youth who want to start a poultry farming but have limited capital and
limited space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She trains them on how to use low-cost high-quality bamboo cages
to start poultry farming.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through this training program she aims to positively impact
on the lives of young people through the creation of jobs and employment.<o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-36728022492774292692020-09-22T04:48:00.003-07:002020-09-22T04:48:23.090-07:00Paula Mugisa is transforming SMEs through Teesa Advisory Services.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PKyLcrw_1RU" width="320" youtube-src-id="PKyLcrw_1RU"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Paula
Mugisa is a Business Development Consultant,
Founder and Team Lead at Teesa Advisory Services.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Teesa is a
non-traditional management consultancy firm for micro, small, and medium sized
enterprises in Uganda.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Through her
company, Paula has over the last 10 years, helped set up and grow several
businesses in Uganda.</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">She
partners with businesses to, strategize, plan, and implement business
activities to and catapult business growth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-28609098044723039612020-09-15T06:42:00.002-07:002020-09-15T06:42:48.758-07:00Gerald Katabazi is changing the brewing culture through Volcano Coffee. Damali Ssali Ideation Corner<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gmbUZ3wC_6I" width="320" youtube-src-id="gmbUZ3wC_6I"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Gerald
Katabazi is the founder and CEO of Volcano Coffee; a Ugandan specialty coffee
cafe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Gerald is
very interested in changing the brewing behavior and the coffee roasting
culture in Uganda.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He is also
passionate about developing the skills of ghetto kids, in urban and rural
areas, so that they can gainfully participate in the coffee value chain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-57381592153190645132020-09-15T06:40:00.002-07:002020-09-15T06:40:28.780-07:00Charlyn, CEO of Kentaro Handmade Organics, discusses skin & hair food. Damali Ssali Ideation Corner.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D2RpEC2y5AQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="D2RpEC2y5AQ"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Charlyn
Kentaro Otim is a young Ugandan entrepreneur who is very passionate about
natural hair. She founded the Kentaro Handmade Organics while she was still
working full-time in legal research. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kentaro
today, is an award-winning maker of organic handmade products which are free of
chemicals. These products range from shampoos, hair treatment, moisturizing
creams and oils. She uses local Ugandan ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea
butter, avocado, cow ghee, hibiscus and mujaaja extracts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Charlyn,
with her Kentaro Homemade Organics, has received international recognition from
CNN, All Africa, and She Leads Africa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-12423579886973397652020-09-15T06:39:00.000-07:002020-09-15T06:39:05.536-07:00Aggrey Mugisha, CEO of YOTV Channels, explains mobile pay TV and local content.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uauKEEpuugU" width="320" youtube-src-id="uauKEEpuugU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Aggrey
Mugisha is the Chief Executive Officer of YOTV Channels; a Ugandan mobile and
web solution that aggregates local media content.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With over
50 local channels, YOTV allows you to access this content directly through any
mobile device such as a smart phone, a tablet, or a laptop. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With your
mobile device, you will access local TV stations, radio stations, videos on
demand and movies. Currently YOTV is delivering local media content to over
150,000 customers across the country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-8452534845667878762020-08-26T00:42:00.001-07:002020-08-26T00:42:39.091-07:00John Mark Ssebunnya discusses the evolution of Africa's FinTech Sector: Damali Ssali Ideation Corner. <p>On this week's episode of the #IdeationCorner is John Mark
Ssebunnya, a Fintech Platforms Architect.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He breaks down the role of #Fintechs in financial and
digital inclusion across Africa as well as the impact they have on the
attainment of the #SDGs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eqm9myDiL1E" width="320" youtube-src-id="eqm9myDiL1E"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-26364701129453215122020-08-24T09:48:00.005-07:002020-08-24T09:49:14.752-07:00JUMO's Wewole is enhancing last mile Financial Inclusion - Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Episode 6.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RCzgDYc5qE0" width="320" youtube-src-id="RCzgDYc5qE0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><h1 class="title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); border: 0px; color: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-color, var(--yt-spec-text-primary)); font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-font-size, var(--yt-navbar-title-font-size, inherit)); font-weight: 400; line-height: var(--yt-navbar-title-line-height, 2.4rem); margin: 0px; max-height: calc(2 * var(--yt-navbar-title-line-height, 2.4rem)); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-shadow: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-text-shadow, none); transform: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-transform, none);"><span style="color: #030303; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this episode, I interacted with Wendy Nanfo, the Country Operations Coordinator for JUMO - a financial technology company that created the famous WEWOLE product, available on Airtel Uganda. </span></h1><div><yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" force-default-style="" style="word-break: break-word;"><span face="" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
JUMO partners with other companies to offer savings, lending, and insurance products to entrepreneurs in emerging economies such as Uganda. Their products can be accessed by anyone with a mobile phone.
Since launching in 2015, JUMO has served over 16 million customers across Africa and Asia. In Africa, they are in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana; and in Asia, they based on Pakistan.</span></yt-formatted-string></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-10625751500097078292020-08-11T08:19:00.000-07:002020-08-11T08:19:02.074-07:00PALIT is using Organic Ugandan Wood to Make Custom Furniture : Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Episode5<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LBBg5cL8vCw" width="320" youtube-src-id="LBBg5cL8vCw"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sharon Tumusiime is the co-founder of PALIT, a carpentry workshop that makes creative woodwork and furniture.
PALIT makes furniture from Ugandan natural wood for homes, offices and for special projects.
In this episode, she breaks down what it takes to thrive in the carpentry sector.</span></p>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-57377601156596043442020-08-04T07:57:00.003-07:002020-08-04T07:57:52.174-07:00BUSINESS UPDATE: How COVID-19 has threatened regional trade gains. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HDuu32zmjpo" width="320" youtube-src-id="HDuu32zmjpo"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was hosted on Morning at NTV to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on regional trade. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well as COVID-19 has disrupted trade, all is not lost. We must embrace the new normal and work together to enhance trade. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-33320436359128625732020-08-04T07:51:00.001-07:002020-08-04T07:51:14.252-07:00#IncludeEveryOne Summit : Damali Ssali speaks about Financial Inclusion for Informal Traders.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SkK_o5tq3nQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="SkK_o5tq3nQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Include
Everyone program is a collection of related financial inclusion outreach
projects including hackathon, expo, summit, awards and research. The projects
are managed in a synchronized way to obtain maximum benefits of ensuring
impactful engagement<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of financial
inclusion stakeholders to effectively promote approaches that will enable
financial inclusion for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The 2019
Include EveryOne Summit was held on 20th September at Mestil Hotel, Kampala. It
was attended by over 300 digital and financial leaders from across Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-14315660575246982692020-08-04T07:45:00.001-07:002020-08-04T07:45:30.351-07:00The Innovation Village is redefining the entrepreneurship ecosystem-Damali Ssali #IdeationCorner Ep4<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ro0W9uwn8NY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ro0W9uwn8NY"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Innovation
is the foundation block of any successful enterprise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In this
episode, I sat down with CK Japheth, the founder and CEO of the Innovation
Village. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
Innovation Village is Uganda’s launchpad for leading innovators and
entrepreneurs co-creating the future through the smart application of
technology. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Watch and
share widely. <o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-7446292486891688242020-08-04T07:42:00.003-07:002020-08-04T07:42:34.439-07:00Golola Moses talks about his Academy and Nurturing Talent - Damali Ssali #IdeationCorner Episode 3.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9O1pnVzjrU0" width="320" youtube-src-id="9O1pnVzjrU0"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golola Moses is a man of many hats - sports champion, movie star, self-made celebrity and NOT a joking subject.
In this episode, he gives an update on his talent academy, and shares insights on grooming successful sports personalities.
Enjoy! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-86090152927560646502020-08-04T07:38:00.003-07:002020-08-04T07:40:22.776-07:00Mindset Coders is introducing coding to teenagers - Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Episode 2<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kQJOzbRCBQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="7kQJOzbRCBQ"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Technology
is taking the lead in global development. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In this
episode, Valentine Masicha tells us how her organisation - Mindset Coders, is
preparing kids and teens for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Enjoy and
share any feedback. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-48424093177196549062020-08-04T07:36:00.000-07:002020-08-04T07:36:01.905-07:00FinTechs enhancing Financial Inclusion: Damali Ssali Ideation Corner Episode 1<br /><div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yvv2YT8voT8" width="320" youtube-src-id="yvv2YT8voT8"></iframe></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Welcome to
the first episode of the Ideation Corner where I host expert personalities who
have conceptualised ideas, developed ideas and implemented ideas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In this
episode, I hosted Innocent Kawooya the co-founder and CEO of HiPipo. Enjoy and
I look forward to your feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-31462924750228362912020-08-04T07:27:00.006-07:002020-08-04T07:30:37.871-07:00Speech by Damali Ssali at 2020 URA Women's Day Conference<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4x-dMfBNDFw" width="320" youtube-src-id="4x-dMfBNDFw"></iframe></div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The 3rd Annual URA Women’s Conference 2020 was held on 04/03/2020 at</span></div></span><div><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #030303; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hotel Africana, attracting over 1000 Women in Trade and Business from allover
Uganda. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It was organized by URA in partnership with Kampala City Traders
Association (KACITA) Women's League. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I delivered a speech on what Women in Trade must do to be competitive
not only in Uganda but also East Africa and the rest of the world. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Enjoy and remember to leave a comment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</span></div>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-84959596859202250632020-08-04T07:16:00.003-07:002020-08-04T07:19:18.114-07:00Prioritising Fintech should be our key lesson from Covid-19 crisis<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvLmQ1S5ECv8mviMUmtpAVFLXm7FKVsC9jDh9UEPWzDlVmJPVNoVe7YRn4Nf5WEa1wTbcOKjTZL8GjkwbbcZXj9mUBz2ZNU4RlH1u5Po0-ktKnQZv4a83diZPy3mRkU0DhJ9UUyi69qo/s1600/SSF_0025+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwvLmQ1S5ECv8mviMUmtpAVFLXm7FKVsC9jDh9UEPWzDlVmJPVNoVe7YRn4Nf5WEa1wTbcOKjTZL8GjkwbbcZXj9mUBz2ZNU4RlH1u5Po0-ktKnQZv4a83diZPy3mRkU0DhJ9UUyi69qo/w512-h342/SSF_0025+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
COVID19 pandemic is literally changing the way we live our daily lives. Several
countries have imposed stringent lockdown measures as ways of combating the
dreaded disease. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These
Stay at Home restrictions have resulted into the slowing down of the social and
economic life, with most activities coming to a near standstill and haunting
images of empty streets from Lagos to Kampala, to Cape Town to Addis Ababa
becoming part of the ‘new normal’. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Unlike
other global crises, such as the 2008 financial crisis, or the 2014 commodities
crisis, which put stress on capital markets and the macro and formal economies,
the COVID19 pandemic has impacted both the formal and informal economies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">These
lockdowns and curfews have had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable
people of our societies; particularly the women and the urban poor, who are
mostly engaged in informal activities with a daily income, and do not have the
luxury of working from home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Majority
of the daily income earners, as well as micro and small entrepreneurs will not
be able to meet their loans obligations because their sources of income have
literally dried up due to the lockdowns. Also, the collection of microfinance loans,
which usually happens on a cash basis during weekly groups’ meetings, has come
to a halt as authorities have put in place strong social distancing guidelines.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Most
of these people have not only lost their livelihoods, in this COVID19 lockdown,
but have also lost the capital that they had for their informal activities.
Such capital normally ranges from between USD30 to USD100. Therefore, because
of this pandemic, a large section of the population is likely to fall further
into poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The silver lining is that if there ever was a time for FinTech to
innovatively save the poor, it is now. </span><span style="color: #372f32; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">FinTech
refers to the integration of technology to develop financial services with
limited operational costs and with the capacity to bridge the financial
inclusion gap. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
tenets of financial inclusion strive to remove the barriers that exclude the poorest
of the poor from participating in financial activities. Therefore, FinTech can
also help mitigate the economic cost of lockdowns and avoid irreversible damage
to the social economic fabric of our societies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The World Bank notes
that financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access
to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs,
including transactions, payments, savings, credit, and insurance, delivered
responsibly and sustainably<i>. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The access to a transaction
account is the first step towards financial inclusion because it allows the
most vulnerable, including women and people with disabilities (PWDs), in
society to save money, send and receive payments.<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Therefore,
it is the low cost fintech solutions that hold the key to reaching out to the
over 1.7billion people worldwide who are still excluded from formal financial
services. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">FinTech
solutions can be developed to serve the most vulnerable individuals in society
through salient features such as mobile money wallet to wallet, products and
services payments, saving and credit facilities plus cross border remittances
among others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So far,
the mobile money developments seem to be the most utilised feature of FinTech worldwide.
According to Statista Data, the global mobile money payment market had surpassed
USD1trilion by the end of 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
wide embrace of FinTech across the African continent is significant and various
reports indicate that mobile money has been one of the most revolutionary
technologies launched in Africa in recent years</span><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It
is a fact that digital financial services are the leading drivers of financial
inclusion for the unbanked in Africa. As of 2018, Nigeria had
approximately </span><a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/501044/number-of-mobile-cellular-subscriptions-in-nigeria/"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">172million phone
subscribers</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, which provided
over 90 percent of its citizen’s access to digital transactions on mobile
phones. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Also, </span><a href="http://v/"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">in
Uganda</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, the 2018 FINSCOPE report indicated a 78
percent (14million people) surge in the country’s financial inclusion rate
majorly supported by mobile money services. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Indeed, a lot of progress has been made towards
financial inclusion, and 1.2billion adults worldwide have got access to an
account since 2011. However, according to data from Findex 1.7billion people
are still unbanked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Therefore, despite the commendable strides made
by fintech, a wide gap remains for women, PWDs, rural populations, as well as
the young and urban poor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Women are particularly disadvantaged because of
the digital gender divide. A recent study, conducted in 86 percent of
low-income countries, found that more men own mobile phones than women. The
study also found that 58 percent of these same countries have a gender gap of
more than 5 percent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unfortunately, this gender gap prevents women
from fully and gainfully participating in the economic activities. The fact is
that even when women own a mobile phone, which can enable them to access FinTech
services, they are generally less likely than men to connect to the internet.
This detrimentally curtails the transformational impact that fintech can
provide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Based
on the foregoing, financial inclusion will only be attained if FinTech operators
focus their services and developments to solutions that can help women, PWDs, the
low-income earners, the urban poor, the unbanked, the underbanked, as well as
the small and medium-sized enterprises. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
Coronavirus crisis provides an opportunity for FinTech players to adapt and innovate
financial inclusion solutions that support the most vulnerable and limit the
long-term negative impact, as well as provide buffer against future similar
crises. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It
also gives the rest of us a chance to back and, where possible, present a case
for prioritizing FinTech as the silver bullet for acing the financial inclusion
challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By
prioritizing FinTech, we will have ensured that the most vulnerable people of
our societies do not only survive the COVID19 pandemic, but also, that they are
given a fair chance to thrive after the pandemic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><a href="https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Prioritising-Fintech-should-be-key-lesson-Covid-19-crisis/689364-5531432-kx8wx7z/index.html">https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Prioritising-Fintech-should-be-key-lesson-Covid-19-crisis/689364-5531432-kx8wx7z/index.html</a>Damali Ssalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07912577587827782881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-87054791166122135802020-04-06T22:05:00.001-07:002020-04-06T22:13:20.958-07:00While combating the COVID19 Pandemic, we should not create a Hungry Population<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfZq8VDT1zQ3MTqx2VFHeFVt7IB18RLnezcqXcCCEKpcZa6uzYKFerKCDxNVINA_oWjRYJ_8Gqc1_7n4F9wbhQyGBIzdwBml4PZbUDNrot5VSF-oBzWKUtgPgESJmXyS-Ca1UsC_Yqes/s1600/SSF_0025.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfZq8VDT1zQ3MTqx2VFHeFVt7IB18RLnezcqXcCCEKpcZa6uzYKFerKCDxNVINA_oWjRYJ_8Gqc1_7n4F9wbhQyGBIzdwBml4PZbUDNrot5VSF-oBzWKUtgPgESJmXyS-Ca1UsC_Yqes/s320/SSF_0025.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Damali Ssali</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Coronavirus pandemic
– COVID-19 has become a fully-fledged global economic crisis with governments now
issuing Level 4 – DO NOT TRAVEL advisories, instituting curfews, partial and full
lockdowns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These lockdowns that
started from Wuhan, China - the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak, are fast
turning in to the safest way of life with Italy, Spain, India, South Africa,
Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda among countries administering shutdown doses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The lockdowns mean that
factories and private companies cease most economic activities. Therefore,
disposal incomes for both people and companies is reduced in sectors of the
economy including the heath, manufacturing, retail, trade, transport, tourism,
entertainment, education and many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conservative estimates
indicate that the global economic aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic could last at
a minimum for one year. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) estimates annual global GDP growth is expected to drop to
2.4% in 2020, from an already weak 2.9% in 2019. World exports are forecast to
decline by more than 5% to US$1.28 trillion in 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Further, the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that the number of
container cargo ships from China, reduced by 30 percent, in January 2020 alone from
540 ships to 370 ships per day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A March 10, 2020
Baker-McKenzie report highlights that many African countries face a “twin
supply-demand shock,” due to a decrease in imports of manufacturing inputs and
supplies from China and reduced demand from exports in key sectors in various
export markets. Reports from the Uganda Ministry of Trade, Industry and
Cooperatives indicate that China is our leading import market, accounting for
at-least 16 per cent or US$5.5 billion of Uganda’s total imports bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The continued persistence
of the corona crisis will certainly curtail the sourcing of raw materials and
capital goods, such as machinery, for Uganda’s domestic manufacturing sector. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The European Union (EU) market,
which is also in various stages of lockdown, is a strategic market for Uganda’s
exports and imports. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYsjGd_ivVevPG9leLcAVrjOt41aeWYnnmg7RL-TFZoshk8e4VFUeFdeTHV8yfvcPD-UKTyQkl-FnKm9VWubd7ucZZXqrt3s-BdAMKLDVG4ZbD2njY0HFVmld7LrsUU4gqqUXD-LhZ3A/s1600/coffee22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="696" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYsjGd_ivVevPG9leLcAVrjOt41aeWYnnmg7RL-TFZoshk8e4VFUeFdeTHV8yfvcPD-UKTyQkl-FnKm9VWubd7ucZZXqrt3s-BdAMKLDVG4ZbD2njY0HFVmld7LrsUU4gqqUXD-LhZ3A/s320/coffee22.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uganda exported US$515 million
worth of goods, over the past three years, whilst it imports totalled to US$ 561
million over the same period. The main exports to the EU market have been
coffee, fish, flowers and hides and skins. Uganda mainly imports medical
equipment, pharmaceutical products, petroleum and oils from the EU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Generally, Africa is a
net importer of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, which are mainly
supplied by Europe and India. Studies from United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (UNECA) indicate that Africa imports over 94 percent, or on average
US$ 16 billion per annum, of its medical and pharmaceutical products. The
current government lockdown in Europe and India are likely to increase the risk
of drug shortages on the continent and specifically in Uganda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even more worrying for Africa
is the fact that </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">only 15
African countries are net exporters of food, with Uganda being one of them. If
the COVID-19 pandemic results in to an economic crisis lasting for over a year,
there will be serious food shortages in over 39 countries on the continent and
this may unfortunately fuel civil unrest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Huge blow to cross
border trade</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2019 alone, Uganda's formal exports to the Common Market
for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) amounted to US$ 1.23 billion. Whilst
total exports to East African Community (EAC) amounted to US$ 1.15 billion, out
of which US$ 537 million went to Kenya, US$ 409 million to South Sudan, US$ 95 million
to Tanzania, US$ 54 million to Rwanda, and US$ 51 million to Burundi. Exports
to the Democratic Republic of Congo were US$ 567 million.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TNzPhVgrcVijkJjfm2s-rQJxSOKQlWsMRXwhzCQWRLUX9brQFebn6mH07ZnJfBW4mFUpsl3TIcB-95XGO-NeJ3JAX9-ridm6djwyVIvvdq9x5pE1rDvo6gb97WWagSTY23Dc5WhnaSI/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TNzPhVgrcVijkJjfm2s-rQJxSOKQlWsMRXwhzCQWRLUX9brQFebn6mH07ZnJfBW4mFUpsl3TIcB-95XGO-NeJ3JAX9-ridm6djwyVIvvdq9x5pE1rDvo6gb97WWagSTY23Dc5WhnaSI/s320/IMG_0539.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The restriction of movement of people across borders,
due to new health protocols that must be adhered to is also going to greatly
impact Uganda’s trade volumes with neighbouring countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a result, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and
Economic Development (MoFPED) reported that Uganda’s growth projection for the
financial year ending June 2020 had been revised downwards from 6% to 5%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, imports are expected to decline by 44%
over the next four months to June 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In respect to the banking sector, the ministry reports
that non-performing loans may increase by 50% due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given that domestic taxes contribute over 70% of government revenue, this means
that the funds that will be available to government for public service are
going to be significantly reduced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reduction in global
travel, due to travel bans, will significantly affect the tourism industry. A report
from International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that 75% of the world
airlines have cash to cover 3 months of the fixed expenses and risk becoming
insolvent thereafter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">According to UNECA, in the
2008 global financial crisis, Africa’s tourism experienced losses of up to US$ 7.2
billion, which mostly impacted Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mauritius. The COVID-19
pandemic is likely to have a similar or even higher impact. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Crude oil prices have seen a
dramatic reduction of 32% from US$ 51 to US$34 per barrel in anticipation of
the global slowdown of economic activity. This poses a significant risk to the
development of Uganda’s oil sector, and most urgently, the final investment decision
for the oil pipeline as foreign direct investment is channelled to safe assets
such as gold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The MoFPED estimates that this
on-going COVID-19 pandemic will lead to an increase in the number of Ugandans
pushed below the poverty line by 780,000 in the best-case scenario or
2.5million, in the worst-case scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Way Forward</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Faced with unprecedented hard times, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the banter on the streets</b> is that we
should all condense our 2020 resolutions in to just one. You should all repeat
after me, our 2020 resolution is surviving. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From a trade and business
perspective, here is how we are going to stay alive. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is urgent need for coordination
of cross border trade between Uganda and its neighbouring countries. The EAC had
issued a joint communique on movement of people and goods with key guidelines
that should always be adhered to by all countries. Bi-lateral modalities on the
movement of goods and people in light of the COVID19 crisis should also be
worked out with DR Congo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The private sector should engage the government to
come up with mitigation measures against non-performing loans so that companies
do not become insolvent. This will ensure that risk of unemployment of large
numbers of Ugandans is limited as the private sector accounts for over 70% of
total employment. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOCs0QhyhCFGQMdgXqnPldQ6ZeR-hR1JYXStm0bo3uHWT6F7x2XwXitmC8mZG8QxSQ0XFQfjTbhsvTIEV8nSzCDp17adN-FwialtfI2v1GQUIx9nxzq8LnGskKZlhIV9OrKdSNGhyoJQ/s1600/eac+trade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOCs0QhyhCFGQMdgXqnPldQ6ZeR-hR1JYXStm0bo3uHWT6F7x2XwXitmC8mZG8QxSQ0XFQfjTbhsvTIEV8nSzCDp17adN-FwialtfI2v1GQUIx9nxzq8LnGskKZlhIV9OrKdSNGhyoJQ/s320/eac+trade.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The government working with telecoms, banks and other
financial service players should accelerate the implementation of a cashless
economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The government should conduct a risk assessment on the
critical medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that are imported mostly from
Europe and India. This should be in-terms of current stock levels and Uganda’s
capacity to produce the same in case of supply constraints over the next 6 months.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, the government should put measures in place
to ensure that the supply of basic food, across the whole country, is
guaranteed. A hungry population is an ungovernable population. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Damali Ssali is a Trade Development Expert at
TradeMark East Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="mailto:damali.ssali@trademarkea.com"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">damali.ssali@trademarkea.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<b>New Vision URL </b>- <a href="https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1517570/coronavirus-fight-create-hungry-population">https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1517570/coronavirus-fight-create-hungry-population</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Daily Monitor URL</b> - <a href="https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-economy-survive-COVID19-pandemic-Uganda-employment-Kenya-/689364-5515906-mdkjssz/index.html">https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-economy-survive-COVID19-pandemic-Uganda-employment-Kenya-/689364-5515906-mdkjssz/index.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-17521873261749616262020-03-09T12:55:00.000-07:002020-03-09T12:57:17.812-07:00Women in Trade should prioritize Standards, Collaborations and Proper Use of Technology. <br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCgB2F-rZ_cZFKq_rl5JRKkg5_5oAuMM0cfdfLZgBIl1Hh7eX_4M8f5y5u4e5ErrZSxwyq3DLJalBZ-QkDhyphenhyphenEdjE3XHlBa6yJI-uE0U10ciNyfvB56UrjGuKO3jZKFG_nWlqtkIr5obc/s1600/ura+women+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1080" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCgB2F-rZ_cZFKq_rl5JRKkg5_5oAuMM0cfdfLZgBIl1Hh7eX_4M8f5y5u4e5ErrZSxwyq3DLJalBZ-QkDhyphenhyphenEdjE3XHlBa6yJI-uE0U10ciNyfvB56UrjGuKO3jZKFG_nWlqtkIr5obc/s320/ura+women+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My dear friends, I am so happy to see you today as we
commemorate International Women’s Day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to thank URA Commissioner General Madam Doris Akol and
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) for organizing the 2020 Women in
Trade Conference. At this event, we are discussing how we can collaborate and
support each other to achieve Trade Prosperity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been invited here to share with you the new trade
opportunities, benefits and challenges for women in East Africa and the rest of
the World plus how best we can exploit these opportunities to our betterment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But before I give my submission, allow me tell you that
Uganda has the highest number of women entrepreneurs in the world, standing at
about 30 per cent across the country. This surely requires a huge round of
applause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Ugandan women, we
must celebrate each other for the great work we are doing. Even amidst a lot of
challenges that we continue to face, we must always remember that as women, we
are giving our country a great global rating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Further, different studies indicate that whenever a woman
gets money, she uses about 60 per cent of that money on feeding her children,
paying school fees, and improving her families in general. This means that
whenever a woman earns money; her family, community and entire country
benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is thus great to see the Government of Uganda through
Uganda Revenue Authority organizing such gatherings that pass on important
information to women in business and women in trade because women will develop
our Country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My presentation highlights three major elements that are
crucial if women are to prosper in Uganda, East Africa and the rest of the
World. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first issue is quality standards for products. The goods
that we intend to export must meet quality standards. The body charged with
standards here is Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). If you have any
product that you want to sell in Uganda, Kenya and the rest of the region, you
must make sure that this product has a UNBS certification. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The previous speakers have talked about collaborations. I
want to emphasize the same. We need to create associations, cooperatives and
SACCOs. For example, if you are a honey producer and you go alone to UNBS to
acquire a certification, you will pay about UGX 800,000. Yet if you go as a
group with a minimum of at least 20 members all dealing in Honey, UNBS will
charge you about UGX 350,000 not UGX 800,000 for the first year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even still, because you are one organized association of 20
women, you can collectively raise the money required for the certification.
With a UNBS certificate you are able to put your product on the shelves of
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan among others. And after July 2020, when
the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area kicks off, you
will be able to sell your products in supermarkets in places as far as
Nigeria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is very important that every value-added product is
certified. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must know what is required
to get that certification because if a product doesn’t have a standards certificate,
it will not be exported anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4x-dMfBNDFw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4x-dMfBNDFw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other issue is the simplified trade regime. Whenever you
are selling goods below UGX6 million (about USD2,000) across the border in East
African countries, you are not supposed to pay any taxes. But to be able to do
this, there is a certificate you need. The certificate or origin is online and
you must file it before you take the goods. For the case of Democratic Republic
of Congo, for goods below UGX 1.5 million (about USD500), you still don’t pay taxes.
But you must have downloaded and filled the certificate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All these relate to technology. Different speakers have noted
that if we are not using technology (internet, laptops and phones), we shall
continue to lag behind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Research studies indicate that only 15 per cent of women use technology
in their business or trade, compared to about 80 per cent men that use technology
in trade and business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a serious problem that makes women less competitive.
Everything you need to do is on the internet. You won’t be able to do international
business and trade without the Internet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the coming Africa Continental Free Trade Area, you can’t
single-handedly sell goods in Senegal, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania on the
same day. Yet you can be based here in Kampala and sell your goods to all those
countries using technology and e-commerce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need to make good use of ICTs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As women, we have children that we have educated. Some are in
their vacation and ask you to buy for them smart phones. Buying for them phones
is okay, but we should also make good use of these students when they are still
studying. Let them (students) teach you how to use technology for business and
trade. Tell them that you what to use internet to grow your business and let
them get you started by taking you through the different steps. Our children
are well equipped when it comes to ICTs and Internet because these are
innovations of their times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is very important that as women we use the internet to
grow our businesses. As women, we are lagging behind because we are not using
internet and ICTs in our businesses. Like you have been told by the earlier speakers,
trade and tax related information is freely available on URA web portal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But because you don’t use the internet, you end up going to a
broker who will not only charge you highly but also give you wrong information.
This is free information. If we can close this gap, we shall further grow our
businesses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other issue challenging us women in trade and business is
limited access to finance and capital. Most of us women don’t own land,
buildings or any other serious property that can be used as collateral to secure
loan facilities. As such, because we lack collateral, we end up not getting
loans required to boost our businesses, yet men have this collateral and easily
get credit facilities. I request you to continue working together in groups
because some financial services are comfortable when dealing with organized
associations not individuals. It will be easy for a group of 20 women dealing
in a similar product, with proper certification and booking keeping to get a
credit facility from a financial institution compared to an individual. Like I
said earlier, working together as women is a must. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As I conclude, allow me tell you that TradeMark East Africa –
the organisation that I work for, signed an agreement with URA to empower women
under the <i>URA Women Traders’ Facilitation Framework.</i> Among the key
issues that this program will address is certification, sensitization, training
on internet use and training on e-commerce among others. I strongly believe
that this project will help women traders a lot. It is my hope that KACITA will
also join URA and TradeMark East Africa on this journey of helping women grow
their businesses, earn more profits, transform their families, and further
develop Uganda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank YOU for listening to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NOTE: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the English translation of my
Luganda speech that I delivered at the 3<sup>rd</sup> Annual URA Women’s
Conference 2020 at Hotel Africanna on 04/03/2020</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7960477185486899621.post-44482369480881747362020-03-02T02:00:00.000-08:002020-03-02T02:00:14.708-08:00High Tariffs Not Good For The African Continental Free Trade Area.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumnnjLbOo16lugldj6MujoQPdJQzOrcPiM3xzBJbnVxaio-mX6iuPsf1yQpuDNE5aAjNmblBan7Kr8-lqHsVllvIaQYsMLuwJym6cu7Egi-v718N6gkUW7DNCqcN7khzgM5tTEJvpmXE/s1600/FILE1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumnnjLbOo16lugldj6MujoQPdJQzOrcPiM3xzBJbnVxaio-mX6iuPsf1yQpuDNE5aAjNmblBan7Kr8-lqHsVllvIaQYsMLuwJym6cu7Egi-v718N6gkUW7DNCqcN7khzgM5tTEJvpmXE/s320/FILE1216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Kampala</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The coming into effect of the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates a single domestic market for goods
and services of 1.2billion people. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This will have a big impact on
manufacturing, tourism, intra-African cooperation, and economic transformation.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, the immense potential of
the AfCFTA will only be realized if tariffs are significantly reduced or
totally eliminated. Damali Ssali, Trade Development Expert – Trademark East
Africa gives her take on this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) must also be firmly addressed. </div>
<br />
Watch Damali Ssali's interview with NTV Money and Markets crew below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/blwH4ZE546E/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/blwH4ZE546E?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0