Museveni to grace Africa's digital awards

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to preside over the third annual Digital Impact Awards Africa (DIAA2016) in which Ugandan companies will compete for honours with global brands.

Announcing the final list of nominees, Innocent Kawooya, the chief executive of HIPIPO who are the organizers said DIAA2016 conducted research in which 228 companies operating in Africa were assessed for their digital embrace and innovation.

"10 companies emerged as finalists with a Digital Index score between 2.61 and 3.82 out of 5 and thus are the leading contenders for "Digital Brand of the Year," said Kawooya in a statement.

The awards will be held at the Kampala Sheraton on August 17, 2016.

There are 12 categories eligible for companies' operating in Uganda the host country of the Digital Impact Awards Africa project and event. The nominees have been at the forefront of innovation and applying best practice to steer digital inclusion and financial inclusion across Africa.

The nominations' release is in addition to the five recipients of medals of honour that were announced earlier.

According to Kawooya, a total of 213 entries from countries including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda were received. The DIAA2016 research panel also supplemented nominations with research based recommendation for innovations and brands that have had exemplary digital embrace.

Under the theme "Maximizing the Digital Dividend", the awards focus on digital inclusion, financial inclusion and cyber security.  Some of the categories include best financial service provider, best digital payments, best cyber security practice, best mobile app, best digital marketing campaign and best mobile banking among others. Among the Ugandan brands shortlisted are Centenary Bank, MTN, Post Bank, Airtel and Crane Bank.

There are 13 awards categories that are eligible for companies operating across Africa. For these 13 categories, several companies that have had highly commendable contribution to Africa digital and financial inclusion through innovations have been nominated following DIAA research panel assessment and recommendations.

Basing on its Africa's Digital Index, 24 key individuals were shortlisted by the DIAA advisory board for the Digital Impact awards Africa "medal of honour" of which a final 5 recipients have been gazetted. 

The five are Ren Zhengfei, founder and chief executive of Huawei Technologies who will receive "Africa's Digital Revolution Leadership Medal of Honour", Strive Masiyiwa, the executive chairman and founder of the Econet Group will receive Africa's financial inclusion medal of honour.

The other nominees are Michael Joseph, chief of mobile money at Vodafone and previously, the chief executive of Safaricom who pioneered the popular M-PESA service. Also Nick Hughes, co-founder M-KOPA and previously head of mobile payment solutions at Vodafone and a pioneer member of M-PESA and Susie Lonie, mobile payments consultant at SJL Consulting Services.

"In light of their contributions to financial inclusion and digital inclusion, DIAA2016 advisory board found it noble to present "medals of honour" to key individuals that have exceptional and commendable contribution to Africa's digital revolution," Kawooya noted.