South Africans eye utl parent firm
Jun 22, 2006
SOUTH African communications giant Telkom SA Ltd plans to buy into Ucom, the consortium that owns a majority stake in uganda telecom (utl), outgoing managing director Aimable Mpore has said.
By Paul Busharizi
and Emmy Olaki
SOUTH African communications giant Telkom SA Ltd plans to buy into Ucom, the consortium that owns a majority stake in uganda telecom (utl), outgoing managing director Aimable Mpore has said.
Telkom South Africa, South Africa’s fixed-line incumbent, is a government-controlled company that owns 50% of Vodacom, the largest communications company in South Africa.
It provides business and residential fixed-line telephony, Internet, e-commerce, data communications, satellite and broadcasting services.
Mpore said the move would boost the company that intends to spend about $80m to strengthen its network in Uganda.
“The future is very bright for our customers and for the company. The shareholders have committed $80m to be used in developing the network and I am made to understand another strong partner is coming into the company, Telekom SA,†said Mpore.
Mpore has resigned from utl after six years as managing director.
“I am leaving to pursue other opportunities. It has nothing to do with any problems. I have spent six years here and time comes when you want to take on other challenges,†he said.
Mpore, who said his resignation would take effect in August, will be moving on to manage another company outside Uganda.
“Six years in uganda telecom was a fantastic experience. I came in when it was being privatised and was part of its privatisation process. At the time, the company was managing only landlines. We immediately developed new services starting with mobile phone services in 2001. We are a total communications company now,†he said.
Uganda telecom has 500,000 mobile phone subscribers and 100,000 landline customers.
Mpore said he was leaving utl at a time it had acquired top of the world technology used in top markets in the world. “We have achieved the very best in service and we are proud to say that we have achieved the very best,†he said.
Patrick Kabonero, the company board chairman, said Mpore distinguished himself as a gifted chief executive right from the time of negotiations with Government during the privatisation of Uganda Posts and Telecommunications to overseeing the restructuring and modernisation of the company.
“With his calm, intelligent and committed approach to management, he contributed greatly to uganda telecom’s current market position as the leading information and communication provider,†Kabonero said.
Meanwhile, Donald Nyakairu, the company secretary, has not left the company as we reported yesterday. The New Vision apologises for any inconvenience caused to Nyakairu and utl.
and Emmy Olaki
SOUTH African communications giant Telkom SA Ltd plans to buy into Ucom, the consortium that owns a majority stake in uganda telecom (utl), outgoing managing director Aimable Mpore has said.
Telkom South Africa, South Africa’s fixed-line incumbent, is a government-controlled company that owns 50% of Vodacom, the largest communications company in South Africa.
It provides business and residential fixed-line telephony, Internet, e-commerce, data communications, satellite and broadcasting services.
Mpore said the move would boost the company that intends to spend about $80m to strengthen its network in Uganda.
“The future is very bright for our customers and for the company. The shareholders have committed $80m to be used in developing the network and I am made to understand another strong partner is coming into the company, Telekom SA,†said Mpore.
Mpore has resigned from utl after six years as managing director.
“I am leaving to pursue other opportunities. It has nothing to do with any problems. I have spent six years here and time comes when you want to take on other challenges,†he said.
Mpore, who said his resignation would take effect in August, will be moving on to manage another company outside Uganda.
“Six years in uganda telecom was a fantastic experience. I came in when it was being privatised and was part of its privatisation process. At the time, the company was managing only landlines. We immediately developed new services starting with mobile phone services in 2001. We are a total communications company now,†he said.
Uganda telecom has 500,000 mobile phone subscribers and 100,000 landline customers.
Mpore said he was leaving utl at a time it had acquired top of the world technology used in top markets in the world. “We have achieved the very best in service and we are proud to say that we have achieved the very best,†he said.
Patrick Kabonero, the company board chairman, said Mpore distinguished himself as a gifted chief executive right from the time of negotiations with Government during the privatisation of Uganda Posts and Telecommunications to overseeing the restructuring and modernisation of the company.
“With his calm, intelligent and committed approach to management, he contributed greatly to uganda telecom’s current market position as the leading information and communication provider,†Kabonero said.
Meanwhile, Donald Nyakairu, the company secretary, has not left the company as we reported yesterday. The New Vision apologises for any inconvenience caused to Nyakairu and utl.