WARID tops investors’ awards
Jan 18, 2009
WARID Telecom was over the weekend named the best investor in 2008 during the annual awards ceremony at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
By David Muwanga
WARID Telecom was over the weekend named the best investor in 2008 during the annual awards ceremony at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
WARID was rewarded with the gold accolade after investing $185m (about sh367b) since it was licensed by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) in 2006.
“The company (WARID) has invested in land, buildings, machinery and is employing 463 Ugandans with over 10,000 others indirectly employed throughout the country,†Arthur Tukahiirwa, the UIA director of the Kampala Business and Industrial Park, explained in his citation.
“As a result, it has led to improved service provision, sponsored several community and sports activities.
“It is also involved in environmental protection with over one million subscribers within a period of two years,†Tukahiirwa told the excited guests.
WARID Telecom Uganda is a subsidiary of Warid Telecom International; an Abu Dhabi-based mobile telecommunications firm.
The group provides telephony services in Bangladesh, Congo and Pakistan.
The group is expected to launch in Ivory Coast and Georgia soon.
The silver award went to Jomayi Property Consultants, a real estate development company owned by locals.
The firm that was also licensed in 2006 has invested $33m in real estate development, creating employment for 87 Ugandans, according to UIA figures.
The company has implemented eight projects totalling 1,112 acres. It has a policy of allocating one-third of the total land to squatters as compensation.
It has also built schools, health centres and planted trees as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Sameer Agriculture and Livestock won the bronze award.
Amina Hershi Moghe of the Oasis Group of Companies was named the distinguished woman entrepreneur of the year.
She was recognised for her contribution to economic development of the country.
Moghe is a Somali national.
Kakira Sugar Works won the medium scale category. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge was the first runner-up followed by Birunga Diaries located in Kisoro in western Uganda.
Igara Growers Tea Factory was the small scale category winner, followed by Kings Lagoons and Samona Products.
Alpha Biotech, uganda telecom and Nationwide Properties, were recognised for best innovation in value addition.
Overall, 25 companies participated in the coveted competition increasingly becoming popular with local organisations.
The awards were held under the theme “Corporate Social Responsibility.â€
The event was attended by ministers Sam Kuteesa (foreign affairs), Dr. Ezra Suruma (finance), Nelson Gagawala (state for trade, Hope Mwesigye (state for local government) and Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka (state for investment).
WARID Telecom was over the weekend named the best investor in 2008 during the annual awards ceremony at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
WARID was rewarded with the gold accolade after investing $185m (about sh367b) since it was licensed by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) in 2006.
“The company (WARID) has invested in land, buildings, machinery and is employing 463 Ugandans with over 10,000 others indirectly employed throughout the country,†Arthur Tukahiirwa, the UIA director of the Kampala Business and Industrial Park, explained in his citation.
“As a result, it has led to improved service provision, sponsored several community and sports activities.
“It is also involved in environmental protection with over one million subscribers within a period of two years,†Tukahiirwa told the excited guests.
WARID Telecom Uganda is a subsidiary of Warid Telecom International; an Abu Dhabi-based mobile telecommunications firm.
The group provides telephony services in Bangladesh, Congo and Pakistan.
The group is expected to launch in Ivory Coast and Georgia soon.
The silver award went to Jomayi Property Consultants, a real estate development company owned by locals.
The firm that was also licensed in 2006 has invested $33m in real estate development, creating employment for 87 Ugandans, according to UIA figures.
The company has implemented eight projects totalling 1,112 acres. It has a policy of allocating one-third of the total land to squatters as compensation.
It has also built schools, health centres and planted trees as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Sameer Agriculture and Livestock won the bronze award.
Amina Hershi Moghe of the Oasis Group of Companies was named the distinguished woman entrepreneur of the year.
She was recognised for her contribution to economic development of the country.
Moghe is a Somali national.
Kakira Sugar Works won the medium scale category. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge was the first runner-up followed by Birunga Diaries located in Kisoro in western Uganda.
Igara Growers Tea Factory was the small scale category winner, followed by Kings Lagoons and Samona Products.
Alpha Biotech, uganda telecom and Nationwide Properties, were recognised for best innovation in value addition.
Overall, 25 companies participated in the coveted competition increasingly becoming popular with local organisations.
The awards were held under the theme “Corporate Social Responsibility.â€
The event was attended by ministers Sam Kuteesa (foreign affairs), Dr. Ezra Suruma (finance), Nelson Gagawala (state for trade, Hope Mwesigye (state for local government) and Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka (state for investment).