1) Foreign Affairs state Minister Summons the Head of European Union Delegation in Uganda.
Ridolfi had a meeting with the Foreign Affairs state minister Okello Oryem, at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala. The head of European delegation in Uganda Dr. Roberto Ridolfi was allegedly grilled about media statements in which he was suspected to have criticized President Yoweri Museveni on some issues. The envoy was quoted in local media criticising the President, claiming that he didn't pay attention to the issue of corruption.
2) Nince Henry sues Nakumatt over pirated music
The Police and court bailiffs seized merchandise over illegal sale of music. The artiste insists he has never released the album nor given permission to Nakumatt to sell his music. It was also alleged that the supermarket had been running a promotion where, whoever buys a Hisense Plasma screen takes home the singer's CD for free. The album on display was titled 'Omukyala bamukwata Mpola', which was a wrong title as the correct one is Mpola Mpola according to Nince Henry. The artiste has since opened a case against Nakumatt and X-Zone International. It projected the regional supermarket in a negative way.
3) Star Times sued over alleged outdated decoders
Digital pay Television provider Star Times was dragged to court for allegedly distributing outdated decoders. Two Star Times pay television subscribers and Uganda Consumer Protection Awareness Association (UCPAA) sued Star Times for failing to stop selling devices that don't meet UCC specifications. They are seeking orders to exchange their decoders with the new technology. Over 130,000 Star Times pay TV subscribers allege that the firm has continued selling them outdated technology which is yet to be switched off instead of a modern decoder with a bigger frequency spectrum capable of carrying higher TV content and compatible with digital. This puts a dent of questionable service quality on star Times though UCC has pronounced it's self on the issue.
4) KACITA Traders strike over Pre-Import Verification of the Conformity to standards programme (PVOC).
Traders under the Kampala City Traders Association(KACITA) went on strike and kept their shops closed in response to a move by Government to subject all imports to a mandatory standard check in the country of origin before being shipped. PVOC is aimed at curbing the entry of counterfeit and substandard goods from entering the country by inspecting commodities in their country of origin. Uganda Consumers Protection Association was quick to back the Government move saying the protest over cost and price by the traders is not backed by evidence. Trade Minister appealed to traders in Kampala to re-open their shops but the traders resolved to keep their shops closed despite the heavy deployment of the Uganda Police. Vendors who were evicted off the street by KCCA used the opportunity to get back bringing back chaos. The traders were protesting inspection fees that range between $235 to $250 for 20-feet containers and $7,000 to $2,375 for 40 feet containers. Three agencies, Intertek International, Bureau Veritas and Societe General de Surveillance (SGS), were been contracted for the programme. Critics argued that PVOC was the only way Uganda would be assured of genuine products. This crisis teaches us about the rising power of pressure groups in Uganda and the need for PROs to understand them better.
5) Namungoona Fuel tanker Fire incident.
This was national crisis that many think could be avoided. An oil Tanker caught fire after an accident in Namungoona. Over 40 people died as a result of the incident. President Museveni offered five (5) million to each victim or deceased's family member. This act was widely criticized with an argument that it encourages stealing .It portrays stealing as a rewarding thing. Most of the people who were burnt were Boda Boda cyclists who had gone to collect free fuel from the tanker.
This article strictly offers academic insight meant to create awareness about crisis PR communication management. Therefore it should be used for educational purposes and not viewed as an attack on institutions or individuals. It offers a professional PR insight into Crisis management in Uganda which is still a young profession. I hope that Lessons shared can better the PR fraternity in Uganda. I commend the inclusion of Best Crisis Management Award category in the PRAU Excellence Awards. PR Practitioners need to be fully involved in crises from the start. The writer assumes no responsibility for contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.
Ivan N. Baliboola
The author has worked with some of the most well-known and influential East African brands in construction, healthcare, Insurance, cosmetics, and banking. He carries a wealth of experience in marketing, Public relations, crisis management, and social media. He is a proud Award winner of a prestigious Public Relations Association of Uganda excellence award. He has volunteered his life to addressing environment and health related causes. He is also a blogger, professional critic, and strategist.
