Top 7 Ugandan PR scandals that rocked April 2015.

1.             Africell Telecom shocks on alleged racism and poor employee relations

Africell Telecommunication Company Uganda got entangled in online negative publicity just as it continues to rebrand from orange. This was after Africell Uganda Telecommunication Company laid off 59 Ugandan workers and allegedly replaced them with Lebanese nationals. This fueled racism discussions. This was a rather bad time as it coincided with xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Story alleged that those who were fired were not given satisfactory explanations raising concerns of poor employee relations. A disgruntled employee is more dangerous than competition in disrupting company operations.

This crisis went viral because it was in the court of public opinion which reacts with emotions not logic.A Ugandan website leaked an email communication between Africell Telecom Uganda and a renown Ugandan Communication specialist Simon Kaheru. Simon was on board to manage their organisational change communication needs. People started attacking Simon Kaheru. Simon Kaheru should however be credited for his expert response during the trying time. He was consistent with his communication and his responses were not out of anger. He intellectually challenged those with racism evidence to come forward.

 Africell has not bothered to explain itself extensively on the matter. Africell failed to give detailed responses to allegations. Failure to use their information to counter react to all the allegations just prolongs the crisis. It could give a round figure of terminal benefits paid and when. They released a statement on their Facebook page which was not dated or signed off by any Africell Uganda manager. Africell Uganda Telecommunication Facebook page describes the recent racist allegations as ridiculous and preposterous.The crisis has given rise to other   bad theoretical stories on the telecom’s operations. There are also rumours online about Africell Uganda considering closure or buy out. Africell Uganda has since responded and said it is still in Uganda. Some people have started to push for boycott of   products from Africell because of the crisis..

2. KCCA tractor kills child

Another 2-year old child was knocked dead by a KCCA tractor in lugala. The driver was on phone when the incident happened. KCCA driver was Patrick wasswa. This story was on the mighty ‘Agataliko Nfufu’ news on Bukedde TV. The KCCA management moved fast and resolved the issue by through communication .KCCA sent support for the burial with its team. Last year another baby was killed by KCCA vehicle in its premises.

3. Women stripe to protest against ministers presence

Land dispute in northern Uganda attracted debate in April when elderly female residents of Amuru district stripped naked before government officials. This was to protest against government plans to demarcate boundaries between the districts of Amuru and Adjumani. The contested land has also been claimed by the Wildlife Authority has not eased tensions.Lands Minister Daudi Migereko and Internal Affairs Minister Gen Aronda Nyakairima visited a disputed boundary area to resolve the crisis .The women said the move would to push them out of their ancestral land.Minister Migereko later assured residents that the government has no hidden-motive .Quelling the storm further, Minister Migereko announced that they had cancelled the erection of the boundary mark stones.

4.  URSB on the spot over double company registration

A Local daily reported that Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General Bemanya Twebaze acknowledged that he had received several complaints of fraud and erroneous Company registration. The double registration came to light as bids for the tendering process for the supply of Stabilized Interlocking Block Making Machines for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. According to the registration of Companies Act, no two similar companies can be registered at the same time.The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) is on the spot over registration of two companies operating under the same names. The two companies in question are Hydraform (U) Limited and Hydraform (Uganda) Limited. They both deal in interlocking stabilizing block making machines (ISSB) are dully registered and operating in the country.Apart from the registration numbers being 137639 and later being 149594 and the directors being different, they bare the same names.

5. King oyo challenge

This was a crisis of sorts depending on how you look at it.There was one viral  image  of King Oyo greeting the Buganda Katikkiro Charles peter Mayaige while cross-legged.What made it worse was the fact that the youthful king seemed not to pay attention. The incident was  during Kabaka Ronald mutebi’s 60th birthday celebrations .This incident  got  #KingoyoChallenge  as its hash tag. Celebrities and members from the public posed the same way and posted their pictures. It was reported that Toro King, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru also took his own challenge during his birthday celebrations by greeting a friend while looking away. Some critics felt katiikiro is the outside king and needed to be respected. Being a youthful king, some felt his posture was disrespectful.

6. Athletics coach arrested over  alleged rape

Ugandan police arrested an athletics coach Wemali for allegedly raping three teenage female national runners. Alleged sex abuse scandals damage the country’s image.The crisis came to light after Uganda’s Commonwealth gold medallist Moses Kipsiro shared complaints from female teammates against Peter Wemali. Wemali is said to have advised them to get pregnant and then abort so they could run better. The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has been accused of cover up by activists. Coach Wemali allegedly used vulgar language during training with female runners. Uganda police has since suspended him pending investigations. Wemali maintains he is innocent.

7. Pension Saga taints the image of Uganda Police.

Local newspapers reported about the Pension saga. Police officials are on the spot over irregularities on authenticity of reports on the scandal. Uganda Police has been accused of failing the shs 165b case after they reportedly received a bribe from the culprits. The CIID team which investigated the matter filed two conflicting reports. CIID chief Grace Akullo filed a different report. The matter has since attracted public outcry

 Both the Inspector general of police and the director of public prosecutions have vowed to pursue the case to its conclusion. Uganda police PR machinery released a statement on the incident. Police clarified in a press release that while the court case was dismissed, it was on a technicality and not on absence of substantive evidence. The Police investigation of the case was thorough and comprehensive according to Uganda police. ‘Strong evidence in form of witnesses and exhibits is available. In fact, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police are working together to ensure that the case is reinstituted.’ Reads the police statement

Ivan .N.Baliboola

PR and organisational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

nbaliboola.wordpress.com/

Disclaimer.

This article strictly offers academic insight meant to create awareness about crisis PR management in Uganda. Therefore, it should be used for educational purposes and not viewed as an attack on institutions or individuals. The writer assumes no responsibility for contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.

If I was Anita Fabiola’s PR consultant on her leaked nude pictures

Social media, newspapers and websites have been taken by storm with discussions related to alleged leaked nude pictures of Popular TV personality Anita Kyalimpa Fabiola. In Africa, nudity is unacceptable outside the bedroom. Anita hosts the  NTV show ‘Be my date’ .A look at the pictures gives an impression that there must have be a photographer besides the selfies. Fabiola’s crisis is likely to take a short period of time. Her pictures are only in one angle as she is standing. They are not as many and controversial as those of Desire Luzinda. In one of the nude pictures, Musician Desire Luzinda posed with an inverted victory sign which just prolonged the crisis. People especially celebrities posed the same way and re-posted hilariously. The most important assignment as a PR consultant would be to get her side of the story. This will help separate facts from allegations. I will use the information that is available to develop an effective PR plan. A legal expert should be on board to manage legal aspects of the crisis.

Everyone would not want to be in her shoes. The world is literally throwing stones at her yet she is God’s child. The objective of the PR plan would be to market her as a brand, manage her media relations and build a reputation. Anita Fabiola rushed to issue a statement online. The tone is apologetic which was a wrong approach. It portrays her with low self esteem. PR Crises always test your self esteem. Part of her a statement online raises esteem issues. ‘Much as I am a victim, I feel like I have let you down’. As if she does not belief in herself and needs public approval.

Lots of questions still surround her resignation and alleged sacking theories. Can resignation be  instant? Her statement says she resigned because she wanted a media break. Resignation was uncalled for.NTV and Fabiola could use the moment to grow the numbers of ‘NTV Be my date’ show viewers. Truth is that it is  not Uganda’s most watched show.

The problem with online communication is that you can never take away content from search engines with this tech savvy generation today. People scan hardcopies and share with millions on social media. Screenshots are shared with thousands even before you edit a grammatical error on Facebook or Twitter.Fabiola Anita is also being crucified against her previous statements before the crisis. She allegedly said she has never taken nude pictures of herself. Her statement does not respond to this controversy.

This crisis offers an ocean of opportunities that Fabiola should quickly use to go places. Someone once said that there are a thousand positive things for each negative one. Everything can be taken away from you but no one can take away who you are. Fabiola needs to embark on more activities to show continuity.This is not the time to hide from the Public. It has already made news that Fabiola went partying after the pictures were leaked. Some rebels have been given amnesty and they turn out to serve their nations better. There is little you can do about stopping the dissemination of leaked sextapes and nude pictures. There are serious benefits if you turn crises into publicity stunts for new projects. Launching a music career is a good idea to divert media attention. Ugandan media easily jumps from one discussion to another. This may help Fabiola remain fresh in the minds of the media. Remember Fabiola is  marketing herself for the next Media career.The main discussion about the crisis has been whether Fabiola Anita wears artificial bumsor not. Music platforms will give Fabiola an opportunity to prove that she does not wear fake bums. It will be a great idea to change her stage name to ‘Nurse Bitone’. The breakthrough in music industry would work well with duets. Music should not include kadongo kamu genre if she needs to keep in touch with her former English speaking viewers at NTV. Another activity would be running a lingerie fashion modelling business.Fabiola is a celebrity and people love her. NTV Be my date Facebook account has over 50,000 fans. It is the reason to profit from it

Develop numerous hash tags and petitions. Task your friends to start petitions to get your job back.The harsh tag of #bringbackFabiola is already trending.Photo opportunity tactic would be another fix. Fabiola needs to Stage manage many photo shoots that show a little more flesh. Play the victim about the pictures to win public support and update the world on anything around herself even if it is jogging. Social media posts with pictures get more attention therefore do more selfies. Do not forget to take pictures in a swimming suit to prove to Mary luswata of scoop of scoop show on Urban TV that you have real bums and hips.

The PR plan aims at marketing Fabiola for the next Job. There is need to rely on her connections to get public gigs as an MC. This is meant to build an image of a winner. Dealing with the issue of Job loss can be hard but it’s a time to leak her programme milestones that the public did not know. If media asks her about your job,Fabiola should be  be positive and share the number of shows she has hosted, success stories of couples she hosted, and how long she has been at the former workplace. Depending on the trend of events, PR teams can revise the activities to address emergencies. Sincerity is one thing even a PR person can not fake.

Ivan .N.Baliboola

PR and organizational diagnosis specialist

nbaliboola@gmail.com

Twitter:@mediasurgeon

Wordpress:nbaliboola.wordpress.com/

Blogger:http://mediasurgeon.blogspot.com

Top five Ugandan PR scandals for April 2013

UMI directors thrown out   of office by court.

The High court threw out two directors of Uganda Management Institute (UMI) ,citing lack of requisite academic papers. Judge Elizabeth Musoke, of the Kampala Civil division, ruled that the appointment of Kasozi Mulindwa as Director Programmes and Student Affairs (DPSA) and that of Deo Lukonji Bbosa as Director Finance and Administration (DFA) was riddled with procedural impropriety. This   was a dent to the good image of institution which is known for teaching professionals in the country.

Kyambogo university tuition scandal

What started as a tuition crisis spilled into a strike which left at least one student injured. Students protested against blacklisted by the university administration for failure to pay tuition last academic year. Management alleged that the students forged documents such as receipts and examination cards to illegally sit exams. Police instituted a probe which revealed more rot at the ten year old university. There have been several arrests and interrogation of senior management staff in connection with the scandals at the institution.IGG picked interest in the case and started investigating. Kyambogo University has been a nursery bed for scandals for some time. This is beyond heated in-house wrangles. Chaos continuing to manifesto even after the Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaiah Ndiege is on forced leave  points to a deeper problem that needs urgent interventions. Kyambogo University was also in the media over poor sanitation.

President Museveni and his sack money

The two major Newspapers carried a picture of the Busoga Youth Forum chairperson, Mr Sanon Bwire, carrying a sack reportedly containing Shs250 million which President Museveni had donated to the group. The action was a fulfillment of presidential pledge but Critics argued that it was a manipulative move by the president. Social critics disagree with the action because it breeds a culture that only encourages laziness. The story showed Lack of goodwill on the side of government regarding its priorities. Some people are suffering because there are no drugs in health centres   and the government claims that there is no money. Pressure from the civil society upgraded this act to a crisis phase two. There were media reports that the youth in Sembabule District used the case to ask for their share as well. The act reflected President’s lack of faith in systems that are meant to deliver services in the country. Museveni was also faulted by activists for not following the set-out procedures of fulfilling presidential pledges. The act was a bad PR stunt for the president though it was a good strategy to show continuity with NRM even beyond 2016. Money in a sack portrayed the disrespect for accountability and responsible spending. Some officials have since been arrested over embezzlement 0f part of the money that was donated to the youth.

Former minster Musumba and Igara East MP held over extortion in India.

Former regional minister Isaac Musumba and a businessman Yakuba Mathai were  held  in India for allegedly trying to extort US$20 million from four directors of electronics giant Videocon. The crisis deepened when Musumba still possessed a diplomatic passport even when he was no longer a minister which dented Uganda’s international image. Musumba and the colleagues claim that Videocon had invested in a mining business in Uganda in 2009, but the four directors suddenly wrapped up the business within six months, signed a memorandum of understanding with the partner and left the country, duping several investors.

Coca Cola sues Riham over trademark infringement

Coca Cola has sued Riham on allegations of trademark infringement. The suit [CS 213] filed on April 24  seeks for an injunction restricting Riham from further infringement on Coca Cola brand contents, and shelving all products on the market which are purportedly considered as infringements. The law suits impacts negatively on the reputation of Riham soda. Both brands Riham Cola and Coca Cola products are said to possess similarities in relation to brand colours, packaging, content, and names among others. The injunction also seeks to stop Riham from producing products that are confusingly similar to Coca Cola. Riham has since launched another product despite the law suit. The Riham Cola soda bottle has since gone through remodifictaion.

Conclusion

With bad news, the best move is to own up and apologise. The sooner the better. This gives you more control of media coverage, and lessened the sting of media.Come clean and get past it. Monitoring media for crises is very important. Companies should review media for crises on a daily basis to plan for any latest developments and deal with them.

Ivan N. Baliboola 

The author has worked with some of the most well-known and influential East African brands, conducting marketing, Public relations, strategies, crisis management, and social media. He is a proud Award winner of the prestigious Public Relations Association of Uganda excellence Awards. He has volunteered his life to addressing environment and health related causes. He is also a blogger, professional critic, and strategist.

nbaliboola@gmail.com