PR is relatively a new profession world over but we saw different organization manage their crises head on. More PR agencies and organizations are seriously taking up crisis management as a pivotal function. Uganda’s PR fraternity witnessed extraordinary crises last year. These PR crises dominated international and local media.
UCU sex-video scandal
2013 was a year of leaked sex tapes and celebrity nude pictures .Uganda Christian University (UCU) was in a media scandal involving two students who shot a sex video.UCU’s director of Student Affairs, Rev Milton Tweheyo publically apologized and confirmed that the two male students featured in the video were indeed UCU students except the lady. UCU did the right thing of forgiving the students and setting the record straight. Denying the incident would instead prolong the crisis. Expulsion has never helped people reform.Though UCU offered counselling and forgiveness to students, it condemned fornication. The story teaches us about the power of social media especially whatsapp,Youtube, and Facebook.
Royal divorce
End of princess Komuntale and Christopher Thomas’ marriage in October. Lots of counter attacks were shared on Facebook and in traditional Media within the county and the world over .Princess Komuntale accused Chris of domestic violence and unfaithfulness. The Princess did not withhold any information and she utilized social media to share her side of the story that yielded support and goodwill from the Public. If she remained silent then the crisis would may be a favourite negative media story. Media wants nothing but the truth.Chris later on apologized to the princess but it never yielded any public mercy.
Suspension of Fr Musaala by the Catholic Church.
Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Kizito Lwanga suspended Fr. Anthony Musaala, who authored a document criticising Catholic Church colleagues in Uganda, accusing them of sexual crimes among others. Mismanagement of Fr. Musaala‘s saga by Catholic Church put it in the media spotlight. The Archbishop was quick to suspend and give explanations without assessing the magnitude of the crisis. The Catholic Church prolonged the crisis when they over reacted. Fr Musaala would just be transferred to another place or a commission of inquiry publicly instituted.And going public about the move was wrong. As Christians who preach forgiveness, the idea of peace talks would be good. All efforts should always be done to stop crises from growing. It was a delicate time especially that the new Pope was just settling in. According to the Archbishop Dr Cyprian Lwanga,Fr. Musaala was suspended for the document, which “damages the good morals of the Catholic believers and faults the church teaching”. Fr. Musaala admitted to authoring the document which widely circulated on the internet after being leaked.The saga also attracted enough media attention. Fr Musala was hosted on highly rated TV shows and made it to the front page of daily Newspapers.
Police torture of Ex-Mukwano worker Kassim Suuna.
Ex-Mukwano worker Mr Kassim Ssuuna was allegedly assaulted by police officers while he was protesting in front of Mukwano factory in Kampala. The incident attracted media attention and went viral online. The incident faulted the Uganda Police force on its human rights record and general operations. The Uganda police should be credited for setting up a an investigation to probe the officers expeditiously and have them go through the disciplinary process. The crisis highlighted the weak civil society in Uganda since there was no serious action by labour unions.Mukwano faulted on goodwill to an extent. The company could have publicly thanked Mr Suuna for his services before he was dismissed over indiscipline as a way of redirecting media attention. They did not also highlight their milestones especially CSR. Though Smart Mukwano team activated their PR tactics a little bit late, it helped clean their image. Releasing detailed information would always work against you in court of Public opinion. Good PR is communicating what the public needs to hear instead of what they want to hear. The public always reacts to a crisis based on emotions while supporting little David against Goliath which is not the case with the normal courts of law.
Alleged gang rape act by Yuasa Employees
A 23-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and sodomised by five Pakistan nationals working with Yuasa.There have media reports about her being abandoned by some NGO. Government also tightened grip on work permits following Yuasa employee alleged misconduct incident. There was an apology from The Pakistani community to Ugandans for the alleged act and they also agreed to compensate her and clear medical bills. These acts were crucial in building goodwill. We saw growth of advocacy PR as women activists demonstrated outside the Yuasa Investment premises demanding its closure till all suspects were arrested and produced in court. Some suspects have since be produced in court. The Incident also shows the increasing power of the media.
Police probed Red Cross boss over smuggling
Police probed Red Cross boss over tax evasion. Uganda Red cross Society secretary General Micheal Nataka lost his Job over the incident.URA and police raided Nataka’s residence in Munyonyo seizing suspected contraband goods worth sh 800m.Integrity and goodwill of Red Cross was restored when he was replaced.
Uganda journalists Association election flop over irregularities
Elections to choose a new executive committee for Ugandan Journalists Association flopped last year after members complained about a bloated voter’s register and stolen electoral materials. The incident renews the critical debate on professional standards for journalists. It is embarrassing to have society watchdogs who are supposed to oversee morals engage in physical fighting. Some candidates agreed to pull out of an election they suspected was marred with irregularities.
Youth minister was quoted to have allegedly endorsed rape of victims with revealing clothes.
A Local daily Newspaper ran a story titled “Indecent rape victims to blame” in which it quoted comments attributed to the Youth State Minister. As a result of the story, the minister was summoned to make a statement on the floor of Parliament in which he faulted the newspaper. This controversial statement caused a public outcry and some critics asked him to resign. A local daily also reported that he had opened up a Twitter account to manage the PR crisis. Opinion leaders like Dr Norbert Mao joined the critical side in an article. Youth Minister Kiwanuka openly came out to deny the statement and clear his name which was a good thing. To set the record straight, a local daily newspaper decided to upload the audio recording of the minister’s remarks made in Ntungamo on their website.
Woman dies at IHK under unclear circumstances.
A senior Parliament employee, Remmie Wamala Nanono, passed on under questionable circumstances at IHK.This crisis provoked a debate in parliament .MPs agreed to set up an ad hoc committee to inquire into the operations of private health service providers. Wamala’s close relatives quoted in one local Newspaper say her death should have been avoided had the hospital authorities taken an urgent decision to operate her since her cervix had opened up to four centimeters, not wide enough to allow for normal delivery. Ministry of Health was also tasked to commission a study on the status of maternal health in the country for the purposes of addressing the current challenges of maternal mortality.IHK rushed to release a statement which was a bit insensitive in the court of public opinion.
Irene Namubiru’s arrest in Japan over illegal drugs
Namubiru was arrested at Naita Airport Japan after her luggage was found with illicit drugs. she claimed that she had no idea about what was in the luggage.Irene was scheduled to perform in Japan. It remains a PR scandal though most Ugandans felt Irene Namubiru was a victim of a set up. All events were confirmed by Interpol officials in Uganda. Some bloggers shared a theory portraying it as a PR stunt as a build up to her upcoming album launch. This is a negative dent on her image. There will always be online negative search results about her regarding event. Colleagues and relatives organized a church service to pray for. This was a good PR tactic tool utilising the court of Public Opinion. Namubiru tweeted after her release and date of return. She had a hero’s welcome in Uganda. This is still an ongoing crisis. Irene’s manager then Thadeus Mubiru has since made a public apology over the same. Kim Tumwesigye was arrested by the police over the scandal. Irene struggles on to save her image.
Media siege by Uganda police
The Uganda Police obtained a search warrant authorizing the search of the Daily Monitor and Red pepper premises for the letter allegedly written by General Sejjusa. Uganda police closed Red pepper and Daily monitor together with two radio stations after declaring them crime scenes.The Uganda Police responded with excessive force which attracted unnecessary attention. Most East African Newspapers carried an editorial on the incident. The incident dented the Ugandan image locally, regionally and internationally. Most critics think the government should have handled the media issue better. International and regional newspapers, US Embassy in Uganda, Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU), politicians, human rights activists, and members of the civil society condemned the incident. The most famous hash tag was ‘#mediasiege’. On May 30, 2013, Media houses were allowed to resume operations. Daily monitor’s reopening was allegedly after negotiations with government according to a government statement. This introduced a debate on future compromised editorial policy of the Daily Monitor. Monitor publications responded to the issue in public notices “Monitor: What we agreed with government” reassuring the public about their editorial policy of publishing all news as long as it is in public interest.
Nince Henry sues Nakumatt over pirated music
The Police and court bailiffs seized merchandise over illegal sale of music. The artiste insisted he had 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.
Emin Pasha fined 20m for noise pollution
Emin Pasha Hospital was in the media for the wrong reasons. It was fined for noise pollution. This was a dent on her image as a tourist destination in one way or another.
Conclusion
Uganda has seen increased power of pressure groups and the media expansion. Best proactive PR Crisis management requires daily media monitoring for crises. With bad news, the best move is to own up and apologise if possible. The sooner the better. This may give you more control of media coverage. Remember PR takes time and requires a clear strategy.PR Practitioners need to stop leaving organisational Crisis management tasks to only their legal and operation departments, they should fully be involved in every step.I commend the inclusion of Best Crisis Management Award category in the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) annual Excellence Awards. This has created a greater understanding of crisis management.
Ivan .N.Baliboola
PR & Online engager
They were arrested in an operation aimed at targeting motorists who over lap during traffic jam. Seven police drivers were arrested for allegedly abusing traffic rules. The group was arrested in an ongoing operation, which begun in Central Division and mainly targets drivers who overlap in an attempt to dodge traffic jam. It is expected to be extended countrywide. The seven drivers were cautioned and penalized. Uganda Police's action yielded goodwill and showed that it is a reformed force.
Spanish national 'jumps to death' from Sheraton hotel.
The Police have kicked off investigations into the death of a Spanish national suspected to have committed suicide at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. Florensa Jaume Betran's body was found lying in a pool of blood on the hotel terrace located on the first floor .Police suspect that he allegedly jumped from the 12th floor of the hotel at about 11.00am local time (EAT), shortly after booking the room. The PR crisis was properly handled by the Uganda police and Sheraton.
Auditors find blood with maggots in hospitals
A report by the Auditor General portrayed a negative image of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), with grave implications on public health. It raises serious questions about the quality of blood transfused to patients in health centres countrywide. The audit contains graphic details spawned out of gross neglect or inefficiency at UBTS, arising out of poor maintenance of the database, non-compliance to standards in seven regional blood banks as well as lack of routine maintenance, repairs and testing of equipment. The audit was carried out to ascertain whether UBTS is efficiently, economically and effectively performing its role of availing safe and adequate blood and blood products to hospitals and health centre IVs countrywide.
Six out of 10 hospitals and health centre IVs, including Arua, Mbarara, Soroti and Mbale regional referral hospitals, were found to be storing blood outside the required temperature range, thus posing a threat to the quality of blood.The UBTS principal blood donor recruiter William Mugisha defended the organisation, saying they explained a number of issues to the auditors, which they seem not to have captured.
Makerere HIV vaccine project sued
A senior data entry specialist has dragged the Makerere University HIV vaccine project –the Makerere University Walter Reed Project – to court for wrongful dismissal. According to documents filed on August 2 at the High Court in Kampala, Jacqueline Kemirembe, who was dismissed from the project on April 13, is demanding sh100m.She had worked with the project for nine years as a permanent employee.
The project was founded in 2002 for HIV vaccine development and building of vaccine testing capability in Uganda. It is one of the five international research sites set up by the American Department of Defence United States HIV Research Programme. Kemirembe alleges that on January 2 this year, the management of the project arbitrarily changed the employment terms.
Kemirembe is aggrieved because she was dismissed on grounds that were in breach of the project's human resource policy. Any legal suit is a crisis in a way.
Disclaimer: 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.
Equipping staff with impeccable fire fighting skills is in line with our Crisis Management plan.This training is mandatory for all AAR staff and service providers(cleaners and security personnel) stationed at respective AAR clinics and offices.This also means that Patricia can share experiences in fire management with other colleagues in other AAR centres and offices on the same level.A Fire Marshal offers leadership in the event of a fire outbreak.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 October 2013 13:42 
AAR Acacia Health Centre staff had their Fire fighting awareness training on August 30,2013 at 8am.Equipping staff with impeccable fire fighting skills is in line with our Crisis Management plan. This training is mandatory for all AAR staff and service providers (cleaners and security personnel) stationed at respective AAR clinics and offices. The PR team has already started conducting abrupt crisis audits for all AAR centres and clinics upon completion of the training. A crisis auditor drops in on individual team members unannounced and checks their top-of-the –mind- knowledge of crisis management procedures, fire extinguisher use- steps, and general fire crisis management knowledge.
AAR Jogging Club (AJC) held a special workout session to celebrate ten (10) months of existence on August 29,2013.All participants were then be treated to a party. In November 2012, AAR Uganda started a Jogging club with one weekly session.AAR Jogging club sessions are free of charge for everyone but participants have to register. We meet every Thursday at 5:20 pm.Meeting point is the AAR Head office, Plot 16A Elizabeth Avenue, Kololo. Participants can walk, run or jog. After the jogging session, participants are taken through aerobics. The entire jogging route (to and from) is approximately 3.1 kilometres.
Read more@ https://www.facebook.com/events/1407287676156590/?fref=ts
AAR Kabalagala Health Centre organised a three day medical booth for Students of Kampala International University from 21st to 23 rd August. Over 300 people benefited from the event
Services offered included free BMI measurements, blood pressure check- up, HIV testing and counselling, blood sugar check- up, safe male circumcision, and free doctor consultation. Health promotion literature on lifestyle diseases was available for all .There was also a blood donation exercise. The event was organized by AAR in partnership with Uganda Health marketing Group (UHMG), and the Uganda Blood Bank.
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.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Formulation of immediate and long term Country sales and marketing strategies
· High membership retention rates
· Profitable and sound membership growth through development and exploitation of new products, new uses and new markets
· Ensure implementation of performance management framework, for the sales team.
· Ensure continuous recruitment, training, motivation and supervision of a sound sales team.
· Develop appropriate relationships with key stakeholders, customers.
PERSON'S SPECIFICATIONS:
· A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in marketing or related field
· Professional qualification in marketing or business management will be desirable
· ICT competence
· Five years experience of sales and marketing in a senior position including formulation of strategy and planning
· Experience of budgetary preparation and control
· Team player with strong analytical approach to problem solving and good communication skills.
Interested candidates should send comprehensive applications, up-to-date CVs, and copies of certificates including daytime telephone numbers, by email or courier by 16 August 2013. Applications should include three referees, none of whom should be your relative and all of whom should have supervised you, taught you or known you through work.
Only successful candidates will be contacted.
The Human Resources Manager
AAR Health Services (U) Ltd
Plot 16A Elizabeth Avenue- Kololo
P.O.Box 6240
Kampala Uganda
Email: hr@aar.co.ug
Everyone would agree that you need to be sure and picky when choosing a person you will live with for the rest of your life. If it is a future together. Get it right from the start.The Oxford dictionary defines cohabiting as a couple living together and having a sexual relationship without being married. Cohabiting Option has grown out of suspicion because women fall in love for different temporary reasons ranging from excitement to material gains. This breeds fear of commitment in some men. Fear arising from mistrust. Desire for cohabiting is likely to double over time because women are more focused on hooking MR. Right. Women unleash their true colours after getting the ring. Very few women are real.
Disappointments have made very many people especially men to cohabit. There is this theory about shoe sizes. Before you take shoes, you have to try them on not just looking at the sizes. Sex has lost respect and it is no longer a preserve for the married. Today people have embraced 'friends with benefits' , 'Hall pass', and'one night stands'. These have pushed for emotionless sexual relations. Some cultures strongly value children. People from such cultures fear marrying those that are either barren or impotent. People decide to live together illegally just because they fear commitment before they are sure about some reproductive capabilities.
Some Boda boda guy keeps advising me that men are supposed to officially Marry a woman after giving birth to at least four children .Most Women would desperately accept a cohabiting venture out of desperation and hope. But how many keep marriage promises? Is n't it safer to only live together after an official marriage? It does not hurt for the cohabiting couple to have at least a legal contract to that effect.
There are many people who see marriage as an unnecessary legal requirement burden which is expensive rather than a companionship exercise. Costly weddings have made some to simply cohabit till they raise enough funds to hold a marriage ceremony. Some choose not to be married. They feel that either you are committed or you are not; a marriage certificate will not make any difference. There are those who want to give the relationship a trial period before deciding on marriage. This is a very common attitude, and quite logical. Why not give a relationship a test drive? Can you live together? Will you be able to make the compromises necessary? Cohabiting is a sure way to get married easily .If a Couple that has failed to get parental approval; they may resort to staying together. They set pregnancy as abet for their parents' approval of their love relationship. Today we see very many pregnant ladies on their introduction and wedding ceremonies.
The choice to cohabit or not to cohabit entirely depends on you and what you stand for. Christians should never cohabit because it is not acceptable. Disappointed married Brothers who have picked their partners from church should not be an endorsement to try cohabiting.
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.
<a>nbaliboola@gmail.com</a>
AAR Bweyogerere Clinic took the brand to the community it operates in.Bweyogerere is the name of a township in south-central Uganda. It is one of the six townships that constitute Kira Municipality in Wakiso District. In 2008, it was estimated that the population of Bweyogerere Township was approximately 42,000.
Have you ever been cheated at a restaurant?
Have you ever been to a restaurant where you have to order with cash? Did you probably realise you paid the wrong or 'ghost' waiter?
This is common at restaurants where waiters do not wear uniforms and counters are isolated.
Measures
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.
