The Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) alongside the Uganda Premier League (UPL) have today formally endorsed MTN Uganda, as the Official Broadcast Sponsor of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League on Next Media’s Sanyuka TV. This development promises to compliment the great strides the governing bodies of FUFA and UPL have made in promoting and growing Ugandan football over the years. Under this two-year partnership, MTN Uganda has committed to contribute some UGX 600 million as support to clubs in the league through the MTN Fans Awards that will reward performing players, coaches, and clubs throughout the league season. Depending on table rankings, all clubs will also receive a token financial reward at the end of the season. Under the MTN Fans Awards, fans will choose players and coaches of the month and season. There will also be cash prizes for outstanding players in every match.
The two-year commitment will see MTN Uganda spend UGX 300M per year, with part of the money shared by clubs as prize money at the end of the StarTimes UPL season, increasing the prize money offered by FUFA.
The partnership was announced today in a joint press conference hosted by FUFA, UPL and MTN at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala today.
FUFA has welcomed the move, pointing out the need for harmony between all stakeholders to grow the much-loved sport. Directly speaking about this development, FUFA’s 3rd Vice President Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi noted, “it’s good for the no.1 telecom network in the country to partner with the no.1 footballing country in the region. Football is an indirect means of communication. It’s a vehicle for economic development and unity. I would be right to say that this partnership is long overdue.” Echoing Hon, Nakiwala’s comment, the Vice Chairman for the UPL board Mr. David Sserebe welcomed Vice Chairman UPL David Sserebe, welcomed MTN back home to Ugandan football, and pondered that “The memories are great; the future is going to be far, far greater.”
On his part, Mr. Bernard Bainamani, the UPL Chief Executive, endorsed the brand when he said, “MTN is a big brand. The coming on board of MTN is a vote of confidence for other big brands to follow suit.”
The Ugandan soccer administration units recognition of MTN’s contribution in promoting Ugandan football through broadcasting the SUPL on TV is a milestone that will see the game reach wider audiences across the country. To compliment the TV live broadcasts, MTN together with Sanyuka TV will activate live viewer parks in different locations especially in Kampala for the public to watch the games and in the process win various prizes through on ground activations. The live match broadcasts and activations will also be extended onto partner radio stations including Radio 4, Akaboozi, Buddu FM and Star FM, plus on MTN social media pages. All information about league as well as activation updates will be hosted on the MTN sports microsite at www.sports.mtn.co.ug
The partnership will also see bigger MTN brand presence on match days through activations such as “Ekituuti”, where fans will share their opinions of games live on TV, and the “MTN Fans’ Corner” where fans interact with players and coaches.
On his part, Next Media Services Group CEO, Mr. Kin Kariisa, said, “We are delighted for this partnership – MTN Uganda have been great facilitators of our broadcast of the league to date, and to see them extend this impact to the players, clubs, and secretariat only further strengthens our product.”
Speaking at the press conference, Somdev Sen, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer said that: “With the reopening of the economy and permitting of social activities, the timing to energize local football is perfect. This move to recognize the people and institutions that promote local football is a sure way of growing this much-loved sport in our country.”
The StarTimes Uganda Premier League (SUPL) is the biggest local football league in Uganda with 320 scheduled matches in the 2020/21 season, 100 of these matches will be broadcast live as a function of MTN’s broadcast sponsorship package. The league now enters the 2nd half with a game on 09th February 2022 between MTN sponsored KCCA FC and URA at the MTN Phillip Omondi Stadium.
The tournament features 15 clubs with over 400 players and each club will have an appearance on TV during the season. The tournament has an estimated viewership of over 10 – 15 million Ugandans with 3- 5 matches shall be broadcast live weekly.
The cash prizes for the MTN Fans player of the match, player and coach of the month, as well as the Fans Player, Coach and Club of the season, plus the cash contributions to all the SUPL clubs at the end of the season will be announced in due course on the MTN sports microsite www.sports.mtn.co.ug.
MTN has over the years been involved and has supported Uganda football at national, club and community levels. The company is passionate about soccer as evidenced by its sponsorship of the Onduparaka FC and KCCA FC. MTN recently entered a partnership with KCCA FC to support the refurbishment of their Lugogo based home, now called the MTN Omondi Stadium.
Since it opened shop in Uganda over 20 years ago, MTN’s proactive role in sports has positioned the brand as the biggest supporter of local sports through its sponsorships, partnerships and active engagements with the various sports disciplines including football and athletics among others.
About the MTN Uganda
MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the NTO license granted by the UCC. Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Our services are delivered through a network of 119,077 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. At end of June 2021, MTN Uganda had 14.9 million subscribers, 8.6 million MoMo users and 4.7 million active data users. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and
www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech and digital businesses.
For more information, please contact:
MTN Uganda Press Office: mediadesk.ug@mtn.com
Rhona Arinaitwe: Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com or 0772 123 067
Prisca Baike: prisca.baike@tbwa-uganda.com or 0782 654 083
MTN Uganda has launched a dedicated online Home of UG Sports dubbed “MTN Sports” to give all Ugandan sports enthusiasts a one-stop point for all sports related news, analysis, and updates. This innovation is hinged on the MTN’s belief in delivering the benefits of a modern connected world to its customers.
Since it opened shop in Uganda over 20 years ago, MTN’s proactive role in sports has positioned the brand as the biggest supporter of local sports through its sponsorships, partnerships and active engagements with the various sports disciplines including football and athletics, among others.
While launching the MTN Sports website, Somdev Sen, the MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer said that MTN Uganda decided to launch the MTN sports website, a digital sports hub, to provide sports fans with comprehensive sports coverage of the very best that Ugandan sports has to offer. This idea was further fueled by the prevailing circumstances that have limited fans physical involvement at sports facilities. “That is why we have decided to bring the fun and thrill closer on the screens of our customers,” said Somdev
“Over the years, we have been big supporters of various sports disciplines in Uganda, including MTN Marathon, our support to broadcasting of the StarTimes Uganda premier football league, our continued partnership with local football clubs like KCCA and Onduparaka and support to talent development in other institutions, among others. Local sports, continues to be a major pillar in our sponsorship strategy,” Somdev further said.
Somdev noted that across the world these days, the excitement of sports has spread beyond the confines of stadia and captured the hearts and minds of many through the internet. As such, the new MTN sports website is now part of this digital outbreak of the sports fever across the country. While stadiums may remain empty due to the pandemic, sports fans will continue to remain in the thick of it through this exciting sports website.
Today, MTN Uganda remains known as the founder of the biggest Marathon and the inspiration behind the running culture through which a number of athletes have been nurtured. Additionally, the MTN is also the official broadcast partner of the StarTimes Uganda Premier League and official sponsor of Onduparaka FC as well as KCCA FC.
Visit sports.mtn.co.ug to catch the latest in your favourite sport and to know more about your favourite Ugandan sports personalities, features and more. Also keep up with our own Joshua Cheptegei and the Uganda Olympics team as they go for glory in Tokyo, all on the MTN sports website, the Home of UG Sports.
—–ENDS—–
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As at 31st December 2018, MTN Uganda recorded 11.2 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug or follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnug or www.twitter.com/mtnugpro for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Our strategy, Ambition 2025, is anchored on building the largest and most valuable platform business, with a clear focus on Africa.
For more information, please contact:
The mediadesk.ug@mtn.com or 0772 123 067 or Rhona.Arinaitwe@mtn.com
Emmy Olaki at emmy.olaki@tbwa-uganda.com or 078 260 5997