Uganda’s mobile companies to get global exposure

Kampala

New mobile communication businesses now have a platform to globally show case their innovative products, following the launch of Mobile Monday Kampala (MoMoKla) in Uganda. MoMo, a global network of mobile industry professionals and startups has a presence in 100 cities globally. The Kampala chapter was officially unveiled by Mr Igeme Nabeta, the chairman of Parliament’s ICT Committee on Monday in Munyonyo. It is now the second African chapter after Mobile Monday South Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Jari Tammisto, the chief executive officer and president Mobile Monday Global said, the chapter will act as a platform to promote the growth and development of the mobile industry in Uganda. He said it will be the medium through which local mobile communication start ups, will relay their innovations to international audiences and investors. “Whatever you want to do, we will help you to promote it globally,” Mr Tammisto told the over 100 participants.

MoMo, with headquarters in Finland, promotes mobile businesses in the world through annual Mobile Peer Awards, which offer innovators and entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their business ideas and solutions to investors and communication professionals.

To Compliment MoMo’s efforts, Dr Tim Kelly, the lead information and communication technology (ICT) policy specialist at the World Bank’s Information for Development Programme, said the bank is set to establish an ICT incubation centre in Africa to support related mobile innovations on the continent.

The centre would offer support to mobile enterprises through training and financial linkages to boost innovations related to agriculture health and business. Teemu Kiijärvi, one of the founders of Mobile Monday South Africa, said the launch of a Kampala chapter gives way to collaboration between ICT and mobile innovators in Uganda and South Africa.