Colin Asiimwe returns as MultiChoice Uganda head of marketing

by Thinus Ferreira

Colin Asiimwe has returned to MultiChoice Uganda and his previous job as head of marketing, which he left three years ago in March 2022.

Colin Asiimwe replaces Lois Aber Kwikiriza who replaced him in 2022.

In his new-old job Colin Asiimwe will be responsible for the marketing of DStv Uganda, GOtv Uganda, as well as MultiChoice's streamer Showmax and its M-Net-run Pearl Magic TV channels.

Colin Asiimwe originally joined MultiChoice in 2019 and left in 2022. He returns from Kigali in Rwanda.

Outraged DStv Uganda subscribers threaten to cancel amidst growing price hike anger over MultiChoice Uganda's latest increase

by Thinus Ferreira  

Massive anger is building under DStv subscribers in Uganda after MultiChoice Uganda's decision to once again hike prices in the country in less than six months, with customers saying they're done and finally cancelling their DStv subscriptions.

MultiChoice Africa's latest price hike for DStv Uganda subscribers comes less than six months after the last one in April 2024, and will come into effect from October.

DStv Uganda subscribers have slammed MultiChoice over what it calls "an obscene money grab that's a disgusting slap in the face of loyal customers who already struggle to afford this overpriced, lacklustre service".

Ugandan consumers, struggling with inflation and a weak economy, say they can no longer afford luxury expenses like DStv and are finally cutting the cord after MultiChoice is pushing them beyond what they can afford.

MultiChoice Uganda is hiking DStv Premium from Shs290 000 to Shs300 000, while DStv Compact Plus will jump from Shs170 000 to Shs175 000. GOtv Supa is hiked from Shs69 000 to Shs71 000.

Rinaldi Jamugisa, MultiChoice Uganda communications manager, says MultiChoice Uganda is hiking prices again within six months due to "rising content production costs".

"Producing and acquiring high-quality content comes at a significant cost. Heavy investment is made in producing original content, delivering exclusive shows, broadcasting live sports or events and international programming, which contributes to our overall costs, among other drivers of price adjustments like economic conditions that we may not have control over."

MultiChoice won't show any gay content to DStv subscribers in that country - and likely wider - after Uganda passes harsh latest anti-LGBTQ law.

by Thinus Ferreira

After Uganda's government on Monday passed one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws criminalising the so-called "promotion and abetting of homosexuality", MultiChoice says it won't be showing any gay content on DStv in the country - although censoring content for pay-TV for Uganda could mean it's kept away for multiple other countries too.

MultiChoice makes use of satellite transponders for instance covering the whole of South Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa and West Africa as multi-country regions - as opposed to a satellite used per specific country.

This means that keeping Uganda's government happy through keeping LGBTQ content away and off the programming schedules of DStv's channels as they're beamed down through Eutelsat's transponder, is in effect a lowest-common-denominator type of soft-censorship of certain content in East African countries where Uganda's anti-gay laws are not applicable.

Reuters reports that Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni on Monday signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" - laws that now decree a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality.

In response to Uganda's new anti-LGBTQ laws, MultiChoice, in response to a media query after being asked its view on this, said the pay-TV operator will adhere to Uganda's laws. It means content that could be considered "promoting" LGBTQ people won't be shown on DStv.

"MultiChoice takes into account all laws and regulations under which we are governed and aim to adhere by those set rules in the countries in which we operate," MultiChoice says.

"We are a business that enriches the lives of many people through film and television in our quest to remain Africa's best-loved storyteller."

MultiChoice was asked how it will keep any LGTBQ content away from just Uganda, considering that the satellite transponder covers more countries than just Uganda. 

MultiChoice was asked if it had already done content interventions, for instance censorship of certain content in Uganda and since when this has been done.

MultiChoice declined to answer these questions.

Shifting strategy

Instead of outright censoring LGBTQ content, MultiChoice over the past number of years has shifted its programming and content allocation approach in two very specific ways in response to growing anti-gay sentiment in parts of Africa.

Firstly, MultiChoice has shifted the responsibility to international channel providers to package their programming schedules for channels on DStv with content that doesn't feature overt LGBTQ characters or themes.

Overseas channel providers have been asked to pro-actively not schedule certain content, to prevent the situation of having to pull content and change schedules after complaints from DStv subscribers and regulators in anti-LGBTQ countries.

In June 2022 Warner Bros. Discovery which ran a Pride Month content line-up on its TLC channel in South Africa for instance, self-censored and kept this content away from the TLC channel version running across MultiChoice's other satellite transponders so that it wouldn't air in anti-LGBTQ countries like Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.

Warner Bros. Discovery told TVwithThinus last year that it is "aware of the sensitivities in these regions and therefore TLC Pride isn't scheduled to air in these countries". 

In October 2015 Discovery Networks International was forced to pull the reality series I Am Jazz about a transgendered teen's struggle and life journey from TLC across Africa just before it was to begin broadcast following government censorship in Nigeria that impacted its screening across the entire continent.

In May 2016 NBCUniversal was forced to pull the second season of I Am Cait, a reality show about the transgender Caitlyn Jenner – formerly known as Bruce Jenner - from E! in Africa after complaints and a DStv TV-ban in Nigeria.

In July 2016, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, now Paramount Global, said it would be censoring an episode of The Loud House on Nickelodeon and won't be broadcasting it on its linear channel on DStv in Africa since it featured animated gay dads.

In June 2017 Kenya's Film Classification Board (KFCB) banned 7 kids cartoon for bogus reasons like saying one character "has a dick for a head", and that in another two characters of the same gender went on an (unseen) "implied romantic vacation", ordering MultiChoice Africa to remove Loud House, The Legend of Korra, Hey Arnold, Clarence, Steven Universe, Adventure Time and Star vs the Forces of Evil from DStv because of "homosexual themes".

In November 2017 Kenya banned the Disney Channel show Andi Mack because it featured a gay teenager, keeping it off television for the entire Africa, including South Africa.

Secondly, M-Net has also adapted its approach with its self-packaged M-Net, Africa Magic and Maisha Magic channel sets seen outside of South Africa.

M-Net (DStv 101) which has different regionalised channel feeds for South, East and West Africa is pro-actively keeping certain content away from DStv subscribers in East and West Africa which are shown in South Africa without any complaints, where the same timeslot on the DStv guide is filled with other shows.

In March this year eMedia launched Openview Ultra as a pay-TV add-on for its fast-growing Openview free-to-air satellite TV service in South Africa, and started with a gay bouquet consisting of the OUTtv and Fuse TV channels at a subscription fee of R75 per month.

SHOCKER. Six months after its last increase MultiChoice Uganda does another DStv price hike from April 2023 up to 10.25% as outraged subscribers slam pay-TV operator for 'garbage' content that's 'repeated and super old' .

by Thinus Ferreira

In a shocking move causing consumer outrage, MultiChoice Uganda is hiking DStv prices again from April 2023 seven months after its last DStv price hike in September 2022 in the country, with furious DStv subscribers slamming the pay-TV operator for its "repeated and super old" content.

MultiChoice Uganda blames the "economic outlook in Uganda prior to making this decision" for the increase of up to 10.25% in monthly DStv subscription fees, coming half a year after it hiked DStv prices in September 2022 by up to 7.6%.

MultiChoice Kenya is also hiking DStv prices from April 2023 for DStv subscribers in that East African country by up to 10%.

From April 2023 DStv Uganda subscribers will be paying more in Uganda shilling, with DStv Premium monthly subscriptions hiked from UX255 000 to UX275 000 (R1350) an increase of 7.84%, and DStv Compact Plus rising from UX150 000 to UX160 000, a MultiChoice price hike of 6.66%.

DStv Compact is increasing from UX95 000 to UX104 000 (up 9.47%), DStv Family is increasing from UX59 000 to UX64 000, up 8.47%, while DStv Access subscribers will be paying 10.25% more from UX39 000 to UX43 000 per month.

DStv Lumba subscribers will see their monthly subscription fee increased from UX15 000 to UX16 000, an increase of 6.66%.

The DStv XtraView and PVR Access fee is getting hiked from UX46 000 to UX50 000, an increase of 8.69%

DStv Uganda subscribers are slamming MultiChoice Uganda for the DStv price hike decision, saying DStv's content "are repeated and super old".

Reacting to the DStv price hike, a DStv subscriber in Uganda told MultiChoic that "when you look at your content amid increasing prices, it's hocus pocus. Apart from football, it's just garbage. Same old movies of 1990s. This is not fair at all".

DStv subscriber JonahKirabo told MultiChoice he's cancelling DStv, saying "Come on DStv, you increased prices in September which is just 5 months ago. It's not fair. You can as well come for your dish because I'm not paying this".

Simon Ssembiro remarked that "We are now live streaming Netflix and we have sites for football. After all, that's what most of us watch".

Innocent Ojangole says "You have twice increased prices in the last 6 months. We are tired of this monopoly, with Edward Amanyire, saying "I used to pay DStv Compact Plus. When you increased about 5 months ago, I moved to DStv Compact because that's what my budget allows. With these new rates, I am shifting to DStv Family. Keep increasing. Eventually, I won't afford to pay DStv Access".

Tinash says that "with so many alternative sources of televised entertainment, DStv Uganda has to find ways to retain their clients. Cost of living has increased but income hasn't Internet is now cheaper and streaming is way cheaper".

Ejoku Isaacs said that "this is definitely my last month for DStv subscription".

ALSO READ: SHOCKER. MultiChoice Kenya does second DStv price hike of up to 10% from April 2023 just 7 months after last fee increase, angry subscribers say they're cancelling and going to streaming.

MultiChoice Uganda hikes DStv and GOtv fees by up to 7.6% citing Uganda's inflation and 'current economic pressures'.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Uganda is hiking subscription fees for DStv and GOtv subscribers by up to 7.6% in the country from September, with DStv Uganda saying is making DStv more expensive because of "consumer inflation and current economic pressures facing Uganda".

"Please note that due to consumer inflation and current economic pressures facing Uganda, we are revising our prices effective 1 September 2022," MultiChoice Uganda is telling DStv subscribers in the country.

MultiChoice Kenya ais also hiking prices for DStv customers - by up to 9.5% from September 2022.

DStv Premium subscribers in Uganda will see a 6.7% increase from USh239 000 to USh255 000 per month. DStv Compact Plus subscribers will be paying 5.6% more from USh142 000 to USh150 000 per month.

DStv Compact is seeing a price hike of 6.7% from USh89 000 to USh95 000 per month, while MultiChoice is increasing DStv Family going from USh55 000 to USh59 000 by 7.2%.

DStv Access is increasing by 5.4% from USh37 000 to USh39 000 per month.

MultiChoice is hiking GOtv subscribers' monthly fees by 7.6% to USh14 000. GOtv Max is increasing from USh42 000 to USh45 000 which is an increase of 7.1%.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice Kenya announces price hike from September 2022 with lowest-tier DStv Access customers hit with whopping 9.5% increase.

Lois Aber Kwikiriza appointed as MultiChoice Uganda's latest head of marketing.

by Thinus Ferreira

Lois Aber Kwikiriza has been appointed as MultiChoice Uganda's new head of marketing.

Lois Aber Kwikiriza replaces Colin Asiimwe who was MultiChoice Uganda's head of marketing for the past two years.

Lois Aber Kwikiriza has a bachelor of arts in social sciences degree.

MultiChoice Uganda's unstable marketing division has struggled to calm the waters thepast few years since MultiChoice Uganda's torrid sex scandal in which marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi was forced to leave after her and her former MultiChoice Uganda boss Charles Hamya's torrid extra-marital sex scandal in the office was revealed by his wife to all MultiChoice staffers in an email that shocked the MultiChoice Uganda office and damaged the DStv Uganda brand. 

Then MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager Albert Ngambeki left after barely 7 months in August 2019 after he didn't get along with new MultiChoice Uganda boss Hassan Saleh. Colin Asiimwe has now exited, making pace for Lois Aber Kwikiriza.

"We are excited to have Lois Aber Kwikiriza, a powerhouse in brand and marketing join the team at MultiChoice to head the marketing department. We look forward to the great work that will be done as we amplify the MultiChoice brand in the Ugandan market," says Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda managing director in a statement.

Lois Aber Kwikiriza joins MultiChoice Uganda with 20 years marketing experience and her strengths are "strategy and concept development, project planning, with a strength in ideation and execution". According to MultiChoice Uganda she is "an excellent planner in tune with the current market dynamics".

Lois Aber Kwikiriza previously worked as marketing and brand manager for corporate and investment banking at Bank of Credit and Commerce at Stanbic Bank Uganda, was brand manager at Premium spirits at Uganda Brewery Limited and also the marketing manager at Total Energies Uganda.

"I am happy to join the home of great pay-TV entertainment, MultiChoice Uganda where I anticipate to provide additional value to the brand," she says in the prepared statement.

PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Uganda increases subscription fees by 6% from September 2021, cites Uganda's weak currency and inflation that are increasing content and operation costs.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Uganda has announced a big price hike of 6% for DStv Uganda and GOtv Uganda subscribers from September 2021, with the pay-TV operator that says it must increase monthly subscription fees because of the tough economic climate in the country and Uganda's weaker local currency and high inflation that has led to increased content costs and operation costs. 

MultiChoice Uganda is hiking its subscription fees similar to MultiChoice Kenya that also announced a price hike for DStv Kenya and GOtv Kenya subscribers from September 2021, as well as MultiChoice Tanzania hiking prices for DStv Tanzania and GOtv Tanzania subscribers.

MultiChoice Ghana is also hiking prices for DStv Ghana and GOtv subscribers in the West Africa country from September by up to over 6%.

MultiChoice Uganda says that its price increase has been approved by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

"MultiChoice Uganda has sought to endeavour that these prices are as low as possible, as well as accessible for Ugandans," says Joan Semanda Kizza, MultiChoice Uganda PR and communication manager.

"The updated fee schedule sees adjustments of an average of 6% for the DStv and GOtv customers. DStv and GOtv acknowledge their Ugandan customers, and consumers in general, remain under extreme pressure and have endeavoured to keep increases below inflation where possible."

"MultiChoice Uganda through its platforms DStv and GOtv has over the past year absorbed increased content costs and foreign exchange impacts, due to high inflation and operation costs while working tirelessly to ensure we provide an unrivalled bouquet of channels to watch and platforms to view them on," says Joan Semanda Kizza.

Colin Asiimwe, MultiChoice Uganda head of marketing, says "When we decide on pricing, we consider our costs like our satellites and distribution equipment; buying shows, movies, and channels; decoders; our infrastructure like playout facilities, monitoring services and customer touchpoints".

"We have structured our packages for affordability so that one package does not subsidize another. The same applies to all our other content. We charge customers on each package with a fair value for the channels they're getting."

"Some channels are superior and carry exclusive, first-run content which is very expensive, which is why specific shows are only included on our slightly higher-priced packages."

DStv Premium in Uganda is increasing from shs227 000 (R951) to shs239 000 (R1002), while DStv Compact Plus is increasing from shs135 000 to shs142 000. DStv Compact's monthly fee is climbing from shs84 000 to shs89 000.

DStv Family is increasing from shs52 000 to shs55 000, and DStv Access now at shs35 000 will cost shs37 000 from September 2021.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Kenya increases subscription fees by up to over 8% from September 2021, cites weakening of Kenyan shilling and pay-TV operator's increase in content costs.

ALSO READ: PRICE HIKE. MultiChoice Ghana increases DStv Ghana and GOtv Ghana subscription fees by up to over 6% from September 2021.

MultiChoice Uganda and M-Net expand Pearl Magic with the new Pearl Magic Prime premium channel for DStv Uganda subscribers; adding weekday series, telenovela and other local productions.

 

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net are adding the Pearl Magic Prime channel on channel 148 to the channel line-up of MultiChoice Uganda from Monday 8 February 2021, two years after Pearl Magic was launched.

Pearl Magic Prime will be a more premium channel in the same way that M-Net created 1Magic (Dstv 103) for higher-tiered DStv subscribers than its Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel in South Africa.

MultiChoice and M-Net launched Pearl Magic in October 2018 to help promote local Uganda TV content creation. 

MultiChoice and M-Net say they are "amplifying" the Pearl Magic experience with the premium version of the channel that will only be accessible to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Compact subscribers in Uganda.

Pearl Magic Prime will have a sprinkling of new shows, blended with several of the existing programming and shows on Pearl Magic like Date My Family Uganda, My Wedding Day, Pablo Live, Ekibbitu, Between Us, Half London and The Honourablez.

The package of new and exclusive Pearl Magic Prime shows will eventually over time be seen on Pearl Magic as well by lower-tiered DStv subscribers.

MultiChoice was asked for help with the Pearl Magic Prime information in a media enquiry last week but a publicist told TVwithThinus that a media release is only scheduled to be issued this week. 

"Our mandate as a channel is to provide our viewers with thought-provoking and entertaining content which captures Ugandan cultural nuances, we cannot wait for audiences to experience this new addition to our stable," says Timothy Okwaro, M-Net's director for East and Southern Africa channels, on M-Net's corporate web page.

MultiChoice says that it will continue to work with established and upcoming local producers to deliver content on the Pearl Magic channels in the region.

Pearl Magic Prime will at launch feature a drama entitled Prestige; as well as Mama and Me, a TV series that falls within the dramedy category; Sanyu that is a telenovela, as well as Story Yange, a docu-series that explores the humble beginnings, meteoric rises, devastating falls and crippling vices of the most popular social influencers in Uganda.

Prestige (Mondays to Fridays at 20:30) revolves around the ad executives of a family and their lust for power that is fuelled by love, jealousy, grief and hatred, featuring Alvin Emitu, Cleopatra Kyoheirwe, Evelyn Namtovu Kironde as well as Nana Kagga and Simon Kalema who are also producing the show.

Mama and Me (Wednesday and Thursday at 19:30) tells the story of a middle-aged teacher whose husband steals her money to give to his concubines.

After his accidental death, she is accused of murder and must use her wits to stay out of jail and to fight off in-laws who want to take her property. Mama and Me will star Debbie Bakuseka, Nambozo Gloria Catherine, Suubi Nalwanga and Kaylar Kirabo Elizabeth.

Sanyu (Mondays to Fridays at 20:00) tells the story of an innocent, rural teenage girl that is forced to leave her family and her pursuit for education to do a domestic worker's job for a complex, wealthy urban family where she falls in love with the son of her employer in a story of love, emotion and drama between the privileged and underprivileged. 

Some of the cast members of Sanyu are Tracy Kababiito, Timothy Lwanga, Farida Nabagereka, Blessing Naturinda, Kyeyune Shalom, Kuddzu Isaac, Allan Katongole, Marion Asilo Dorothy, Abbey Mukiibi Nkaaga, Housen Mushema, Elenour Nabwiso, Sharon Nalukenge and Racheal Nduhukire.

Story Yange (Saturdays at 20:00) profiles Uganda's influencers and the rise, setbacks and personal struggles of people like Dr Martin Aliker, Alex Mukulu, Princess Evelyn Komuntale, Judith Heard, Hon Dr Miria Matembe, Captain Mike Mukula, Irene Namubiru and Moses Matovu.

Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda, managing director, gave a speech on Monday morning at a media launch event for the Pearl Magic Prime TV channel that was held in Kampala.

Hassan Saleh's speech wasn't made available but he said in a press statement with prepared quotes that the additional creation of Pearl Magic Prime will see further investment in overall local content in Uganda's TV and film indsutry.

"Pearl Magic Prime is set to live up to its tagline of delivering more value to the customer like never before. We are proud of the role we are playing in the entertainment sector in Uganda and look forward to connecting with our audiences."

"As per our ongoing commitment to our customers, we will continue to enhance our viewer experience by offering more value to our customers. We are confident that Pearl Magic Prime will connect with DStv audiences and reinforce our strategic vision to be the leading African storyteller."

MultiChoice drops the DStv Explora Ultra decoder price, as well as decoder prices and subscription fees elsewhere in Africa, as 2021’s annual subscription hike looms for South African subscribers.

by Thinus Ferreira

After a month and a half on shelves, MultiChoice is dropping the price of its expensive new DStv Explora Ultra decoder in South Africa and also lowering decoder and monthly subscription fees across Africa, although the pay-TV operator's annual 2021 price hike for subscribers looms that will be announced later this month.

Specifically citing the debilitating economic impact that the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has had on African consumers and saying it's cutting prices to help them, MultiChoice is lowering DStv and GOtv decoder prices, as well as monthly subscription fees in countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

MultiChoice Nigeria is cutting the price on decoders as well as certain subscription fees from 1 February, while MultiChoice Uganda has slashed the price of a GOtv decoder and subscription set by a whopping 23% from yesterday.

Martin Mabutho, MultiChoice Nigeria's chief customer officer, on Friday told the media in a virtual briefing that DStv is slashing decoder and subscription prices to try and lessen the economic impact of Covid-19 on customers and that it is a reflection of the pay-TV provider's commitment to making quality entertainment more accessible.

Jonah Wegoye, MultiChoice Uganda's head of sales, told the media that "The slow recovery rate of the country’s economy from the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the recently concluded election period has compelled us at MultiChoice Uganda to consider a price reduction in a bid to ease our customers' burden and cushion them against financial distress".

While MultiChoice is increasing DStv subscription fees in Angola from 4 February, it is slashing subscription fees in notable markets like Ghana, Kenya and Zambia as well, saying that "in the most challenging of times, our priority is to ensure everyone has access to the best viewing entertainment at a price they can afford".

While MultiChoice South Africa hasn't announced any subscription price cut it quietly lowered the price of its expensive new DStv Explora Ultra decoder.

MultiChoice launched the new DStv Explora Ultra decoder in mid-November 2020 and gives DStv subscribers who want to use it access to streaming services like Netflix SA, Amazon Prime Video and Showmax, with more subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services that will be added over time.

MultiChoice launched the DStv Explora Ultra at a recommended retail price of R2 499 for just the decoder, and R3 699 when it includes installation. That compares to the DStv Explora 3 that can be bought for R999, or around R 1499 including installation.

MultiChoice told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry on Monday that it has now dropped the DStv Explora Ultra price by R200 - an indication that MultiChoice has now started subsidising this decoder.

"MultiChoice can confirm that the recommended retail price of the DStv Explora Ultra decoder has been adjusted with effect from 1 February 2021. The new recommended retail price is R2 299 for a standalone Explora Ultra, or R3 499 to have the new decoder installed".

When asked why the DStv Explora Ultra is so expensive, Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO, during the company's investors' call for its financial results for the 6 months until the end of September 2020, said that "what we've decided to do with the DStv Explora Ultra decoder is not to introduce any subsidies as yet, and that is why you see the pricing, if you compare with others, it's a little bit out of sync with what you have seen in the past."   

Tim Jacobs, MultiChoice chief financial officer (CFO), said that the DStv Explora Ultra decoder is "really targeted at early-adopters and we think that the initial target market is the guys that want to experiment a little bit".

"But like all of our products, we'll start and then we'll look at the market demand and then make judgement calls about whether to introduce pricing differentials [subsidies] later. It's a good starting point to simply introduce the DStv Explora Ultra into the market."

With the ongoing economic impact of Covid-19 in South Africa that hasn't diminished and with the annual 2021 DStv subscription increase looming from April for South African consumers - always announced in February - MultiChoice was also asked if it's going to increase monthly subscription fees, if it would keep them the same to help South African subscribers, or would be staying unchanged for certain DStv packages.

"DStv will announce any subscription price adjustments to customers in due course," says MultiChoice.

After increasing prices in the United States in late-2020 and from February 2021 in the United Kingdom, TVwithThinus asked Netflix whether it intends to increase prices for Netflix South Africa subscribers in 2021. Netflix SA didn't respond to the media enquiry that was made on Monday.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice: Here's the 4 reasons why the new DStv Explora Ultra decoder that comes with built-in Netflix access is so expensive at R2499.

MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager Albert Ngambeki exits after just 7 months 'with a little pinch of sadness and with great joy and pleasure' after appointment of his new boss Hassan Saleh.

Just 7 months after his appointment as MultiChoice Uganda's new marketing manager, Albert Ngambeki is exiting MultiChoice Africa's satellite pay-TV business "with a little pinch of sadness" a week after the appointment of Hassan Saleh as the new MultiChoice Uganda boss with whom he apparently doesn't get along with all.

Albert Ngambeki handed in his resignation just 7 months after his appointment on 22 January 2019 earlier this year to replace Phoebe Nakabazzi in the position.

Phoebe Nakabazzi was forced to leave after her and her former MultiChoice Uganda boss Charles Hamya's torrid extra-marital sex scandal in the office was revealed by his wife to all MultiChoice staffers in an email that shocked the MultiChoice Uganda office and damaged the DStv Uganda brand.

Albert Ngambeki, known as Albert Nga, reportedly doesn't get along with Hassan Saleh, with the conflict dating back to when they both worked at Coca-Cola.

"Dear colleagues, it is with a little pinch of sadness that I write this farewell message but at the same time with great joy and pleasure that I am flipping a page into the next part of my career journey," Albert Ngambeki wrote to MultiChoice Uganda staffers on Wednesday 7 August in an internal goodbye memo.

"I am proud to have worked with MultiChoice and the association I have had with DStv and GOtv will last a lifetime. Working here was a great pleasure and my decision to resign was taken after careful thought and deep consideration."

"One of the most important things in life’s journey is to know when to start as well as know when to stop. This I am confident has been the best timing for me amidst all the developments that have surrounded my workspace in the last 7 to 8 months," Albert Nga wrote.

Last week MultiChoice Uganda announced that Hassan Saleh is taking over as the new MultiChoice Uganda managing director from August 2019, replacing the disgraced Charles Hamya.

Hassan Saleh appointed as new MultiChoice Uganda boss, replaces Charles Hamya after his DStv workplace affair and sex scandal.

Hassan Saleh has been appointed as the new MultiChoice Uganda managing director from 1 August 2019.

Hassan Saleh replaces Charles Hamya who was general manager until the end of March 2019 and finally quit after pressure from MultiChoice Africa bosses.

Charles Hamya's exit followed the scandalous revelations of his torrid workplace affair and sex scandal with the DStv Uganda marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi who was fired.

Hassan Saleh was most recently the general manager of sales and distribution at MTN Sudan.

Previous work experience includes working at Coca-Cola and Century Bottling Limited, as well as in the telecoms industry with stints at Bharti Airtel Kenya Limited and Vodacom South Africa.

"I'm excited to return to Uganda and taking on the opportunity of leading MultiChoice Uganda at a time when the business is driving customer-centricity as a focal point of everything we do," says Hassan Saleh in a statement.

"My priority is to ensure that we continue to take our brands, product, and services to new heights and making sure we remain Uganda's most-loved video entertainment destination".

Maharage Chande, the MultiChoice regional director for the Northern Region that includes Uganda, says "MultiChoice is fortunate to have someone of Hassan's calibre and experience".

"We are at a crucial point in our business and under his leadership we will successfully realise our strategy in Uganda and take advantage of the market opportunities ahead. Hassan is a visionary leader with a solid understanding of our products, services and markets."

Hassan Saleh has a BA degree in social sciences from Makerere University, a Masters degree in international business from Reutlingen University of Business and Technology in Germany, a CIM post-graduate diploma in marketing management from (CIM) Berkshire in the United Kingdom and a post-graduate certificate in business administration from Leicester University in the United Kingdom.

E! presenter Morgan Stewart has been in an 'inappropriate relationship' for 2 years with former E! News executive - report.

The E! Entertainment (DStv 124) presenter Morgan Stewart has been in an "inappropriate relationship" with a former E! executive for two years while both are married the New York Post's Page Six reports.

Morgan Stewart who is married to her former Rich Kids of Beverly Hills co-star Brendan Fitzpatrick, has had an "inappropriate relationship" with former E! executive Bryce Kristensen, who is also married, Page Six reports, citing multiple insider sources.

An NBCUniversal insider said "the whole company knows" and that it was reported because it became so obvious. Both Morgan Stewart and Bryce Kristensen denied it.

Bryce Kristensen was let go in January after he was at E! for 9 years and during that time moved from manager of digital media to head of E!'s digital content lab and vice president of digital development and production at E! News.

Several other insiders spoke of how they witnessed various forms of flirting. E! assistants also suspected that their was more going on since the two would allegedly coordinate their hotel room stays, and another source said Morgan Stewart and Bryce Kristensen would even stay in the same hotel room together.

E! has allegedly started an investigation but didn't want to confirm it but said in a statement that "while we will not be commenting on this matter, E! takes all allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously, investigates accordingly and takes appropriate action".

"I think it was endemic of a problem at E!," said one source. "You have two married people at a company in this #MeToo environment with a bunch of young millennial women working there - it sends a horrible message."

Another source said "It's really hypocritical because she's on air talking about Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson and other affairs in the news, and for people who have knowledge about the situation, it's just, like, 'Her? Really?' It's not a good look for the company."

Kristen Stewart is part of the E! News team that is broadcast at 19:05 on E! Entertainment and a co-host of Nightly Pop.

In Africa the boss of MultiChoice Uganda, the married Charles Hamya will be gone at the end of this month as general manager of MultiChoice Uganda following his torrid office extra-marital affair with someone he worked with, with Phoebe Nakabazzi who is also out of her job as MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager.

Their embarrassing sex scandal cost both of them their positions after their MultiChoice office extra-marital affair was exposed to all staffers by Charles Hamya's angry wife who sent a company-wide email saying "This level of unprofessionalism should not be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for".

MultiChoice Africa staffers started wondering why MultiChoice allows extra-marital affairs between bosses and co-workers apparently without consequences when Charles Hamya returned in October 2018 as if nothing happened but at the beginning of 2019 the shamed MultiChoice Uganda boss finally decided to quit following apparent pressure from MultiChoice Africa leadership.

Phoebe Nakabazzi fired as MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager after tawdry extra-marital office affair with boss Charles Hamya who finally decided to quit.

 Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi

Media in Uganda are reporting that Phoebe Nakabazzi, MultiChoice Uganda's marketing manager has been fired, following an embarrassing sex scandal after the MultiChoice office extra-marital affair was exposed between her and her boss, Charles Hamya, by his angry wife.

Charles Hamya finally decided to quit earlier this month and will be gone by the end of March.

Albert Ngabirano has now apparently been appointed in the position of head of marketing for MultiChoice Uganda. Albert Nga previously served as GOtv marketing manager and has worked at MultiChoice Uganda for over 6 years.

Phoebe Nakabazzi is out of her position, as is Charles Hamya, following the shocking disclosure by Charles Hamya's wife, the long-suffering Crusid Matovu in July 2018, when she sent an email, circulated to all MultiChoice Uganda staffers of her husband's trashy behaviour and illicit office romance with a fellow MultiChoice staffer working under him.

Crusid Matovu in an email detailed Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi's extra-marital affair and their secret hotel trysts that she said "shouldn't be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for".

Crusid Matovu said the MultiChoice Uganda top executives have "proven that they do not value marriage or work ethics. This level of unprofessionalism should not be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for and for that matter I no longer want to be associated with both parties".

The MultiChoice Africa sex scandal forced Charles Hamya to first take leave in August 2018.

Then MultiChoice staffers started wondering why MultiChoice allows extra-marital affairs between bosses and co-workers apparently without consequences when Charles Hamya returned in October 2018 as if nothing happened.

At the beginning of this month the controversial and shamed MultiChoice Uganda boss finally decided to quit following apparent pressure from MultiChoice Africa leadership. He will be leaving MultiChoice Uganda on 31 March 2019 as general manager.

BREAKING. Charles Hamya finally quits as MultiChoice Uganda boss after torrid workplace extra-marital sex scandal.

The controversial and shamed MultiChoice Uganda boss, Charles Hamya, has finally decided to quit following the shocking sex scandal that engulfed him and DStv Uganda marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi after his sad and upset wife exposed their torrid MultiChoice Uganda workplace extra-marital affair toall staffers in an email.

Following pressure from MultiChoice Africa leadership, Charles Hamya  - who was initially reluctant to resign - decided to quit and will be leaving MultiChoice Uganda at 31 March 2019.

It follows after Charles Hamya's sex scandal that damaged not just MultiChoice Africa, MultiChoice Uganda and DStv Uganda but also the morale of staffers working at MultiChoice and wondering why MultiChoice would allow a person to continue to work as the leader without repercussions whilst creating an untenable working environment.

In an email to all MultiChoice Uganda staffers, Charles Hamya, tried to put a positive spin on his imminent departure, starting off by saying he will be celebrating "22 years of service at MultiChoice Uganda" but not saying a word about the nasty details of cheating on his wife, Crusid Matovu, that has now derailed his career.

"I will, effective 31 March 2019, step down from my current position as general manager," Charles Hamya, who owns share in the company, wrote staffers.

"It has been my singular honour and privilege to have worked with each and every one of you over the years," writes Charles Hamya - who of course enjoyed special privilege working closely with Phoebe Nakabazzi.

In late-July Charles Hamya took unexpected leave following the expose of his extra-marital affair to all MultiChoice Uganda workers, with Willem Hattingh who took over as acting MultiChoice Uganda general manager.

It came after his wife, Crusid Matovu, in an email to MultiChoice Uganda staffers, revealed the pain, heartache and frustration of Charles Hamya's torrid affair with the DStv Uganda marketing manager.

Crusid Matovu in an email detailed Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi's extra-marital affair and their secret hotel trysts that she said "shouldn't be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for".

Crusid Matovu said the MultiChoice Uganda top executives have "proven that they do not value marriage or work ethics. This level of unprofessionalism should not be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for and for that matter I no longer want to be associated with both parties".

In ongoing MultiChoice sex scandal DStv staffers are wondering if it's okay to have an extra-marital affair at the office without apparent consequences as DStv Uganda boss Charles Hamya returns to the office where his marketing manager lover Phoebe Nakabazzi works.

Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi

A MultiChoice sex scandal in Africa keeps unfolding as the married MultiChoice Uganda general manager Charles Hamya is back at the office according to DStv Uganda staffers - the place where the MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi works who and who he has been having an extra-marital affair with.

Staffers at Naspers' pay-TV arm in the African country are wondering if it is okay to have an extra-marital affair at the office, as well as what message it is sending not just inside MultiChoice but to the corporate world and the TV industry in Uganda, and Africa, at large.

In late-July a MultiChoice sex scandal saw Charles Hamya take abrupt leave after his long-suffering wife, Crusid Matovu, in an email to MultiChoice Uganda staffers, revealed the pain, heartache and frustration of Charles Hamya's torrid affair with the DStv Uganda marketing manager.

Crusid Matovu in an email detailed Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi's extra-marital affair and their secret hotel trysts that she said "shouldn't be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for".

Crusid Matovu said the MultiChoice Uganda top executives have "proven that they do not value marriage or work ethics. This level of unprofessionalism should not be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for and for that matter I no longer want to be associated with both parties".

Charles Hamya went on abrupt leave "to attend to a family issue that found its way to the work place".

Willem Hattingh took over as acting MultiChoice Uganda general manager while Charles Hamya went to try and sort out his personal life and relationships at home and at work after the nasty private details that spilled into the public eye and inside MultiChoice Uganda's corporate corridors.

Phoebe Nakabazzi apparently stayed at work but kept a low profile while Albert Nga did the public appearances as DStv Uganda marketing manager, for instance when M-Net launched its new Pearl Magic channel on DStv at a press event earlier this month.

DStv Uganda staffers are however now buzzing that Charles Hamya is back at work with Phoebe Nakabazzi - apparently without any consequences or shame - and wondering how a boss can have a multichoice of romantic entanglements with different women, including one working for him.

DStv staffers are speaking out about how MultiChoice allegedly warned them not to talk to the public about the Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi sex scandal. "Our bosses are now fully back in office," said a MultiChoice Uganda sales representative to an Uganda gossip site.

Charles Hamya reportedly didn't respond to emails sent to him and Tina Wamala, MultiChoice Uganda publicist reportedly couldn't be reached for comment.

MultiChoice Uganda adds Pearl Magic, packaged by M-Net, as a new DStv Uganda and GOtv channel to help promote localised Uganda TV content production.

MultiChoice Uganda on Monday launched Pearl Magic as a new TV channel on DStv Uganda and GOtv Uganda, packaged by M-Net, to broadcast local Uganda entertainment content and to help with the promotion and creation of local TV content in the African nation.

Pearl Magic follows Zambezi Magic that MultiChoice Africa launched in July 2015 for Southern African viewers, excluding South Africa.

Similar to Zambezi Magic, M-Net will buy and broadcast series and films from Uganda filmmakers and producers if it meets passable technical requirements. A lot of producers and filmmakers in Uganda however still have a huge struggle to produce anything near adequate content for TV broadcast.

MultiChoice Uganda will also have to be careful not to upset the Uganda government and censors in the country with MultiChoice Zambia that self-censored and caved under pressure from the Zambian government in November 2017 and yanked one of the local shows made specifically for the channel, Talk with Kwangu, off the air.

Pearl Magic available on DStv Uganda on channel 161 and on GOtv on channel 304 will show music, reality shows, films and telenovelas.

Programming on Pearl Magic will include localised shows like the music programmes Beyond the Beat, The Code and Jechilli; TV series like Mistakes Girls Do, 5@Home, Love Makanika, the reality show Jangu Tulye, as well as Indian telenovelas dubbed into Luganda like Doli Armaanko Ki.

"Pearl Magic will include everything that is Ugandan," says Albert Nga, MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager.

"It will showcase what we are made of and are able to produce. Bring the content and we shall schedule and load it. We had to start from somewhere and we shall continue to push Ugandan content".

Gerald Sserunjoji who heads up the Association of Producers in Uganda says "this is something we have waited for for several years. The industry applauds MultiChoice for such an opportunity they have extended to us."

MultiChoice sex scandal sees DStv Uganda general manager, Charles Hamya take leave as wife slams his torrid affair with DStv marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi, and details their secret hotel trysts that 'shouldn't be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for'.

Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi

A MultiChoice sex scandal that has engulfed MultiChoice Uganda has seen Charles Hamya, general manager of Naspers' pay-TV operation in the African country, go on leave for a month after his wife exposed his torrid extra-marital affair with MultiChoice Uganda marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi to DStv Uganda staffers in an email.

Willem Hattingh is now taking over as acting MultiChoice Uganda general manager while Charles Hamya is on leave for a month to try and sort out his personal life and relationships at home and at work after the nasty private details spilled into MultiChoice Uganda's corporate corridors.

Since Charles Hamya has been unable to properly manage his personal life, it's raising serious corporate management and reputation questions at MultiChoice Uganda and whether Charles Hamya can return as DStv Uganda boss.

If he returns - and if Phoebe Nakabazzi remains in her position as the marketing manager responsible for MultiChoice Uganda's public image - it will raise questions about what kind of message MultiChoice will be sending to not just DStv staffers and customers but the broader public if  people with this type of tarnished reputations remain in their leadership roles.

Charles Hamya's trashy affair, brought into the workplace by his estranged wife, has dragged the MultiChoice Africa operation in the country into scandal, damaging the company's image with the public and DStv subscribers who know MultiChoice as a pay-TV service and not as a place where the boss has a multichoice of romantic entanglement with different women.

On Thursday Charles Hamya's angry and clearly frustrated wife, Crusid Matovu, sent an email to MultiChoice Uganda workers, exposing the torrid, secret and ongoing affair between her husband, Charles Hamya, and Phoebe Nakabazzi, both working together but also having an illicit romantic affair at MultiChoice Uganda headquarters in Kampala.

Crusid Matovu said she wants DStv staffers, subscribers and the public to know that Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi - described by some of her former colleagues as a "corporate climber" - have been carrying on an extra-marital affair, including things like a secret tryst in a Dubai hotel, the Hyatt Regency in Dubai Creek.

According to Crusid, Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi "started having an affair shortly after Nakabazzi joined the company" in 2015 - something that Crusid tried to fight when she discovered her philandering husband's ways. She however failed.

According to insiders Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi apparently attended all MultiChoice Africa "out-of-country trainings" together.

Crusid Matovu who met Charles Hamya in 2011 and got married in May 2016 after a 5-year relationship, said she wants to "bring to light the unethical actions of two of your employees who also happen to be in leadership positions within the company".

Crusid Matovu discovered that Charles Hamya is having an affair with MultiChoice Uganda's marketing manager Phoebe Nakabazzi behind her back, telling DStv Uganda staffers that "After multiple attempts to resolve this matter privately, this affair has continued against our marital vows."

Crusid also slammed Phoebe Nakabazzi, telling her DStv Uganda colleagues that her affair "continued to disrespect my marriage despite many attempts to cease her mistress-like behaviours with Charles. Her most recent act of devaluing my marriage was on a recent trip she took to Dubai with Charles two weeks ago".

Charles Hamya and Phoebe Nakabazzi "stayed at Hyatt Regency in Dubai Creek and later checked into Towers Rotana apartments" for a multiple day Dubai stay, wrote Crusid, showing an email from Charles Hamya informing the hotel to check Phoebe Nakabazzi in and to charge the room to his personal credit card where he would also be checking in later.

Crusid Matovu says the MultiChoice Uganda top executives have "proven that they do not value marriage or work ethics. This level of unprofessionalism should not be what MultiChoice Uganda stands for and for that matter I no longer want to be associated with both parties".

Charles Hamya is now gone and taking leave for a month "to attend to a family issue that found its way to the work place".

With the MultiChoice Uganda extra-marital affair exposed in public, TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice Africa for comment.

"MultiChoice is not able to comment on the recent correspondence regarding the conduct of MultiChoice Ugandan employees.  These matters are outside of the business operations and pertain to the personal and private lives of employees," said MultiChoice Africa.

"MultiChoice’s culture and values establish the high levels of professionalism and integrity embodied in its code of conduct. Should evidence show that these are not being maintained, our internal processes and procedures will be applied."

Neither Charles Hamya nor Phoebe Nakabazzi could be reached for comment.

MultiChoice Uganda boss Charles Hamya not fired says MultiChoice Africa, as DStv Uganda's call centre is outsourced with staffers axed.

MultiChoice Africa has slammed reports that he has been fired as fabrication, saying MultiChoice Uganda boss Charles Hamya has not been let go and is on sabbatical leave.

Reports surfaced the past week that Charles Hamya is out and that as Multichoice Uganda's long-serving general manager, he was asked to step down for at least 6 months for an internal investigation into allegations of serious mismanagement to be completed.

Apparently 80 other MultiChoice staffers have also been fired but another report pegs it at 50 staffers who got axed.

This is basically due to a decision by MultiChoice to outsource its DStv call centre to ISon BPO Uganda, something that according to MultiChoice Uganda spokesperson Tina Wamala was done "after careful consideration and assessment of our call centre".

"Affected staff were engaged early enough to be aware of the transition," says MultiChoice Uganda, saying the outsourcing of MultiChoice Uganda's call centre "would allow us to be more efficient and improve customer service".

Willem Hattingh from South Africa is currently serving as MultiChoice Uganda acting general manager.

MultiChoice Africa in response to a media enquiry tells TVwithThinus that "Charles Hamya has not been fired by MultiChoice Uganda – he is on sabbatical leave – he recently appeared at a press conference with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) over a much more serious matter taking place in Uganda over the licensing of all pay TV operators in the country – in his role of general manager MultiChoice Uganda and a representative of the Media Owners of Uganda Association".

MultiChoice Uganda joins growing list of African countries where MultiChoice is cutting the price of monthly DStv subscription fees.

MultiChoice Uganda is cutting the price of DStv Uganda subscriptions from 1 November 2017, following the lead of a growing number of African countries including Kenya, Zambia and Ghana where DStv already started to slash prices since August this year.

While DStv subscribers in South Africa have not seen any downward price adjustment to monthly subscription fees, DStv Uganda is now also lowering subscription fees across all its DStv bouquets from 1 November, saying it recognises that consumers are struggling.

MultiChoice Uganda's announcement of a price reduction comes a week after new pay-TV rival, Econet Media's Kwesé TV, officially launched in the Uganda market on 17 October.

The dramatic price reduction sees MultiChoice Uganda dropping monthly subscription fees in Uganda Shilling between 2.5% to a whopping 13.16%, with the price decrease getting bigger from the top to the lower-tiered bouquets.

Interestingly, Econet Media's Kwesé TV - although meant for any pay-TV consumer - is specifically aimed at the lower pay-TV market segment, which is where DStv Uganda has now announced the biggest price cuts.

DStv Premium is dropping 2.52% to Ugx 280,000, DStv Compact Plus is dropping 5.61% to Ugx 180,000, DStv Compact is dropping 5.43% to Ugx 115,000, DStv Family is dropping 10.11% to Ugx 60,000 and DStv Access is dropping 13.16% to Ugx 33,000.

"We recognise that our customers are living in tough economic times and want to reward them for their ongoing loyalty and support," says Charles Hamya, MultiChoice Uganda's general manager in announcing the DStv price cut for the country.

Making the announcement at a press conference at MultiChoice Uganda's office in Kololo, Uganda, Charles Hamya said "We want to do our part by adjusting the price of our DStv packages through making them more affordable while adding more value at the same time."

"The majority of our input costs are in US dollars and we hope we won't experience any further currency devaluations or other unexpected increases in costs for the remainder of the year. We will continue to review pricing from time to time, taking into account the economic conditions of our operations."

DStv Uganda subscribers will see their monthly subscription fees drop from 1 November. 

In addition DStv Uganda subscribers on the DStv Compact and DStv Compact Plus bouquets will get to see all of the SuperSport channels available to the top-tiered DStv Premium subscription for the first week of 2018.

DStv Access and DStv Family subscribers will get to see all of the SuperSport channels available to DStv Compact subscribers for the first week of 2018.

MultiChoice Uganda staffers allegedly defrauded DStv Uganda subscribers by exploiting currency fluctuations; some suspended staff now demand billions in shillings for 'embarrassment, stress'.

In a shocking case of alleged theft and fraud, Multichoice Uganda staffers allegedly defrauded DStv Uganda subscribers by skimming money off of their monthly payments by exploiting Uganda's volatile exchange rates.

ChimpReports first detailed the shocking allegations earlier this week of how currency fluctuations and vulnerabilities in this system, have allegedly been exploited by DStv Uganda cashiers to steal thousands from unsuspecting DStv Uganda subscribers between November 2015 and November 2016.

While Ugandan subscribers to DStv Premium had to pay in Uganda shillings a price of Shs 375,000 with a fixed exchange rate of Shs 3,750, the market rate ranged between Shs 3,200 to Shs 3,300.

"This means MultiChoice Uganda had approximately Shs 40,000 on each subscription. This happened for a full year but several agents noticed MultiChoice Uganda was making lots of money," a former MultiChoice Uganda staffer revealed.

"They would receive the shillings from the customers then go to a forex bureau, change it to dollars and post dollars on the MultiChoice Uganda system and retain the balance.

The story of alleged MultiChoice Uganda fraud becomes even more complicated and has now led to labour problems after MultiChoice Uganda ordered an internal investigation and then allegedly suspended all cashiers.

Over 20 MultiChoice Uganda cashiers were allegedly called to a disciplinary hearing, but MultiChoice Uganda then allegedly decided to either drop the case and demote the staffers, or has not yet taken against the suspended staffers.

Some of the workers, after lawyering up, told MultiChoice Uganda they now demand damages to be paid to them "in the sums of Shs 1.3 billion for the embarrassment, stress, and inconvenience among others which they state they have suffered and continue to suffer."

MultiChoice Uganda publicist Tina Wamala had no comment.