East African Business Week

KAMPALA, UGANDA- MTN Uganda last week joined a campaign to save the environment by announcing it will plant 150,000 trees by the end of the year.
The company chief executive officer, Mr. Themba Khumalo, explained that the trees would be planted in commemoration of the 150million subscribers the company has recorded across its 21-country patch.
In Uganda, MTN has more than 7million subscribers, 500,000 of whom joined the network between January and March this year.
Khumalo made the announcement at the closing ceremonies of the "21 Days of Y'ello Care" initiative. The "21 Days of Y'ello Care" initiative is an annual MTN staff initiative in which MTN staffs collect personal funds for a community cause, and actively implement community activities.
"This year has seen us channelling our energies to Environmental conservation. In line with the UN's declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Forests, we have planted 5,000 trees in an effort to revitalise a natural forest that has been depleted over the years at Nsamizi Institute of Social Development in Mpigi district.
"We believe that we should be able to give back to the people in our communities, the very people who support us, in a manner that is not only generous but is also reflective of the personal attachment we have to our communities," Khumalo added.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago welcomed the initiative, adding that "As Kampala City and Uganda we are happy when corporate organisations conduct programmes such as this. We will work together to make this a success for the good of the city and the country," noted Lukwago.
MTN staff also conducted an extensive waste disposal and sanitation exercise in Mulago, Kyebando, Kamwokya and Nsooba areas of Kawempe Divison, one of the five divisions of Kampala City.
Khumalo indicated that the annual activity presents an occasion for MTN staff to give voluntary support to projects and charities in the communities within which they operate.
Last year's staff donations were directed to fighting malaria, Africa's number one killer disease and saw staff contributions going towards the purchase of mosquito nets which were distributed to pregnant women and children in several communities.
MTN staff concluded the programme by donating work tools including wheelbarrows, hoes, rakes, gloves and gum boots to the Kawempe Division leadership.