By Spy Uganda
Uganda’s leading brands were celebrated at the Serena Hotel on Friday night during the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 Awards, but behind the glitz and glamour, the findings painted a sobering picture: Africa still consumes more foreign brands than homegrown ones.
The Kampala gala, graced by State Minister for ICT and National Guidance Hon. Godfrey Baluku Kabyanga and MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge, brought together senior business leaders, policymakers, and innovators in a showcase of corporate excellence.
Launched in 2010, Brand Africa 100 has grown into the continent’s premier survey of consumer brand admiration, covering 31 countries representing 85% of Africa’s population and GDP. This year’s study revealed that just 18% of the brands most admired by Africans are made in Africa, underscoring the enduring dominance of global giants in African markets.
“Brand Africa is a mirror of Africa’s reality,” said Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairman of Brand Africa. “The challenge before us is to believe in our own. If Africans do not support African brands, we will remain economically dependent.”
He cited Kenya’s M-PESA, now operational in 11 countries, as proof that African innovations can achieve global scale, while pointing to Uganda’s own emerging champions—Movit, NBS, Centenary Bank, and Rwenzori—as brands with continental potential.
The ceremony also served as a rallying call for Ugandan businesses to expand beyond national borders. Joseph Kanyamunyu, CEO of Publics Africa Communications, the local organising partner, said the rankings highlight the need for collaboration between multinational and African firms. “When global and local brands work together, there is transfer of knowledge, expansion of markets, and most importantly, a change in the narrative of Africa on the global stage,” he said.
Minister Kabyanga praised Uganda’s liberalised economy and relative stability as fertile ground for brand growth. He lauded Movit for steadily building a strong presence in cosmetics and MTN Uganda for both its tax contribution and nationwide service reach. “This recognition will intensify competition, improve services, and expand networks—exactly what our economy needs,” he told participants.
The Kampala showcase followed the continental launch of the 2025 rankings in May at Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—the symbolic birthplace of African unity. The awards roadshow has since travelled through several African capitals, with Morocco and Algeria scheduled to host the North African editions later this month.
For Uganda, Friday’s celebration was about more than just trophies and recognition. It underscored a deeper challenge: how to transform admired local names into continental champions capable of shaping Africa’s economic narrative from within rather than consuming it from outside.
