Overview:

Staff showcased the diverse Ugandan cultures as they welcomed her to the Pearl of Africa.

Sylvia Mulinge on Monday officially started work as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Uganda amid fanfare and special welcome from staff at the telecom giant.

MTN Uganda staff welcomed the new CEO at the new company headquarters along Jinja road. Staff showcased the diverse Ugandan cultures as they welcomed her to the Pearl of Africa.

 “It is a great pleasure to be at MTN Uganda. Thanks to MTN Staff for showcasing the beautiful pieces of Ugandan culture this morning. I am looking forward to being in Uganda. Asante Sana,” Mulinge said in her speech.

Mulinge is replacing Wim Vanhelleputte who has been promoted to a regional role as operating executive for the West and Central African Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville within the MTN Group.

She joins from Safaricom Kenya where she served as Chief Consumer Business Officer for the Group.

Mulinge addresses the MTN staff.

“A seasoned executive, she brings with her a passion for transforming customers’ lives using technology,” MTN said in a statement.

Mulinge, who was first appointed to lead Vodacom Tanzania in 2018, failed take up the job after Tanzanian government refused to issue her with the work permit.

She joined Safaricom in 2007 and has occupied various senior roles over the years, including head of retail, head of sales, and director of consumer business.

She is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree.

Mulinge joins MTN Uganda at the time the company is recording tremendous growth both in terms of revenue and customer subscribers.

MTN staff listen to their new CEO.

MTN Uganda, which listed on Uganda Securities Exchange last year through an initial public offering, recorded a 5.8% growth in net profit to Shs 340.4billion for the year ended December 2021 on the back of a nearly 11% growth in subscribers to 15.7million.

The company said the one-off payment for interim operating license and contract termination of a service provider reduced its profitability. The payments consisted of Shs 51billion (US$14.1million) to Uganda Communications Commission for the period Oct.20, 2018,when MTN’s second previous national operator license expired, to July 1, 2020 when the new National Telecom Operator (NTO) license was issued, and Shs11.3billion (US$3million) paid to Invesco Uganda for service contract termination.