MTN Uganda emerged as a standout winner at the 8th Annual Marketers Fireplace held on November 7, 2025, at Hotel Africana. The telecommunications giant took home two prestigious recognitions: G.O.A.T Brand of All Time (Legacy) and G.O.A.T Advertising Campaign of All Time for the celebrated Bosco Katala campaign.
The Uganda Marketers Society event, themed “The G.O.A.T. (The Greatest of All Time),” brought together over 250 marketing professionals, industry pioneers, and Gen Z marketers to explore the evolution of marketing in Uganda. The gathering celebrated the shift from traditional methods to data-driven, customer-centric practices while honoring those who have shaped the industry.
MTN’s presence extended beyond the awards podium. The company actively participated in several informative GOAT panels throughout the day, with Senior Manager Brand & Communications Martin Sebuliba sharing valuable insights on brand evolution. During his panel discussion, Sebuliba emphasized that every strong brand stands on a clear belief system, one that guides every action, message, and moment. His perspective highlighted how consistency becomes culture when belief drives behavior.
The event also served as the platform for MTN Uganda to launch MTN Ads, a groundbreaking self-service digital advertising platform. This launch represents a significant milestone in the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which focuses on building inclusive digital platforms for Africa’s progress.
MTN Ads offers businesses direct access to over 22 million MTN subscribers nationwide, creating a vital bridge between brand messages and vast, localized audiences. The platform uses rich, verified first-party data to enable sophisticated targeting based on demographic, behavioral, and location insights. Restaurants can reach nearby users, while financial institutions can connect with clients based on spending habits, ensuring advertisements remain highly relevant and non-intrusive.
The platform’s self-service nature allows advertisers, from local startups to multinational brands, to create and manage campaigns in real time. This flexibility offers immediate optimization opportunities and puts control directly in the hands of marketers. Attendees praised the platform’s user-friendly interface, affordability, and ability to deliver measurable results through transparent, real-time analytics.
Additional benefits include a zero-rated branded page on the MTN website, meaning customers can access business pages without using mobile data, plus a free business directory listing. These value-added services complement the platform’s core advertising capabilities.
Industry observers described the MTN Ads launch as a game changer for Ugandan marketers. The platform empowers businesses to shift from relying on global, generic data to utilizing real-time, local insights, maximizing advertising return on investment through precision and relevance.
The recognition of MTN Uganda’s legacy brand status and its iconic Bosco Katala campaign reflects years of consistent excellence in connecting with Ugandan consumers. These awards, combined with the launch of MTN Ads and the company’s active participation in industry conversations, reinforce MTN’s position as a leader in both marketing innovation and brand building.
The event also recognized other industry titans, including George Arodi of Uganda Baati Limited for his transformative leadership and Daniel Ligyalingi of MAAD Advertising, celebrated as the godfather of media buying in Uganda. These honors reflected the evening’s broader mission of celebrating sustained excellence across generations of marketing professionals.
For MTN Uganda, the evening represented both a celebration of past achievements and a bold step toward the future of digital advertising in Uganda. As the company continues to innovate and lead, its commitment to connecting brands with communities remains at the heart of its success.
