Africa-Press – Uganda. Evolve Group Africa marked the fifth anniversary of the Uganda Marketing Excellence Awards (UMEAS) with a red-carpet, black-tie gala on Thursday, December 11, at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
The event celebrated marketing excellence, innovation, and sustainability under this year’s theme, “Promoting sustainable marketing excellence.”
To commemorate the milestone anniversary, the organisers hosted a pre-gala marketing masterclass titled the State of Marketing Address Uganda 2025.
The session sparked discussions on the future of marketing, brand communication, and innovation in Uganda, featuring keynote speakers Robin Bairstow, Irene Byarugaba, Emmanuel Otuko, Barbra Arimi, Robert Victor Nsibirwa, and John Paul Okwi.
Nominees, selected by the six-member UMEAS Marketing Council, competed across thirteen categories. This year introduced a new category, Brand of the Year, judged solely by the council.
Paul Businge, co-founder of Evolve Group Africa, explained that the council held a 60 percent stake in the public vote categories, while the public contributed 40 percent of the decision for seven of the thirteen awards.
“The Marketing Council played a critical role in ensuring professionalism at every stage of the process, as the awards aim to maintain credibility, transparency, and fairness,” Businge said.
The council, comprised of Dr. Benedict Mugerwa, Ngulumi Immaculate Nabatte, John Paul Okwi, Rogers Anguzu, Barbara Arimi, and Jackie Namara, focused on sustainability this year, assessing whether campaigns used resources responsibly and delivered lasting value.
A detailed evaluation report will be released by the UMEAS secretariat to guide stakeholders on performance outcomes.
The gala and masterclass were sponsored by I&M Bank, NSSF, NBS TV, Afromobile, Nexcom, Centenary Bank, Crown Beverages, Pepsi and Aquafina, Uganda Breweries Limited, and Kampala Serena Hotel, among others.
Esteemed marketer Susan Nsibirwa emerged as the standout winner of the night, receiving the prestigious UMEAS Marketing Pioneer Award, the highest honour of the evening.
Other winners included:
Advertising Campaign of the Year: I Am Streetwise, KFC Uganda
Best Use of Partnership Marketing: Menstrual Hygiene Management Project, World Vision Uganda in partnership with Absa Bank
Best Use of Digital Marketing: Spinny & Friends 2025
PR Campaign of the Year: Airtel Spire Crisis Management Campaign
Best Use of Experiential Marketing: Don Julio 1942 Launch at Mezo
Best Not-for-Profit or Social Good Campaign: Stanbic National Schools Championship, Battle of Champions
Best Use of Sustainability: Stanbic National Schools Championship, Battle of Champions
Best Innovation: Sapphire Club by I&M Bank Uganda
Rising Agency of the Year: Node Group Consult
Agency of the Year: Maad McCann
Marketing Campaign of the Year: GOtv Ka Weekie
The awards highlighted not only creativity and innovation but also the growing emphasis on sustainability and measurable impact in Uganda’s marketing industry.
By recognising excellence across diverse campaigns and platforms, UMEAS continues to set a benchmark for professional marketing standards and inspires brands to push the boundaries of creativity and social responsibility.
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