BRAND ACTIVATIONS

MTN Uganda and Nissan come to the aid of struggling fruit vendor

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

Last year MTN gifted a vehicle to a single mother of five to replace her ‘death trap’ pickup. This year, they again came to the rescue.

One of the more eye-catching brand activations of 2024 was arguably MTN Uganda’s surprise handover of a new pickup truck to Night Ampurire, a struggling market fruit vendor and single mother of five who made headlines over the ‘death trap’ vehicle she was driving to make a living and feed her family.

Night Ampurire cried tears of joy when presented with her new vehicle last year. Photo: MTN Uganda

After learning of her plight via a TV news report, MTN Uganda arranged a Nissan double-cab for Night and then ‘ambushed’ her with the gift when she made her regular stop at Kitooro Market in Entebbe. 

 

Night’s excited reaction and tears of joy on receiving her new vehicle made headlines across the country. You can read all about that brand activation in the current issue (Issue 4 2024) of Strategic Marketing for Africa, the magazine of the African Marketing Confederation. 

 

A twist to the tale 

 

Recently, though, there was a twist to the tale when the vehicle broke down and Night withdrew her savings to pay a mechanic to repair it. When, after two weeks the vehicle was not returned to her, she feared it had been stolen and made a public appeal for its return.  

 

Hearing of the situation, MTN Uganda intervened and recovered the vehicle. It was then repaired and returned to a grateful Night Ampurire. 

 

In a press statement, the telecommunications company said the vehicle was retrieved from the mechanic and transferred to Nissan Motorcare. 

 

“Nissan Motorcare completed all necessary repairs at no cost to Ms Ampurire and returned the vehicle to her on Friday, 24th January 2025. We would like to clarify that the vehicle was never stolen, as previously alleged,” the statement reads. 

 

“MTN Uganda is grateful to its partner, Nissan Motorcare, for their fast and efficient work in ensuring the vehicle was repaired and handed back to Ms Ampurire in excellent condition.”

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.