It is signed and sealed. Ugandans now own 15% of MTN Uganda. This follows the successful completion of the MTN Initial Public Offering which culminated into the listing of the telecom on the Uganda Securities Exchange. The listing was a regulatory obligation of the telecom in fulfillment of its second national telecom operator licence in accordance with the national broadband policy of 2018 which sought to increase local participation in the telecom sector.
Following its listing, MTN, whose shareholding structure only comprised 4% local ownership prior to the IPO, has now welcomed more Ugandans to share in its growth story.
Arguably, millions of Ugandans whose savings are kept with NSSF which is now the second largest shareholder with 8.84% stake in the company.
Other shareholders include Bank of Uganda and Uganda Revenue Authority Staff schemes to mention but a few.
Listing of MTN and in turn augmentation of local ownership in the company presents multi-faceted opportunities for shareholders and the economy at large.
Take for instance, profit retention in the country. Local shareholders holding a 15% stake in MTN Uganda will get to enjoy dividend payouts by the telecom subject to the company’s dividend policy. This investment has the potential to put more money into the pockets of Ugandans and as a result boost economic activities in the country.
To achieve this success, MTN employed a robust sensitization campaign and trailblazing innovation that has revolutionized Uganda’s capital markets.
Uganda’s garden-variety economy, accustomed to real estate and retail investments has now learnt of the capital markets as an alternative investment vehicle. The illumination can be partly attributed to the interest driven by the MTN IPO to the USE. For weeks on end, the public was awash with commentary about the new investment opportunity on the USE. MTN went a step further to carry out an extensive sensitization campaign reaching hundreds of thousands of people across the country with the aim of spreading awareness about the stock market and the MTN IPO.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte during the media interviews held on the sideline of the Listing event said the telecom had held over 300 town halls across the country, hundreds of radio and television engagements and multiple social media interactions.
As a result, the telecom successfully attained the local participation since 20,894 investors, equivalent to 87% of the 21,394 total applicants for shares were Ugandans.
The sensitization drive played a critical role in attracting the public to […]
