In the grand ballroom of Hotel Africana, beneath chandeliers that mirrored the spark of ambition, over 250 of Uganda’s sharpest marketing minds gathered for a day that felt less like a conference and more like a coronation. The Uganda Marketers Society (UMS) had summoned its tribe for the 2025 Annual Marketers’ Fireplace, themed “The G.O.A.T – Owning the Audacity to Be Great.” What unfolded wasn’t just an event—it was a movement. A full-throated declaration that greatness isn’t inherited; it’s claimed.
The air crackled from the opening keynote. George Arodi, CEO of Uganda Baati Ltd., strode to the podium like a lion claiming the savanna. His message? “Greatness is built on consistency, humility, and the courage to lead with purpose.” He didn’t preach legacy—he demanded it. “Do work that outlives your title, your tenure, your trends,” he thundered. “Build campaigns that echo in boardrooms and boda-boda conversations long after you’ve left the room.” The room didn’t just nod—they leaned in. This wasn’t theory. This was a blueprint.
Lessons in Greatness
Moderated by Jackie Namara Rukare, the stage hosted George Arodi, Rogers Anguzu, and Martin Sebuliba—three titans who’ve turned resilience into religion. They didn’t speak of leadership as a crown; they spoke of it as a forge.
-“True greatness blends humility with ambition.”
-“Leadership is influence, not position.”
-“Every marketer must commit to lifelong learning—because the market never sleeps.”
One attendee whispered, “I came for insights. I’m leaving with a mission.”
Then came Adris Kamuli of Maad McCann, the magician behind campaigns that didn’t just sell—they stole hearts. His session, “Behind the Lanes of Campaigns That Won Uganda’s Hearts,” was part confession, part revelation. He dissected hits that felt like cultural moments, not ads. Key takeaway? Great campaigns don’t start with products—they start with people. Authentic storytelling, backed by ruthless insight, turns strangers into loyalists. The room erupted when he played a 30-second spot that had half the audience tearing up. Marketing, he reminded them, is art with a KPI.
ALSO READ:BLESSING-KAYODE:STORYTELLING AND TECH KEY TO OVERCOMING ECONOMIC HEADWINDS
The Ad Men Who Defined Eras
If the first panel built the foundation, this one lit the fuse. Konrad Okello, David Galukande, Henry Bwomono Onen, and Adris Kamuli—moderated by Laura Muhumuza—took the stage like a creative Justice League. They relived the risks: the campaign that almost got canceled, the client who said “too bold,” the night they rewrote the script at 3 a.m. because “good enough” wasn’t in their vocabulary.
-“Courage fuels creativity. Creativity drives growth.”
-“The secret sauce? Trust between brand and agency.”
-“Simplicity cuts through noise like a hot knife through ugali.”
The applause wasn’t polite—it was primal.
Lunch wasn’t a break; it was a networking war room. Deals were sketched on napkins. Mentorships were born over chapati. The energy? Electric.
Panel 3: Brands That Win Tomorrow
Barbra Arimi, Albert Mucunguzi, and George Wabweyo—moderated by Viola Mboneko Rusoke—didn’t predict the future. They designed it. In a world of fleeting trends, they preached purpose as currency.
-“Data informs. Purpose connects.”
-“Consistency builds trust. Authenticity keeps it.”
-“The next decade belongs to brands that stand for something real.”
One CMO was overheard saying, “I need to rewrite our manifesto tonight.”
The finale? Panel 4: The G.O.A.T. Era of Media Buying
Daniel Ligyalingi, Grace Tumukunde, and Caroline Ampaire—moderated by Christine Mawadri—dropped truth bombs on a fragmenting media landscape. AI wasn’t the future; it was table stakes.
-“Precision and personalization aren’t options—they’re oxygen.”
-“Invest in audience insights, not just ad space.”
-“The winners? Those who treat media, brand, and agency as one organism.”
The room didn’t just take notes—they rewrote strategies.
As the sun dipped over Kampala’s seven hills, the Fireplace didn’t fade—it blazed. Attendees left not with swag bags, but with fire in their bellies. The 2025 Annual Marketers’ Fireplace wasn’t an event. It was a rite of passage. A reminder that in Uganda’s marketing jungle, the G.O.A.T.s don’t wait for permission—they seize the throne.
By
