Business leaders push for hyper intelligence and ethical growth amidst digital surge at trendsetters’ forum

The 6th Business Trendsetters Forum and Awards Gala convened July 31, 2025  at the Sheraton Hotel, Kampala, bringing together Uganda’s leading entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry experts.

Under the timely theme, “Innovations with Hyper Business Intelligence & Environmental Social Governance (ESG),” the forum stressed the urgent need for an exemplary quest for knowledge, responsible big data utilization, and ethical leadership in shaping the nation’s economic future.

Nyombi Thembo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and recipient of the 2025 Public Sector Business Trendsetters’ Award, delivered the keynote address. Emphasizing Uganda’s impressive digital strides, Thembo noted, “Uganda now boasts 45 million SIM cards in circulation and a remarkable 65 percent internet penetration. We proudly say the telecom sub-sector is touching every aspect of life.”

He highlighted the democratizing power of connectivity: “The telephone has broken the barrier of illiteracy. When you have the right content, people will uptake it.” Thembo also underscored UCC’s evolving role, shifting “from a regulator who enforced to a regulator who facilitates innovation and business because enforcing suffocates the industry.”

Building on the digital theme, Joseph Kitamirike, Co-founder of ALTX Africa, focused on actionable business growth strategies. “We need to focus on where we can get profits and earn more than spend to grow,” Kitamirike advised. He stressed the strategic importance of precise customer profiling and targeted marketing in the digital age, stating, “You need to profile the person you are looking for and target them. With a proper profile, you can target better, especially if you are using digital tools.”

Emmanuel Kirunda, Commercial Director at Olsights, a clean tech energy startup based in London, introduced the concept of “hyper business intelligence.” He observed, “Organizations today are drowning in data but starving for insights.” Kirunda elaborated on Olsights’ approach, which fuses infrastructure modeling, geospatial intelligence, policy mandates, and economic data into a “single visual decision engine” to deliver deep contextual insights.

He further championed integrating real-world impact into ESG, advocating for African innovators to adopt a data-driven, globally-minded approach. “If you are solving real customer pinpoints in Africa through digital innovation, don’t limit your ambition. Look for global markers where your solutions may already have demand,” he urged.

The forum also delved into the intricacies of leadership and personal development. Dr. Abraham Nalwebe, Court Mediator and Arbitrator at Makindye Magistrate Court, emphasized self-management as the bedrock of effective leadership. “Before you can effectively manage others, you must first learn to manage yourself,” he stated, highlighting the importance of respect for colleagues, community, and customers, and fostering strong relationships.

Joan Mukasa Menya, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda, stressed the critical role of continuous learning and mentorship. “Leaders must equip themselves with knowledge and strong commitment. Continuous learning and education are vital for effective leadership,” Menya asserted, sharing how she embraced IT skills to adapt to a tech-savvy team.

She powerfully advocated for knowledge sharing, stating, “Sharing knowledge prevents valuable insights from being lost. Leadership involves nurturing the next generation… If information you have doesn’t help you generate insights for growth then you don’t need it.”

Jonathan Light, a Mastery Consultant, Leadership and Business Strategist, and Life Development Coach, called for responsible business ecosystems. “The future of business belongs to those who not only innovate but also take responsibility for the environments they create,” Light posited. He urged attendees to “revisit your current space and saturate it with excellence, traceable impact, and intentional growth… The world doesn’t just need more businesses, it needs environments that build legacies.”

In her opening remarks, Yvonne Mpanga, Executive Director and Founder of The Business Trendsetters Forum, underscored the forum’s core message. “Innovation is no longer an option; it is the very lifeblood of progress,” she declared.

Mpanga explained that Hyper Business Intelligence serves as a “compass” for navigating data-rich environments, enabling “smarter, faster, and more informed decisions.” She concluded by affirming that ESG “is the fundamental framework for responsible, sustainable, and ethical growth. True trendsetters understand that profitability and purpose are inextricably linked.”

The 6th Business Trendsetters Forum served as a vital platform for dialogue, fostering insights and strategies essential for navigating Uganda’s dynamic business landscape through innovation, intelligence, and responsible practices. The event concluded with an awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding leaders and businesses driving innovation and sustainable practices in Uganda.