MANIFESTO: Here is why Doreen Nyiramugisha is standing for President of the Uganda Marketers’ Society for (2024-2026) The Uganda Marketers Society⏤ an umbrella body for marketing professionals in Uganda, will go to the polls this Saturday, May 4th 2024 at Hotel Africana to choose its next leadership for the period 2024-2026. One of the candidates for the office of President, is Doreen Nyiramugisha, the outgoing Secretary General. In this, her summarised manifesto, she shares her vision for the Society.

Fellow Members of the Uganda Marketers Society (UMS),

It is with great honour that I come forth as an able candidate for the position of President of the UMS for the term 2024-2026. 

Having served as Secretary General for the past two years, I have witnessed firsthand the passion, dedication, talent, and potential of our esteemed society. Now, I present my vision for the future of the UMS—a vision built on advocacy, partnerships, growth, business sustainability, government collaboration, member value, and continual learning.

1. Advocacy: 

• Strengthening the recognition of marketing professionals in both the private and public sectors by advocating for the importance of qualified, trained, and certified marketers in driving organizational success. Just like the other professions, marketers should be locally certified by their own and as the professional body, UMS will continue lobbying until it is gazetted.

2. Partnerships:

• Solidifying our local connections with organisations such as the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU), Uganda Advertisers Association (UAA) and the African Marketing Confederation (AMC).
• Expanding our reach into global communities by actively engaging with forums like the World Forum for Advertisers to share knowledge, best practices, and foster collaboration.

3. Growth:

• Supporting our members on their journey towards personal and professional growth by providing access to relevant training, certification programs, mentorship opportunities, and networking events.

4. Business Growth and Financial Sustainability:

• Implementing revenue-generating programs and consultancy opportunities within the Secretariat to ensure the financial sustainability of the UMS, thereby enabling us to better serve our members and fulfil our mission.

5. Collaboration with Government and Industry Bodies:

• Establishing strategic partnerships with government agencies such as the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and others to promote Uganda as a destination for investment and business growth.
• Collaborating with these entities to offer training, consultancy services, and capacity-building initiatives in marketing and sales, thereby demonstrating our value and contribution to the nation’s economic development.

6. Member Value:

• Enhancing the tangible and intangible benefits of UMS membership by providing exclusive access to resources, industry insights, networking opportunities, and recognition programs that add value to our members’ professional lives.

7. Continual Learning:

• Continuing our successful initiatives such as Ignite sessions, Jump starts with university students, CMO engagements, thought leadership sessions etc while exploring ways to scale these programs and reach a wider audience of aspiring marketers across the country.

Fellow members, the future of the UMS is bright, and together, we can achieve great things. 

With your support, I am committed to leading our society towards greater heights, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in the field of marketing. From the office of the Secretary-General, I learnt the following: 

1. Service is sacrifice, hard work and commitment to the vision, unlike the optics of it. UMS has taught us all servant leadership.
2. To serve diligently, the resilience to navigate unforeseen challenges is crucial. One has to be flexible, agile, and proactive in responding to evolving circumstances while maintaining focus on long-term goals.
3. With the resource limitations, optimization, and maximization of value for all stakeholders must be a top priority.
4. Teamwork and Collaboration: Leading a professional body requires working collaboratively with a diverse group of individuals with varying backgrounds, perspectives, and priorities. Watching the past president David Balikuddembe practise diplomacy impeccably while fostering teamwork was an actual front row seat to the best training. 

I thank you for your trust, your confidence, and your continued dedication to the Uganda Marketers Society.

Yours in Service, 

Doreen Nyiramugisha 

Candidate for President (2024-2026) Uganda Marketers Society

Outgoing Secretary General (2022- 2024)