By Edrisa Ssentongo.
Over 300 members from the Uganda Markets Society (UMS), the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU), the Uganda Advertising Association (UAA) and Human Resource Managers’ Association of Uganda (HRMAU), are expected to convene at the 3rd edition of the intersociety meet and greet event, as part of the societies’ efforts to equip members with information and support mechanisms to address declining mental health among corporates.
The full-day event is set to take place at Kaazi Beach on 28th June. The meet and greet programme will comprise a panel discussion featuring mental health and retirement planning experts who will tackle issues affecting mental health and financial planning. The panel will be led by Darius Niwaha, the CEO of Octagon Africa, who will provide practical solutions through dialogue with the members.
To add colour to the event and address physical wellness, the programme will also comprise games such as target shooting, board games, football, basketball, volleyball, treasure hunt, battle shooting, and tug-of-war. Waswa Moses, the Director PR and Marketing at HRMAU, noted that through inter-professional community engagements, HRMAU intends to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of professionals.
Charity Winnie Kamusiime Asiimwe, the President of UMS said, “As Uganda Marketers Society, we believe that professional excellence goes hand in hand with personal well-being. This annual intersociety gathering is not just about networking, it’s a commitment to supporting one another, prioritising mental health, and creating a thriving, connected community of marketers, communicators, and HR professionals. Together, we champion wellness and collaboration as the foundation of success in our industries.”
PRAU President Irene Nakasiita acknowledged the meet and greet as a key platform for nurturing partnerships and collaboration with like-minded professional bodies, as they work towards advancing excellence across their respective industries. “PRAU is excited to take part in the meet and greet, and we are happy to keep doing this with our sister associations over and over. There’s a child in each and every one of us, and when we meet and play, the child in us manifests, and this keeps us young. We also appreciate the mental health concept, which comes timely as many of our corporate members today suffer silent crises and end in conflicting situations that sometimes lead to loss of life. We cannot wait to have this session that will improve the physical, emotional and mental well-being of our people,” she said. Nakasiita further noted that PRAU members appreciate the event as another way of networking and expanding their social capital.
According to a National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) survey conducted in 2023, over 60% of respondents indicated that their work negatively affected their mental health, while 46% said they were not comfortable discussing their mental health issues with their line managers. While this survey was conducted in the UK, it is reflective of the advertising industry globally.
Rommel Jasi, the Chairman of the Advertising Association of Uganda notes that “Because of the nature of our work in the agencies, our staff are bound to feel burnout, fatigue and high pressure from high demands and we have witnessed firsthand as an industry, how this can negatively affect the mental health of our members. This is why as a society, we’re fully invested in the intersociety connects to help break barriers between the various players in the advertising space with the hope that this will create better synergies amongst us, equip our members with better coping mechanisms and create a support network to lessen the burden of what must be done, work.” The 3rd edition of the Intersociety Meet and Greet is sponsored by Antfeet, Etroca, Blend, Vision Group and Next Media.
The Human Resource Managers’ Association of Uganda is the leading organization for HR professionals in Uganda. HRMAU is responsible for professional skills development, promotion of professional standards and practices as well as industry research and consultancy. HRMAU provides a platform for Human Resource Management practitioners to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate on innovative solutions to the challenges facing organizations today.
Uganda Marketers Society is the premier organization for marketers in the country, dedicated to promoting excellence in the field. UMS provides a range of resources and opportunities for skill-building, so members can stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in marketing. The Society is affiliated with the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a member of the African Marketing Confederation
PRAU is the umbrella body for Public Relations (PR) practitioners in Uganda. It was founded in 1976 as a membership-based professional body for PR practitioners. The association is affiliated with regional and global associations such as the East African Public Relations Association (EAPRA), the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).
Uganda Advertising Association is a platform that unites advertising agencies , admen and adwomen in Uganda with a core focus on promoting professional global standards in the industry. The Association is the official representatives of Cannes Lions and The Loeries in Uganda which focus on celebrating creative excellence and effectiveness.