Uganda’s marketing and corporate leadership community will convene in Kampala for the inaugural Datamine ASC Summit 2025, a strategic engagement focused on the future of brand leadership through emotional intelligence, cultural resonance, and purpose-driven storytelling.
Organised by Datamine Centre for Professional Studies the nation’s premier Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited institution the summit will take place on Friday, 27 June 2025 at Hotel Africana. Headlining the event is globally renowned Canadian brand strategist and author, Mr. Graham Robertson, founder of Beloved Brands, who will deliver the keynote address during his first professional engagement in East Africa.
“The paradigm of brand building has shifted. It is no longer defined by messaging dominance but by the creation of deep emotional bonds that foster loyalty and trust,” Robertson remarked, citing his experience with prominent global entities such as Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and the National Football League (NFL).
Held under the theme “The Art and Science of Emotional Connections in a Competitive World,” the summit is designed to offer an interdisciplinary platform for executives, marketers, and creatives to interrogate how contemporary brand development is informed by socio-cultural dynamics and emotional intelligence.
Ms. Hajara Ddagire Batuuka, Head of Marketing at Nation Media Group (NMG), underscored the event’s relevance: “At NMG, our core pursuit is cultivating authentic connections with audiences. The summit’s focus directly aligns with this objective.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Caroline Ampaire, Digital & Media Manager at Uganda Breweries Limited, noted that the event presents an opportunity to share insights into the evolution of some of Uganda’s most cherished consumer brands.
The summit itinerary comprises three distinct sessions:
- C-Suite Session (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) – An invitation-only forum tailored for senior executives, aimed at offering boardroom-level perspectives on strategic brand stewardship.
- Main Session (1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) – Open to registered delegates, this plenary will feature keynote presentations and a headline expert panel discussion.
- Networking Session (from 6:00 p.m.) – A facilitated evening forum for industry networking and partnership development.
Moderated by Mr. Johnpaul Okwi, Brand Sponsorships & Events Manager at MTN Uganda, the main panel discussion will delve into emotional relevance within brand strategy. Panellists include senior marketing leaders from Uganda Tourism Board, dfcu Bank, Kansai Plascon Uganda, Uganda Breweries, and Saladin Media.
Additional speakers will include:
- Ms. Cinderella Sanyu Okuyo, President, Uganda Musicians Association – addressing the intersection of influence, authenticity, and cultural identity in brand development.
- Mr. Jeffrey Amani, CEO, Zeus Group – on the power of immersive storytelling in cultivating brand intimacy.
- Ms. Laura Muhumuza, Country Manager, Buzz Activate Uganda – on memory-anchored engagement strategies targeting youth.
- Ms. Susan Nsibirwa, Managing Director, Nation Media Group Uganda – on restoring public trust and relevance in mainstream media.
Mr. Festo Mwebaze Syalhasha, CIM tutor and Marketing Manager at Quality Chemical Industries, emphasized that the summit serves as a critical conduit between academic theory and practical business application. “It will equip practitioners with the tools to build resilient, emotionally intelligent brands in an increasingly volatile marketplace,” he said.
Admission & Registration
Individual access is priced at UGX 150,000, while corporate reservations for tables of eight are available at UGX 2,000,000. Attendees will receive exclusive access to curated learning content developed in partnership with Beloved Brands. Payments can be made via Airtel Money Pay (4379648) or MTN MoMo Pay (303914), under the registration name Basewood Consult Uganda Ltd.
The Datamine ASC Summit is supported by a consortium of leading entities including Nation Media Group, Pepsi, Uganda Breweries, Stabex International, Plascon, VisionFund Uganda, Zeus Group, and the Uganda Tourism Board.
