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Internet Moves: Africa Online Uganda acquires Local player

Africa Online Uganda Limited today (March 24) announced its strategic acquisition of Swift Global Uganda Limited operations. This transaction marks the operational entry into the Uganda market by the Africa Online Holdings Ltd. Africa Online now expands its African presence to seven countries, the largest presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Under terms of the strategic agreement with Swift Global Uganda Limited, Africa Online Uganda Limited purchased all tangible assets and took transfer of all operations including administrative, technical and the customer bases. However, the company Swift Global Uganda Limited will continue and will be available to perform it contractual obligations.

Africa Online regional managing director, Kamande Muiruri; Africa Online Uganda general manager, David Ochanda; and Swift Global Uganda general manager, David Owino; made the announcement at a Kampala press conference attended by representatives from both companies and industry players.

According to David Ochanda, who will serve as the general manager of the new operation, Africa Online has always had a strategic plan to drive its growth. He said, "We have formulated a plan to be so well positioned that we will be able to provide Internet connectivity on a countrywide basis through deployment of Points of Presence and partnerships with businesses throughout Uganda through the popular E-touch innovation. Africa Online has traditionally established a fiercely loyal user base by listening to customers and changing the product to meet their needs, and now we'll continue doing the things that make us unique, but for a much wider audience."

Kamande Muiruri, regional managing director of Africa Online. commented, "We firmly believe this new company, which takes and combines the best of both organizations � will become the premier Internet services company in Uganda and the e-commerce enabler.

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"Our customers, communities, and staff all will benefit from this strategic acquisition with greater convenience and a broader array of products and services. The decision to acquire Swift Global is part of Africa Online�s aggressive expansion strategy to provide universal Internet access on the Africa continent. The long-term growth prospects for the industry are also very positive."

Africa Online has a strong technology and customer service focus with impressive depth in the Internet field where they are well known. Africa Online Uganda general manager, David Ochanda assured existing Swift Global customers that Africa Online will ensure that there is no interruption in the provision of the services and the transition though fast is effective. Any changes will be given adequate notice to enable customers to plan accordingly. Ugandan Internet customers can look forward to major benefits of the acquisition that he highlighted as: -

• Increased number of phone lines making it easier to get connected to the Internet
• Broadest bandwidth in Uganda that will reduce congestion and enhance the browsing experience.
• Surplus access via two different paths to the Internet
• New and innovative products including e-touch for non dialing-in subscribers and global roaming.
• E-commerce enabling for Ugandan businesses.

Africa Online Uganda is a subsidiary of Africa Online Holdings Limited based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Africa Online Holdings currently has a presence in seven African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cote D� Ivoire, Ghana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Africa Online has plans to expand to at least four more countries by the end of the year 2000. Africa Online�s expansion throughout Africa is being funded by Africa Lakes PLC, a primary London Stock Exchange listed company, . Last month African Lakes listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in a secondary listing that was tremendously oversubscribed giving an indication of what the public perception is on the future of the Internet.

AFRICA ONLINE OUGANDA A ANNONCE LE 24 MARS DERNIER L�ACQUISITION DE LA SOCIETE SWIFT GLOBAL OUGANDA Ltd. CETTE TRANSACTION MARQUE L�ENTREE OFFICIELLE ET STRATEGIQUE DU GROUPE AFRICA ONLINE Ltd SUR LE MARCHE OUGANDAIS.

AFRICA ONLINE MARQUE AINSI SA PRESENCE DANS 7 PAYS, LA PLUS IMPORTANTE D�AFRIQUE SUB-SAHARIENNE: KENYA, OUGANDA, TANZANIE, COTE D �IVOIRE, GHANA, SWAZILAND ET ZIMBABWE ET COMPTE OUVRIR DE NOUVELLES FILIALES DANS PLUS DE QUATRE PAYS D�ICI LA FIN DE L�ANNEE 2000.

AFRICA ONLINE OUGANDA EST UNE FILIALE DU GROUPE AFRICA ONLINE HOLDINGS Ltd DONT LE SIEGE EST A NAIROBI, AU KENYA.

C�EST PAR LA VOIX DE DAVID OCHANDA, DIRECTEUR GENERAL DE CETTE NOUVELLE FILIALE D�AFRICA ONLINE, QUI NOUS REVELE CECI: "AFRICA ONLINE A TOUJOURS EU UN PROGRAMME D� EXPANSION STRATEGIQUE. NOUS AVONS ELABORE UN PLAN SI BIEN CONCU QUE NOUS ALLONS NOUS POSITIONNE A UN NIVEAU TEL QUE NOUS SERONS EN MESURE DE FOURNIR UN ACCES A UN INTERNET SUR TOUTE l �ETENDUE DU TERRITOIRE PAR L�INTERMEDIAIRE DE POINTS DE PRESENCE ET DE PARTENAIRES ET NOTRE NOUVEAU PRODUIT E-TOUCH.
AFRICA ONLINE A TOUJOURS ENTRETENU UNE RELATION ETROITE AVEC SES UTILISATEURS EN RESTANT CONSTAMMENT A L�ECOUTE DE SES CLIENTS ET EN ADAPTANT SES PRODUITS EN FONCTION DE LEURS BESOINS ET CONTINUERA DE LE FAIRE AUJOURD�HUI EN METTANT TOUT EN �UVRE POUR RESTER LE FOURNISSEUR D�ACCES UNIQUE AVEC UNE AUDIENCE GRAND PUBLIC.

NOUS PROFITONS DE L�OCCASION POUR VOUS ANNONCER LE LANCEMENT OFFICIEL DE AFRICA ONLINE OUGANDA LE 6 AVRIL 2000 A L�HOTEL SHERATON, EN PRESENCE D�UN PARTERRE DE PERSONNALITES.