Evolve Group Africa has announced the finalists for the 2025 Uganda Marketing Excellence Awards (UMEAS), who will compete for top honours at the awards' fifth anniversary gala on Thursday, December 11, at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

The fifth edition of UMEAS will bring together companies and brands to showcase their marketing achievements and business excellence under the theme, "Promoting Sustainable Marketing Excellence."

Nominees, selected by the UMEAS jury, will compete across thirteen categories. In celebration of the awards' fifth anniversary, Evolve Group Africa has introduced a new category: Brand of the Year.

Paul Businge, co-founder of Evolve Group Africa, explained that this year's edition covers all aspects of marketing, communications, digital, and advertising, from ideation to creation and execution.

Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines

He noted that a six-member Marketing Council determined all nominations, holding a 60 percent stake in public vote categories, while the public contributes 40 percent to the final decision in seven of the thirteen award categories. The Brand of the Year award will be decided solely by the Marketing Council. "The council ensures professionalism at every stage of the process, maintaining credibility, transparency, and fairness," Businge said.

The Marketing Council comprises Dr. Benedict Mugerwa, Ngulumi Immaculate Nabatte, John Paul Okwi, Rogers Anguzu, Barbara Arimi, and Jackie Namara.

John Paul Okwi, the council lead, emphasized that this year's focus was on sustainability, evaluating campaigns and projects for efficient resource use and sustainable returns on investment.

Tickets for a corporate table are Shs 2.5 million, while individual tickets are Shs 200,000.

The 2025 UMEAS are sponsored by I&M Bank, NSSF, NBS TV, Afromobile, Nexcom, Centenary Bank, and Crown Beverages (Pepsi and Aquafina), among others.