More than 300 professionals from the Uganda Marketers Society (UMS), Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU), Uganda Advertising Association (UAA), and Human Resource Managers’ Association of Uganda (HRMAU) are set to gather for the third edition of the annual Intersociety Meet and Greet.
Scheduled for 28th June at Kazzi Beach, the full-day event aims to strengthen professional bonds while equipping members with tools and knowledge to address growing mental health challenges among corporate employees.
The programme will feature a panel discussion led by Darius Niwaha, CEO of Octagon Africa. The session will bring together experts in mental health and retirement planning to explore the intersection of financial preparedness and psychological well-being, offering attendees practical guidance and peer-driven dialogue.
To further promote holistic wellness, the event will include a variety of games and physical activities such as target shooting, board games, football, basketball, volleyball, treasure hunts, battle shooting, and tug-of-war.
According to Waswa Moses, Director of PR and Marketing at HRMAU, such inter-professional engagements are a cornerstone of HRMAU’s vision. “Through inter-professional community engagements, HRMAU intends to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of professionals,” he said.
UMS President, Charity Winnie Kamusiime Asiimwe, emphasised the deeper purpose behind the event. “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 highlighted the event’s role in fostering collaboration and well-being. “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 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.”
Nakasiita added that PRAU members value the event as a powerful networking platform that helps expand social capital.
A 2023 survey by the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) revealed that over 60% of respondents felt their work negatively impacted their mental health, with 46% expressing discomfort in discussing these issues with their line managers. While this study focused on the UK, it echoes challenges experienced in the advertising profession globally.
Rommel Jasi, Chairman of the Advertising Association of Uganda, underlined the industry’s vulnerability to mental health challenges.
“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 Annual Intersociety Meet and Greet is proudly supported by antfeet, etroca, Blend, Vision Group, and Next Media.
