For a customer-centric organization like the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Public Relations (PR) is essential because the corporation thrives on maintaining a positive image and building strong relationships with its customers.

This would explain the corporation’s participation in the recently concluded National Public Relations Symposium 2024, hosted at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala on June 7th, 2024. The event, organized by the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) brought together PR professionals from various sectors to discuss the future of public relations in Uganda with the primary objective of elevating the standards of PR practice across the country’s private and public sectors.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, the keynote speaker and guest of honor, delivered an inspiring address, urging PRAU to transition into a professional body. He pledged his full support to this initiative, highlighting the critical role of professional communication in national development.

PRAU President Tina Wamala opened the symposium by paying tribute to the late John Birungi Babirukamu and marking June as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. She addressed pressing issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among men, announcing a collaborative campaign with the Ministry of Health to create supportive mental health spaces.

Wamala expressed her excitement about the symposium’s potential to generate dynamic discussions, foster connections, and provide valuable insights. The event featured a stellar lineup of speakers from various sectors, including Sanjay Rughani, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank; John Musinguzi, URA Commissioner General; Nicholas Lutakome, CEO of CIC Insurance; and Don Wanayama, CEO of Vision Group. These industry leaders shared their expertise on advancing PR through emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, and data analytics.