Ugandan News Websites Crack Whip On Local Google ADS

The Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy was launched in Kampala this week. The idea behind this initiative is to boost small and medium local organizations who, left on their own, are unable to compete at par with their foreign counterparts.

And in the same faith, Online Media Publishers Uganda (OMPA) Online Media Publishers Uganda (OMPA) yesterday agreed to block local Google ads. This means that local organizations cannot use a foreign entity to advertise their services/products on Ugandan news websites.

In a statement released by the association, the move is aimed at encouraging local companies to recognize the power of online media by dealing with them directly instead of dealing through Google.

STATEMENT BY THE ONLINE MEDIA PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ON BLOCKING LOCAL GOOGLE ADS ON MEMBERS’ WEBSITES
Friday March3, 2017
The Online Media Publishers Association (OMPA) has today resolved to block all locally generated Google advertisement on all its members’ websites.
The association reached this unanimous decision in the interest of safeguarding members’ commercial interests in light of a growing trend by local companies to redirect digital advertising to ad serving operations, notably, Google Ads. This has led to a loss of significant amounts of revenue for OMPA members. Similarly, however, all other alternative ad serving operations will also be blocked.
Local organizations henceforth will not be able to have their services/products displayed on Ugandan OMPA member websites if their advertisements are channeled through Google or other ad servers. Only foreign ads served by Google (and similar operations) will be allowed to display on members’ websites.
This move is aimed at encouraging Ugandan companies/institutions/organizations to make good use of local sites which enjoy a combined audience/reach of 8 million people to market their services.
It is our belief as an association that this will lead to a mutually beneficial relationship where indigenous websites are empowered to grow thanks to the advertising revenue from local partners while at the same time delivering an even greater value for local advertisers by reaching wider audiences.
Members will in future consider how to move forward with public relations stories.
Giles Muhame, President

The OMPA member websites include: