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TodayTuesday, May 05, 2026

Maad McCann

Uganda’s advertising industry has been shaped by resilient leaders who understand both the brilliance and the burden of creative work. David Galukande built an agency culture so intense it felt like a movement, while Josephine Muvumba powered through long, thrilling yet exhausting early years that blurred passion and pressure. John Chihi continues to navigate the financial strain that quietly wears teams down, and Seanice Kacungira leads in a digital era where constant iteration leaves little room to breathe. Together, their stories reveal an industry fuelled by ambition but shadowed by stress and burnout—demanding systems that protect the people behind the ideas.
Uganda’s advertising industry has been shaped by resilient leaders who understand both the brilliance and the burden of creative work. David Galukande built an agency culture so intense it felt like a movement, while Josephine Muvumba powered through long, thrilling yet exhausting early years that blurred passion and pressure. John Chihi continues to navigate the financial strain that quietly wears teams down, and Seanice Kacungira leads in a digital era where constant iteration leaves little room to breathe. Together, their stories reveal an industry fuelled by ambition but shadowed by stress and burnout—demanding systems that protect the people behind the ideas.

Brilliance at a Bad Price: Burnout, Stress and Survival in Uganda’s Advertising Industry, Where Working Long Hours is a Norm

If the first part of this series was about how the madmen stumbled into the machine, and the second about how the money broke it, this part is about what the machine
December 12, 2025
Uganda’s advertising veterans sit at familiar desks, but the industry around them has transformed. Once fuelled by fat retainers and overflowing media commissions, agencies now battle thin scopes, shrinking budgets, and relentless pressure to do more for less. Amid late payments, eroded ethics, and generational tension, leaders fight to protect creativity, integrity, and value. This is the quiet, stubborn struggle to keep an old machine alive on fading fuel.
Uganda’s advertising veterans sit at familiar desks, but the industry around them has transformed. Once fuelled by fat retainers and overflowing media commissions, agencies now battle thin scopes, shrinking budgets, and relentless pressure to do more for less. Amid late payments, eroded ethics, and generational tension, leaders fight to protect creativity, integrity, and value. This is the quiet, stubborn struggle to keep an old machine alive on fading fuel.

An AD Agency Industry in Pain: Broken Retainers, Shrinking Budgets and the Fight for Value vs Ethics

If part one of MadMen, Dreamers and Deal-Makers was about how Uganda’s advertising giants stumbled into the industry, this part, which is precisely part two, reminds you of what happened after they
December 11, 2025
A photo collage of Jeffrey Amani, Adris Kamuli, David Case, Peter Magona, Daniel Ligyalingi, Rommel Jasi, Alemu Emuron, and Joshua Kamugabirwe. Uganda’s ad industry was built by “accidentals” who wandered in through cricket pitches, rugby chats, art schools, and random interviews. With no clear pipeline, they learned by doing, then became founders, mentors, and standards-setters—turning side doors into institutions and asking how to keep luck alive, but kinder, for others today.
A photo collage of Jeffrey Amani, Adris Kamuli, David Case, Peter Magona, Daniel Ligyalingi, Rommel Jasi, Alemu Emuron, and Joshua Kamugabirwe. Uganda’s ad industry was built by “accidentals” who wandered in through cricket pitches, rugby chats, art schools, and random interviews. With no clear pipeline, they learned by doing, then became founders, mentors, and standards-setters—turning side doors into institutions and asking how to keep luck alive, but kinder, for others today.

MADMEN, DREAMERS, AND DEAL-MAKERS – The Accidental Admen: How Uganda’s Creative Giants Found Their Way into the Industry

If Uganda had built a proper advertising pipeline, this story would be very boring. There would be brochures in Senior Six career offices defining “account management.” Parents would nod proudly when their
December 10, 2025
MAAD McCann team and leadership celebrating a sweep of the 2025 Silverback Awards, showcasing Agency of the Year and multiple craft wins.
The MAAD McCann team celebrates their sweeping victory at the 2025 Silverback Awards—lifting the trophies that crowned them Agency of the Year and multiple category wins on the night, affirming a culture built on insight, collaboration, and creative excellence.

How MAAD McCann Swept the 2025 Silverback Awards — And the Culture, Strategy & Creative Discipline Behind Its Biggest Win Yet

When the ballroom lights rose at Golf Course Hotel Kampala during the 2025 Silverback Awards, one agency dominated the stage, the conversation, and eventually the headlines. MAAD McCann, already regarded as one
November 21, 2025
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Adris Kamuli, award-winning co-founder and Managing Director of Maad McCann, discusses his leadership journey, creative excellence, and role in shaping Uganda’s advertising industry through bold campaigns, mentorship, and global-standard branding strategies.
Adris Kamuli, co-founder and Managing Director of Maad McCann, showcases some of the accolades and industry recognitions earned by the agency over the years — a testament to its bold creativity, global standards, and lasting impact on Uganda’s advertising industry.

Adris Kamuli: The MadMan Who Made Maad a Creative Powerhouse

From creating culturally resonant work for top-tier clients such as MultiChoice (DStv, GOtv), Coca-Cola, UBL , Emirates, Uganda Baati, Ugachick, Pride Bank, Mastercard, Unicef, UNCD and flagship initiatives like the Rotary Cancer
September 3, 2025
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