MunoWatch: Uganda’s version of Netflix

MunoWatch Translated Movies online
Photo credit: Techgenyz
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It is not every day that you hear anyone talking about MunoWatch. It was just last week that a conversation spiked up about movies and torrenting that I did. Someone said a thing or two about translated movies and how Uganda too has its own version of Netflix. I didn’t have to think twice but check out this Uganda’s Netflix.

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MunoWatch is an entertainment broadcasting platform that shows translated movies, particularly in Luganda (the most commonly used Local Language in Central Uganda). The Model with which it operates is somewhat similar to Netflix, they only have certain things in common, streaming and subscriptions being among them. One would actually argue, MunoWatch copies and pastes Netflix’s content, but that’s not why we are here. “By the way, if you want to get access to even more TV series and movies, you can do so with Amazon Fire TV. But there is a cool trick you to jailbreak your firestick and get free access to hundreds of series and movies.” “Btw, if you want to get access to even more TV series and movies, you can do so with Amazon Fire TV. But there is a cool trick you to jailbreak your firestick and get free access to hundreds of series and movies.”

Contents

What is MunoWatch?

MunoWatch is a web platform that offers translated movies and a series of different genres. These are translated in Luganda, with the help of Video Jockeys (V.J’s).

To access the content offered on MunoWatch, you have to sign up and get access to the multiple series and movies which have been translated. This is just a button away. When you click on the Watch FREE translated movies button below, you will be redirected to the sign-up page.

MunoWatch 1 - ugtechmag.com

During my sign-up process, I tried to use Facebook as an option, and I received some errors. However, I resorted to using an e-mail address to skip all that.
The details needed are as simple and direct as below, not a lot of typing.

MunoWatch 4 - Signup process

When you sign in to get access to MunoWatch content, there are multiple options to choose from.

There are:

  • Latest movies
  • Series
  • Genres (Action, SciFi, KungFu, Horrors, Family, Animations, etc)
  • VJs (The Choice is yours)
  • Series,
    as you can see below.
MunoWatch 5 - ugtechmag.com

MunoWatch Subscription and Payment Plans

After accessing the platform, the next phase is the Subscription plans. To be able to view content on MunoWatch without any limitations, a subscription to a premium plan is a must.

There exists a list of Subscription options available, which I am to share in a bit.

There are those of you who may be wondering, aren’t there any newbie free options for first-time users? Yes, there are. MunoWatch offers a variety of FREE to-watch movies for all users who have not subscribed to any premium plan.

I for one have been a beneficiary of these FREE movies, as I have been trying to test out the platform to report to you in this massive blog about its flaws and strengths, which you’ll get to hear in a bit.
Most of the movies on the FREE list are old, only a few are new. (I actually counted, there are only 186 FREE movies). This is MunoWatch’s way of telling you to Subscribe, and below is a list of Subscription Plans.

List of Premium Payment plans

Premium Plan Amount (UGX)
1 Month (31 days)30,000
2 Months (62 days)60,000
3 Months (93 days)90,000
6 Months (186 days)160,000 (10% discount)
12 Months / 1 Year (372 days)300,000 (15% discount)
MunoWatch 9 - Subscription offers

After choosing a subscription plan, you can go right ahead and pay for it directly from their website, isn’t that interesting?

If there’s one thing which I would vote for about MunoWatch, it is that the payment methods are direct and simple. Those who use it surely find this as one of the best parts of using the app.

How to pay munowatch

There are multiple payment options, as listed below.

1. MTN Mobile Money

Pay for MunoWatch services with MTN Mobile Money

2. Airtel Money

Pay for MunoWatch services with Airtel Mobile Money

3. Visa (for the People in the Diaspora)

4. PesaPal Account

There is a payment option for everyone, the local man with Mobile Money or the Musama with Visa. Surely, if there’s one thing which was well thought about for MunoWatch, it is evidently this. More to it, all these options are guided, and steps are given on how to make a payment while using any of the payment options. Great stuff there, right?

With all that said, from my own experience with MunoWatch (of course the FREE movies), I have observed some strengths and weaknesses.

My Views (Strengths and Weaknesses observed)

Strengths

  • Surely, the multiple payment options explained directly and made easy has caught my eye.
    However, the main concern here should be the nature of the content you are paying for, which drives me to the weaknesses of the platform.

Weaknesses

  • The quality of the content being streamed is not crisp and in HD. I have personally watched translated movies on CDs that come out clear, but I think after uploading them on the MunoWatch website, they lose out on quality.

  • Being that MunoWatch doesn’t have their own content, they get it from the likes of Netflix. In case I need to watch the latest movie translated, I would have to wait for some time until I’m able to access the movie in translated form.

  • Not all movies out there have been translated by the MunoWatch team of Video Jockeys (V.Js). In case one needs a certain movie translated, and on searching it, it’s not available, that would be a great disappointment.
    Just imagine paying a yearly subscription, only to find that your favorite series which you want to be translated is not available?

    Also, what if I prefer a movie translated by one Video Jockey over the other?

  • The only available movies are translated in Luganda. I am not a translated-movies guy, but I have heard that there are Video Jockeys in other languages. What if someone interested in a different language, how are they served?

Is this me being too pessimistic? Help me share what you think.

The Kind of people need the MunoWatch Platform

  • The local man who has some internet data bundles to spend
  • That guy who’d want to experience some Nostalgia from watching a translated movie
  • The people in the diaspora who want to watch some translated movies

After visiting the Facebook platform for MunoWatch, I realized that there is quite a number of Ugandans following the platform and consuming the content. Especially, people who are abroad and would love to remind themselves of Luganda translated movies.

Some complaints too were passed around the subscription process, and the failure of the MunoWatch team to communicate back in time, but not so many of those.

Conclusion

On our journey of getting cheaper data bundles, platforms like MunoWatch shall see the new Uganda (Tuli Vvimba mu’Uganda empya). Surely, currently, there’s a lot of competition from the likes of Netflix, which offer far more for less. Other entertainment service providers such as DSTV are copying the model of Netflix.

Did you know that Netflix’s monthly subscription is $7.99 (around UGX 29,000)? With such an affordable cost, Netflix offers an extensive library of feature films, documentaries, TV shows, anime, award-winning Netflix originals, and more. That’s some competition to match.

For those who enjoy translated movies, this is the only platform I have so far heard that can offer that.

MunoWatch, however, has some serious improvements to make so as to dominate the streaming industry for the local market, while we approach affordable internet bundles.

You can follow MunoWatch on Twitter and Facebook for updates on the content being shared. You can also head over to their official website to check them out.

Improvements needed

  • Mobile App
  • Option for offline viewing
  • Other language options
  • HD Content

That’s all I had to say about this Ugandan Netflix look-alike platform, what do y’all have to say?