UGANDA – Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Umama Arise Uganda, aimed at empowering women while championing environmental sustainability.

The collaborative effort, led by CCBU, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), has signified a significant step towards positive change and a more sustainable future for our planet.

Through a generous donation of Shs 20 million, CCBU aims support Umama Arise Uganda in training at least 100 women in briquette-making and supplying 30 solar dryers to five villages in Mukono and Buikwe districts.

“Our aim is to create greater shared opportunity for the business and the communities we serve across the value-chain,” Pearl Nimusiima, the CCBU Public Affairs and Communications Manager stated emphasizing on the broader vision behind the partnership.

“Opportunity is more than just money; it’s about a better future for people and their communities everywhere on the African continent.”

Nimusiima continued noting that Initiatives like making briquettes and using solar dryers would provide economic inclusion opportunities for women and youth and environmental sustainability through the collection, recycling, and reuse of plastic waste.

The partnership with Umama Arise Uganda is aligned with the Coca-cola’s “World Without Waste initiative”, as women will receive training on identifying PET waste in areas where briquette raw materials are collected, sorting it, and turning it into a valuable resource.

This partnership represents a significant stride towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to waste disposal, energy generation, and increasing rural women’s incomes by equipping them with new skills and income-generating opportunities.

“We are delighted to have a partner like Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda. They have provided the resources to achieve our goal of mitigating climate change and empowering women through income-generating skills,” Stephen Magezi, the Co-founder and Director of Umama Arise Uganda said.

Additionally, the solar dryers provided by CCBU will not only be used to dry the briquettes but will also help women in preserving surplus food items that they harvest, further enhancing food security in the communities involved.

This transformative also project seeks to protect the environment, reduce dependence on traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal, and directly benefit women in the villages of Busiba, Kayanja, Namawojolo, Nagojje, Katuba, and Bwanika.

“CCBA has a responsibility to help solve the problem of global plastic waste, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach across markets to achieve our sustainability goals, reduce waste pollution, and our carbon footprint,” Nimusiima noted.

The partnership between Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda and Umama Arise Uganda sets an example of corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship.

By empowering women and promoting sustainable practices, the initiative will mark a significant step towards a greener, more equitable future for Uganda and the world.

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