UGANDA – Nile Breweries, the Ugandan subsidiary of alcohol manufacturing giant AB InBev, has announced the appointment of Mr Adu Rando as its new Country Director.
He replaces David Valencia who takes on the role of Commercial Strategy Director, Africa Zone for AB InBev.
Rando has been working for Company’s parent company AB InBev for the past 20 years in different capacities in Brazil, China and Tanzania.
He joins Nile breweries from Tanzania where he served as the Route To Market Director, Greater Africa based in Dar es Salaam Tanzania from 2021.
“I’m extremely excited to be heading Uganda’s leading brewer, and maker of iconic brands. I look forward to working with the team here and our stakeholders for growth, a positive experience and impact on the road ahead,” he said.
His predecessor welcomed Rando at the hand-over press conference held at the company’s Luzira offices.
Valencia who will be based in South Africa confirmed that the elaborate transition process in place will give Rando a smooth landing
Onapito Ekomoloit, the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, likened the change to a substitution within a winning team.
“One-star player is giving way to another star player because the team is winning. He (Valencia) has contributed enormously, and you’re sure the one coming in can only add more goals,” he said.
As a results-driven international business leader, Rando has extensive experience in sales, operations, digital sales systems platforms, e-commerce, sales structure and process optimization, Nile Breweries aid.
“His long sales and operations experience in different channels on three large and diverse continents and his unique expertise in driving technological change across markets have provided him with a solid base for his role.”
New alcohol bill threatens industry survival
Rando assumes the leadership position in Nile at a time when the alcohol industry is facing major changes to the law that could curtail its volumes.
Alcohol manufacturers in Uganda have already expressed reservations on the proposed Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill saying it is “diversionary” and “regressive.”
In another stakeholders’ meeting with the drafter of the bill Sarah Opendi on Wednesday, the Chairperson of Uganda Alcohol Industry Association Onapito Ekomoloit said the bill should instead target 65 percent of illicit alcohol in the market.
He further described the draft bill is an attack on freedom to socialise, an attack on farmers and the treasury.
“Anything in the bill which reduces our ability to sell is an attack on the treasury; It’s an attack on jobs. The alcohol industry contributes about a trillion shilling to the economy…Alcohol should be made freely available for all adults,” Onapito said.
