Nile Breweries eases COVID-19 burden on Uganda’s health system, donates 300 oxygen cylinders
UGANDA – Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), the Ugandan subsidiary of AB InBev, has donated 300 oxygen cylinders worth Ush 333 million (US$93,800) to major referral hospitals, spread across 17 districts in the country.
The donation is timely as over the past few weeks, Uganda has registered a rise in COVID-19 infections which has tested the capacity of its healthcare system.
Handing over the donations at the Office of the Prime Minister, Nile Breweries Legal & Corporate Affairs Director Onapito Ekomoloit said, “As Nile Breweries, Uganda’s beer market leader, we believe in bringing people together for a better world and we are cognisant that we can only bring people together when they are alive. That is why our first principle is safety first.”
NBL has long been a valuable pillar of the Ugandan economy, contributing nearly Ush 400 billion (US$112m) to the GDP each year, and supporting approximately 40, 000 formal and informal jobs.
When COVID 19 hit, the beer maker was at the forefront in supporting the vulnerable and affected communities.
“This pandemic has shown us that the only way to build a better tomorrow is by working together.”
Nile Breweries Legal & Corporate Affairs Director – Onapito Ekomoloit
The company is reported to have donated 25,000kg of maize meal to those threatened by food insecurity during the 1st lockdown;
Also, they availed 7,900 litres of fuel to Covid 19 Task Forces of districts, Mbarara, Jinja, Kampala and Buikwe, and issued medical equipment valued at Ush 60 million (US$16,900) to Mulago Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
“This pandemic has shown us that the only way to build a better tomorrow is by working together. We have seen globally how stakeholders have come together to collaborate for the greater good.
“We’re proud to have been able to support Uganda’s healthcare system and its brave health workers at this difficult time,” added Onapito.
The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, appreciated NBL for joining hands with government to fight the pandemic on several occasions.
“This donation, and NBL’s continued support and contribution to Uganda, will make a real difference to the exceptionally difficult COVID-19 situation in the country.
“The cylinders will bridge the gap in the supply of oxygen in the country,” Nabbanja said.
Nabbanja revealed that the Cabinet had budgeted to make purchase of 1,8000 oxygen cylinders, and that the 300 cylinders will enable the government to channel part of the budgeted money other COVID-19 related expenses.
The Prime Minister however appealed to NBL and other private sector partners to lend their support in the purchase of vaccines so as to vaccinate the desired number of Ugandans.
The donated cylinders are enroute to Acholi, Ankole, Buganda, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Busoga, Karamoja,Kigezi, Lango, Sebei-Elgon, Teso, Tooro, and West Nile regions.
