UGANDA – Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has successfully trained over 400 local retailers in Uganda’s Bunyoro and Mbarara districts in vital entrepreneurship, digital, and financial skills.
This initiative, known as GRIT – Growing Retailers Innovatively Together – aims to stimulate business growth among its retail partners.
Adu Rando, Managing Director of NBL, highlighted the brewery’s broader goal of training over 14,000 retailers nationwide, focusing on growth, education, and inclusion.
“Entrepreneurship is about supporting and uplifting the small- and medium-sized businesses across our value chain, from local farmers to retailers. We want to drive meaningful change for our retailers and the surrounding communities they serve,” he stated.
The training included modules on avoiding illicit brews, a significant concern in Uganda, where 65 percent of alcohol consumed is illicit and often harmful.
“We have reached out to the government of Uganda and are planning to make tangible progress in reducing the availability of cheap illicit and harmful alcohol for consumers,” Adu noted during the training sessions.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics underscores the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as the engine of the country’s growth. SMEs account for 90 percent of Uganda’s business sector, employ over 2.5 million people, and contribute approximately 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
NBL’s tailored training program provided business coaching in financial and stock management, coupled with continuous mentoring to foster entrepreneurial development.
“Increased investment in education will lead to increased economic growth, and upskilling retailers will help them grow their businesses and invest in their families and communities,” said Adu. “Ultimately, we want to drive entrepreneurial development, business growth, and sustainability for our retail partners.”
Retailers who participated in the training expressed their gratitude for the new skills acquired. Evelyn Alioru, a bar owner in Masindi, said: “This is the first entrepreneurship training I have attended since opening my business.
I finally understand how to track my accounts, manage my stock effectively, and maximize my profits. The financial training has equipped me with the skills to grow my business sustainably and make informed decisions for the future.”
NBL’s commitment to excellence was recognized earlier this year when the company received the silver award in the 2023/24 Employer of the Year (EYA) Awards, organized by the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE).
The awards, themed “Employer Competitiveness Post-Covid,” evaluated employer competitiveness post-pandemic across managerial processes, resources, and company performance impact.
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