UGANDA – Uganda Breweries Limited, subsidiary of Diageo through East African Breweries Limited (EABL), has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), to advance agricultural productivity in a bid to boost its local raw materials sourcing.
The beer maker currently manufactures 96% of its brands locally and works with over 20,000 farmers countrywide who supply it with raw materials, investing over Ush. 45 billion (US$12.6m) in farming communities annually.
This is undertaken through its local raw materials program which targets to source 100% of the materials within the country, in line with the second objective of the third National Development Plan (NDP III) under the theme, “Sustainable Industrialization for inclusive growth, employment and sustainable wealth creation.”
“Sourcing quality raw materials locally for our products connects us to the communities where we work, allowing us to strengthen local farming and change lives.“
UBL Managing Director – Alvin Mbugua
Under the signed five-year partnership, the two entities will exchange information, technology, and practices that increase agricultural production and productivity, publish well-researched data and manuals for farmers training, to improve knowledge among UBL’s farmers in best agronomic practices.
It will further develop effective sorghum, barley, and cassava seed production and distribution systems to enhance sustainable access of quality planting materials by smallholder farmers, reports Nile Post.
The engagement will also seek to support scientists, post-doc students to jointly plan and execute research projects and training through UBL’s scholarship program.
“Sourcing quality raw materials locally for our products connects us to the communities where we work, allowing us to strengthen local farming and change lives. It makes our supply chain more resilient and creates a healthy economic loop in national economies.
“This landmark partnership with NARO, therefore, seeks to deliver on our fundamental objectives of the local raw material program,” UBL Managing Director, Alvin Mbugua said.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director-General of NARO Dr. Ambrose Agona said that in partnering with them, Uganda Breweries has contributed to their ten-year goal of innovating for sustainable agricultural transformation.
“We are happy to enter this partnership with Uganda Breweries Limited and pledge to work together to achieve mutual benefits that will go a long way in improving the livelihoods of farming communities who have long been the backbone of our nation,” Agona said.
The program will overall improve household income and promote the Buy Uganda Build Uganda initiative at the agricultural sourcing level.
Over 150 bars register for UBL’s raising the bar program
Meanwhile, the owner of the Bell Lager brand has revealed that over 150 bar owners from Kampala and Mukono have registered for its US$1m raising the bar initiative.
The program was launched in March with the aim of supporting pubs and bars recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, once the government allows them to resume operations.
Raising the bar initiative is a program adapted from UBL’s mother company, Diageo US$100 million kitty, launched in July 2020 across its different markets.
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