By Our Reporter
Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has unveiled the inaugural East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Sustainability Report to the government, the media and the public.
The report, which was released by all three subsidiaries under EABL (Uganda Breweries, Kenya Breweries and Serengeti Breweries) is meant to highlight the accomplishments of the business units’ sustainability efforts while making a commitment to expanding and deepening the impact of these initiatives.
While receiving the report on behalf of the Minister of Water and the Environment, Florence Adongo, Director of Water Resources Management at the Ministry said, “This report shows that UBL and EABL will increase output without significantly reducing natural productive capacities, which is a step forward in making Uganda’s Green Growth Development Strategy a reality. Uganda Breweries Limited is the lead private sector partner of the Ministry of Water and Environment in several angles of ministry interventions.”
The report includes highlights of efforts made by Uganda Breweries under three pillars, namely: Positive Drinking; Inclusion and Diversity and Inclusive Communities; and Preserving Water for Life, Accelerating to a Low Carbon World and Becoming Sustainable by Design.
It is the result of two years of study and design under Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress, a 10-year action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world while also contributing positively to the communities in which the business operates.
UBL, which is celebrating 75 years of consistent operations in Uganda this year, has invested over UGX 4 billion in projects that have improved access to potable water for over 2 million people all over the country.
Hon. Ronald Balimwezo, MP for Nakawa East appreciated UBL for the various people-centred interventions over the years. He said, ”I want to appreciate you because I remember when I had just become mayor, I visited you and found a state of the art Effluent Treatment Plant, which is the best in the country. How I wish others would emulate you.”
In 2015, UBL unveiled a UGX 20 billion water treatment plant to ensure that water flowing from the brewery is safer and cleaner than it was when extracted from Lake Vitoria. This is in addition to a UGX 14 billion in a water recovery plant to reduce water usage by reducing the volume of water extracted from Lake Victoria, through which 395,000 m3 of water is saved annually.
Alvin Mbugua, UBL’s outgoing Managing Director, said, “We want to continue to be a positive example within Uganda, the region, and the world. We hold ourselves accountable to the communities in which we operate and strive to ensure that as we grow, so do they. We believe that this is not just the right way to do business, it is the only way.”
Jane Karuku, Group Managing Director and CEO of East African Breweries Limited (EABL) added, “At EABL, we recognize that we are in a unique position to respond to global and regional challenges faced by our communities every day. We continuously work towards ensuring that the core objectives of sustainability are well integrated into our business model.”