The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | International Distillers Uganda (IDU), a subsidiary of Uganda Breweries Limited, has opened a glass bottling line at its spirits manufacturing plant ahead of the alcohol ban sold in sachets in March next year.
The new facility has a capacity to handle 6,000 bottles per hour compared with the 1,440 of the previous plant that is said to have been installed nearly six decades ago.
UBL Managing Director, Mark Ocitti, said the new line will allow the company to not only grow its beer volume but also increase the number of products processed locally.
“Demand for spirits has grown significantly,” he said, “and this plant supports government’s policy of Buy Uganda Build Uganda.”
Octti said that the new plant will produce various products including Gilbeys, Richot, and Smirnoff that are currently imported from neighbouring Kenya.
This new development comes at the time Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) is investing US$22million in upgrading its two plants in Jinja and Mbarara to meet the booming beer demand.
Amelia Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, who was the chief guest promised to work with UBL and other beer industry players to fight illicit alcohol on the market.
She said her ministry has already prepared the principles of Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill set to be presented to Cabinet for approval to pave way for effective regulation of the sector. At the moment, UBL produces 140 million litres of beer compared to NBL’s 245 million litres per annum.
Excited to share my highlight of today.
We launched a new glass packaging line at our spirits’ manufacturing plant, International Distillers Uganda (IDU). The #NewUBLGlassLine, an investment of UGX 13b, is expected to bottle spirits about 4 times the old capacity. pic.twitter.com/CEKt1S9zEB— Mark Ocitti (@Markocitti) June 20, 2018
