Following an investment of US$90m, construction began on the new site in February 2012, and the brewery has been operational since April this year.
The new facility in Mbarara is NBL’s second brewery in Uganda and doubles the company’s potential brewing capacity to 3.6 million hectolitres.
“The growth potential in Uganda, particularly Western Uganda, is significant and the new brewery in Mbarara will allow us to realise the opportunity,” said Mark Bowman, MD SABMiller Africa. “Building a second brewery in Uganda is part of our strategy to invest in new capacity across Africa so that we are in a strong position to capitalise on the continent’s long-term beer market growth over the coming decades.”
Clear beer volumes in Uganda have been growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11% for the past six years. Growth is expected to continue at this level for the foreseeable future, driven by GDP growth, a rapidly growing population, and currently low per capita consumption.
Capacity of the new brewery will start at 650,000 hectolitres, expandable to 1.8 million hectolitres on the same site. Brands that will be produced at the new brewery include NBL’s flagship Nile Special, Club Pilsener, Eagle Extra (Uganda’s biggest beer brand), Eagle Lager and chairman’s Extra Strong Brew.
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