Source : Daily Monitor
Kampala (Uganda): MUKWANO Group of Industries has won a Platinum trophy for Overall Best Performer in the 6th President’s Exporters Awards 2004.
Mukwano’s excellent performance was attributed to its being the most diversified manufacturer and exporter of a range of value added consumer products such as edible oil, plastics, and detergents, bringing in over $10 million in earnings.
“This company according to our selection criteria, worked towards international certification, created employment for 328 Ugandans, introduced farming schemes in northern Uganda as a corporate social responsibility and applied new technologies,” Ms Florence Kata, the Executive Director Uganda Export Promotions Board, said.
She was speaking during a colourful ceremony widely attended by both the public and private sector at Sheraton’s Rwenzori Ballroom on October 7. The event under the theme: ‘Scaling To New Heights,’ saw 30 product groups in the 13 broad sector categories considered in the competition. 11 companies out of these, each representing a specific sub-sector, won a gold award.
These included Kawacom (U) Ltd in the coffee sub-sector, which also got an air ticket to China courtesy of Kenya Airways to strengthen the partnership and commercial diplomacy between the two countries.
Others were British America Tobacco in the Tobacco sub-sector, Nyakantozi Cooperative Union (Cotton), Uganda Fish Packers Ltd (Fish), Fiduga (U) Ltd (Flowers) Esco (U) Ltd (Cocoa), Roofings (U) Ltd (Metal Products), Britania (U) Ltd (Confectionaries), Uganda Commercial Impex Ltd (Gold) and Tri-Star Apparels (Garments).
In the special category, Akright Projects Ltd, won a silver award for their good services in the real estates developments.
Ms Maria Odido, the Managing Director Bee Natural (U) Ltd, producers and exporters of organic honey was declared the ‘Most Enterprising Woman Exporter of the Year.
Retired Ambassador to Japan, Mr James Baba, won a gold award for being the most marketing ambassador of the year and Uganda’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Umar Migadde, came second.
Shares (U) Ltd was recognised for its efforts in producing and exporting organic products.
“Uganda in the year 2004, witnessed an un-reached peak of over $1.3 billion in exports earnings. Total exports of goods grew from $522 million in 2003 to $653 million in 2004, a growth rate of 25 percent. Service exports including remittances of Ugandans abroad stood at $770 million,” Kata said.
In the silver category, 19 companies, each representing a different sub-sector including SW tuners (Hides & Skins), Godfrey Kirumira’s Swift Commodities- exporters of maize, beans and sesame seeds- through the World Food Programme, Aponye (U) Ltd (Legumes), Taimex (U) Ltd (Spices), Olam (U) Ltd (oil seeds) Tororo Cement, Picfare (U) Ltd, and Rwenzori Tea Highlands.
