Nile Breweries’ Mbarara plant earns double honours at 2025 National Environment Sustainability Awards

July 9, 2025 in Companies, Land & Agriculture by Editor

National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah (L), hands over an award to Emmanuel Njuki (2L), Nile Breweries’ (NBL) Legal and Corporate Affairs Lead, Perplex Kusingura (2R), the Environment & Safety Controller, NBL, and Doreen Nkabi (R ), the Environment & Safety Manager, NBL, during the 2025 NEMA Sustainability Awards. Nile Breweries Mbarara Brewery emerged winner for its outstanding commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices in Uganda.

AB InBev’s Ugandan unit, Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has earned top national recognition for its environmental stewardship, with the Mbarara Brewery clinching the top award in the Manufacturing Sector – Alcohol Processing Industries category at the 2025 National Environment Sustainability Awards.

Organised by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) under the theme “Fostering Cleaner Production to Advance Sustainable Development in Uganda,” the annual awards celebrate organisations that demonstrate leadership in environmental compliance, innovation, and responsible resource use.

Commissioned in 2013, the Mbarara Plant stood out for its integrated sustainability practices, including advanced water treatment and recycling systems, which allow the brewery to significantly reduce its freshwater usage by purifying and reusing water throughout the production cycle. The plant has also adopted high-efficiency cooling technologies and automated energy management systems that optimise performance while lowering environmental impact.

Receiving the award on behalf of NBL, Emmanuel Njuki, Legal and Corporate Affairs Lead, described the recognition as a validation of the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainable production.

“Sustainability is not just part of our business; it is a responsibility to the communities we serve,” Njuki said. “We are proud to see our investments in cleaner production and environmental stewardship being recognised at a national level.”

In addition to the Mbarara win, NBL’s Jinja Brewery was named second runner-up in the same category and awarded a Certificate of Recognition for its progress in implementing green technologies and practices. The dual recognition highlights Nile Breweries’ company-wide approach to environmental sustainability.

The National Environment Sustainability Awards, anchored in Uganda’s National Environment Act, are held annually to encourage excellence and innovation in environmental management across sectors. They aim to motivate both public and private institutions to adopt cleaner production techniques and actively contribute to the country’s sustainable development goals.

According to NEMA, this year’s entries showed a marked increase in private-sector investment in sustainability, particularly within resource-intensive industries such as food and beverage processing.

With the Mbarara Plant now positioned as a national benchmark for sustainable brewing, Nile Breweries is expected to further scale up its green initiatives as part of its broader corporate sustainability strategy—supporting Uganda’s transition to a greener, more resilient economy.