Kakira Sugar Limited

Overview & History

• Location & Ownership

  • Situated in Kakira, Jinja District, Eastern Uganda (~16 km northeast of Jinja and ~100 km from Kampala).

  • A fully owned subsidiary of the Madhvani Group, Uganda’s largest conglomerate, with roots dating back to 1930 under Muljibhai Madhvani.

• Scale & Workforce

  • Processes over 2 million tonnes of sugarcane yearly, yielding 165,000 t of refined sugar (about 47% of Uganda’s output).

  • More than 7,500 direct employees; tens of thousands more through its out-grower network.

🔄 Products & Operations

• Core Products

  • White refined sugar, extra‑neutral alcohol (ENA), premium spirits (gin, rum, vodka), sweets and confectionery, and beverage‑grade ethanol.

• Ethanol Plant

  • A 20 million L/year ethanol distillery launched in late 2016–early 2017, built for USD 36 million, utilizing molasses from sugar production.

• Co-generation Power

  • Kakira Power Station is a 52 MW bagasse-fired plant built between 2005–2013; supplies ~16 MW internally, exporting ~36 MW to the national grid

🌱 Agricultural & Community Engagement

• Out‑grower Scheme

  • Supports thousands of local cane farmers, expanding land under cane cultivation significantly.

• Corporate Social Responsibility

  • Provides schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and environmental initiatives such as tree planting and energy projects.

🌍 Markets & Distribution

• Domestic & Regional Reach

  • Strong ties with FMCG channels, food and beverage manufacturers, breweries (e.g., Diageo, AB InBev), and utilities like UETCL for green power.

  • Exports sugar and ENA across East Africa—Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC, plus farther to Ethiopia, Malawi, US.

⚙️ Corporate Developments & Challenges

• Investments & Expansion

  • Major upgrades: factory modernization (USD 75 million), bond-financed expansion boosting crushing capacity to 7,500 t/day.

  • Owned significantly by Madhvani Group; revived post-Idi Amin nationalization, fully restored by mid-1980s.

• Regulatory Issues

  • Faced UNBS probe over underweight sugar sacks; management defended consumer weight accuracy.

  • Engaged with govt on sugar mill licensing policies to ensure sustainable cane supply .

• Labor Unrest

  • Reports of worker protests and strikes over issues like estate fires and labor conditions .

✅ Summary

Kakira Sugar Limited is Uganda’s largest sugar producer, vertically integrated into ethanol, power, spirits, and sweets. Backed by the Madhvani Group, it remains a key regional agribusiness player with strong community ties, robust infrastructure, and broad export networks. While facing regulatory scrutiny and labor concerns, the company continues to lead in sustainable practices and product diversification.