L-R: George Lobo (Mukwano), Philip Muwanika (GGGI), Dagmar Zwebe (GGGI), Tonny Gadhoke (Mukwano) and Fredrick Barasa (GGGI).
On August 4, 2021, the GGGI Uganda team visited the Mukwano Group of Companies factory in Kampala Industrial and Business Park, Namanve. This is a conglomerate based in Uganda, with operations in other East African countries. This company manufactures a number of products ranging from vegetable oils, cleaning products, sanitary products, sugar, household and industrial plastic products, bottled water, energy drinks, packaging material, etc. The company is popularly referred to as Unilever Uganda.
The Mukwano group of companies is aiming to adopt more sustainable approaches in their business operations with an overall aspiration of becoming carbon neutral. The GGGI Uganda team visited the Mukwano factory in Namanve to discuss the greening prospects of the company’s operations. Green Industry approaches to ensure a sustainable upgrading of industry and increase in productive capacity without corresponding increases in resource use and pollution.
Mukwano Industries aims to have resource-efficient and clean operations. This will contribute to internalizing externalities through taking extended responsibility for the consequences of its operations and taking measures to mitigate these impacts. This will stimulate technological innovation, boost employment, open up new markets and provides benefits to consumers through more sustainable products such as recyclable plastics.
Headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea, GGGI also has representation in several partner countries. While currently considered a trusted government advisor, GGGI is also striving to expand its role as a trusted project implementation partner. This is viewed as a move ‘to the right-hand side of the GGGI value chain’, as involvement with members looks increasingly at helping to reach project implementation.
GGGI supports stakeholders through two complementary and integrated workstreams – Green Growth Planning & Implementation and Investment & Policy Solutions. These deliver comprehensive products and services designed to assist in developing, financing, and mainstreaming green growth in national economic development plans. The discussion with the Mukwano group is a testament to several interventions GGGI is rolling out with leading companies across the world.