The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Coca-Cola Beverages is reaping from setting up Africa’s fastest plastic bottle production line in its East Africa operations. It has a capacity of 67,000 bottles per hour and equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as robotic arms and automated fillers and is now driving efficiency and growth in the Ugandan beverages industry.
In 2022, Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU), a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, commissioned the construction of a new line at its head office in Namanve. The line was designed to increase efficiency and productivity.
CCBU’s new polyethylene phthalate (PET) production line started operating last year. The company invested over $27 million to ensure CCBU’s range of soft drinks is widely and consistently available to consumers.
As the country looks to increase the industrial sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product to 31%, from the current 27.4%, and the share of labour force in the sector to 26% by 2040, CCBU has stepped up to contribute towards this goal.
To create jobs, reduce imports, encourage investment in manufacturing, and enable the production of goods within Uganda’s borders, the government has since the late 1990s established specialised zones dedicated to boosting industrialisation in the country.
“Because we are thought and execution leaders in operational efficiencies, we made sure our production line goes beyond production numbers,” explains Melkamu Abebe, the General Manager of CCBU. “This translates to shared opportunity across the value chain. It means job creation, with CCBU currently employing over 900 people. Additionally, the increased production significantly boosts local businesses supplying us with raw materials and services.”
The line, Abebe said, confirms CCBU’s commitment to Uganda’s development as it will also increase taxable income to the government.
“This is one example of our ongoing journey to bring our products to consumers in new and dynamic ways. Demand for our products has increased across Uganda. So, we invest to ensure that we reach our customers and consumers with the best quality products available in the market,” he said.
