UBL announces increase in beer prices as inflation soars

Uganda Breweries Limited(UBL) has announced an increase in the prices of a number of its products on the market to match with the current situation.

In a notice to all its partners, starting yesterday, May, 4, there has been an adjustment in prices for beers and other alcoholic drinks that they produce.

Due to the increasing cost of production as well as raw materials, we have been forced to adjust prices of the following SKUs(stock keeping units) with effect from today  May , 4,2022, “ the notice by Ben Mbuvi , the UBL Sales Director reads in part.

The company however noted that the retail prices for Pilsner, Senator, Ngule and Smirnoff Ice have not changed.

New prices

According to the notice, also copied to the company’s sales team, a bottle for Bell Lager, the flagship brand for UBL is now at shs3200 as the retail price and shs80,000 for a case whereas  300 ml Guinness Foreign Extra Stout bottle will go for shs3400 and a case for shs85000.

On the other hand, a 300ml bottle for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout smooth goes for shs3000 and shs75000 for a case whereas a 500ml bottle for Guinness Foreign Extra Stout will now go for shs4500 and shs112500 for a case.

The 500ml Tusker bottle is at shs3200 and shs80,000 a case , shs3400 for a 330ml Tusker Lite bottle and shs85000 for a case, shs3400 for a Tusker Malt bottle and shs85000 for a case.

Cans

The 500ml Tusker Lager, Tusker Lite and Tusker Malt  can will go for shs5500 each  and shs132000 per case whereas the can for Guinness will go for shs7000 and shs168000 for the case.

The 500ml can for Guinness smooth goes for shs6500 and its case is at shs156000.

Other UBL brands including Uganda Waragi, V&A, Bond 7, Gilbeys, Smirnoff, Richot brandy, Baileys, Captain Morgan's, Johnnie Walker Gold and Gordon dry Gin have also been affected by the new development.

The development comes on the backdrop of a general increase in prices of commodities in the country.

Almost all commodities in the country have seen their prices gradually go up in the past two months, a situation which has been attributed to ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Last month, the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Ramathan Ggoobi said there is nothing government can do on the issue of rising commodity prices.

“We are not going to subsidise anything. Subsidies don’t work and that is bad economics. Those who have done it have faced problems,”Ggoobi said.

He noted government will not control prices for any goods since Uganda is a free economy.

“We have to be careful with the medicine we give.  You can’t treat cancer with paracetamol. We have to undergo process of treating cancer. The economy is like a human being. It changes every time. Right now the economy is moody but will be happy soon.”

President Museveni on Sunday said government is trying to talk to Russia and the West for a solution.

“We are trying to talk to them quietly. I’m not worried. We shall find solutions. We are talking quietly to Western Europe and Russia. We shall brief you at the right time,”he said.