Uganda Baati sets eyes on conquering Southern African market
Roofing sheets manufacturer, Uganda Baati Limited has spoken of plans to conquer the Southern Africa market.
Speaking during the launch of the 60th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday, officials from the company said the next phase of the company’s life will see it extend its control to more market, especially across the African continent.
“We have been growing time to time and we keep receiving orders from as far as Somalia, Zambia and now targeting the Southern African market. Recently, we opened in Mozambique and we are starting suppling to that country next week,” Ivan Wabwire, the exports manager for Uganda Baati said on Wednesday.
He explained that the company exports over 5000 metric tonners of roofing materials per month but said this number keeps growing, each month that passes.
Wabwire said in terms of exports, Democratic Republic of Congo is their biggest market with South Sudan also among the top markets.
“DRC market is big for us because it still growing with great opportunities. We also supply to South Sudan, Burundi, Zambia and Mozambique.”
Dominating Southern Africa
With exports to Mozambique and Zambia already on, officials from the company said they are now focusing their eyes onto conquering the Southern and Western African markets.
“ You have seen us operate as a group in Eastern Africa to go as far as Ethiopia, we are now looking at taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area to seize opportunities in larger markets in Southern Africa and in future, Western Africa, especially Nigeria,” Wabwire said.
60th anniversary celebrations
The Uganda Baati board of directors chairperson, Dr.Alan Shonubi spoke to the company’s 60 year journey that he said has been fulfilling.
"Our Journey goes back to the 1960's, in Tororo, as a business entity called Steel Works Company. The steel and aluminum industry was so lucrative then with minimal competition to the point when and for aluminum and steel products was greater than the supply. This led to the introduction of the first steel roll former machine in the company where we manufactured, and supplied different aluminum and steel products which even included saucepans, Dr. Shonubi said.
He explained that the company however got a setback in August 1972 when President Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of Indians and was able to return to the country after the NRA captured power.
"We were the first in the East African region to install an ultra-modern continuous galvanizing line, a testament to our commitment to technological innovation and excellence. We also became the first to introduce the ZincAL coating technology for all its roofing sheets to give the consumers the benefit of the product.”
“We have invested a lot of money into growing the company and the economy as well. We have defined progress in the steel sector by setting the bar that others follow
We know the value we have put to the market,” said Amon Aruho, the head of human resources at Uganda Baati.
Macklean Kukundakwe, the head of marketing at the company said the year-long 60th anniversary celebrations will be run under the theme, ‘Building Uganda together’.
“We shall break the celebrations into four themes where we shall celebrate Uganda Baati in the past where we shall showcase the achievements of the company since 1964 but shall also celebrate the employees that have been at the company and the leadership team that has supported us,” Kukundakwe said.
“We shall also celebrate Uganda Baati in the community where we shall unpack our impact and contribution to the Ugandan communities where we operate. This will be impact in shelter, environment, education and in health.”
Kukundakwe said the company will also be showcasing its impact on the economy in form of taxation, employment, improving in housing and construction among other aspects of the economy.
“We will also showcase Uganda Baati in the future which is a story of what is going to come in terms of innovation over the years and those planned in the next five to ten years or so as we continue to grow the company and country at large.”
