Mbarara Plant staff joined trade partners, local government and Ministry of Water and Environment, South Western Region, to commemorate World Water Day 2021, which falls on March 22. Set against the backdrop of the theme “Valuing Water” and sub theme, “Valuing Water and Environment Resources for Socio-Economic Transformation of Uganda”, the World Water week activities aimed reechoing the importance of water conservation and proper use of water not only in factories but also in communities.

According to Catherine Nakyeyune, Environment controller, the center of activities in Mbarara, was restoration of River Rwizi on whose backbone NBL and other beverage manufactures in Mbarara District lean “Due to the recent volumes of plastic waste chocking up River Rwizi, we engaged  in cleaning activities of Rwebikoona area , a town along the banks of the river, with highest source of plastic waste,” she said. “The scale of the global water challenge is bigger than any individual organisation, so we work with local and global partners towards innovative solutions,” she added.

The group comprised Coca Cola Beverages Africa, ACCORD, R.Rwizi Catchment Project Committee, Mbarara Municipality, World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) and Ministry of Water and Environment officials. The goal of NBL and parent company AB InBev is that by 2025, 100% of our communities in high-stress areas will have measurably improved water availability and quality. “We drive the highest level of water efficiency in our operations and continually challenge ourselves to do more, investing in innovative technologies and approaches to save water,” said Onapito Ekomoloit, Legal & Corporate Affairs Director NBL. “Water is our number one ingredient, so we value every drop. No water, no beer basically, as the whole of our value chain relies on water, right from farmers.  Nile Breweries depends on a reliable supply of clean water for production, and our sites are located in areas with high or very high water risk,” he added.,

The company purposes to ensure Water Use Efficiency, Watershed Protection and Water Access under its Water Stewardship sustainability goal. NBL works with global partners such as the WWF and TNC(The Nature Conservancy)to invest financial and technical resources for watershed protection and has provided water tanks for rain water harvesting to its stakeholder to improve on safe and clean water accessibility. It has so far donated Shs 5M towards the R.Rwizi Catchment Restoration project which is being done in partnership with Ministry of Water and Environment and WWF.