JESA Farm Dairy, one of Uganda’s leading makers of a range of dairy products and its founder, the late Dr. James Mulwana, scooped the New Project of the Year Award and Lifetime Achievement Award respectively at this year’s Africa Food Awards.
The awards are organised by the Food Business Africa Magazine, a leading African publication food, beverage and milling industry magazine.
The awards gala was held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on the 16th of June, 2023. Several participants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania attended the gala dinner.
The Africa Food Awards celebrate the people, new product innovations, sustainability initiatives and leading companies in Africa’s food industry.
JESA was recognised for its new state-of-the-art plant at its Busunju, Hoima Road headquarters. JESA was the only Ugandan business awarded.
Founded in 1989 as a local dairy farm, producing only raw milk, the business serviced the death of its founder and has under the management of second-generation Mulwanas grown to become one of East Africa’s most prominent players in the dairy industry. It produces a a wide range of fresh, dairy products such as fresh Pasteurised Milk, UHT Milk, Yoghurt, Butter and Fresh Cream.
Mulwana, on the other hand, is one of Uganda’s most celebrated entrepreneurs and industrialists as well as one of the most respected business leaders. He was the founder, visionary, and Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Mulwana Group of Companies. The Group has three main core businesses⏤ Uganda Batteries Limited, Nice House of Plastics and JESA Farm Dairy.
Energy Ministry Orders UEDCL Board to Investigate Top Management Over Performance GapsMr Mulwana passed on, on January 15th 2013.
Speaking at the awards, Geoffrey Mulwana, the JESA Farm Dairy Executive Director said that the Group was “extremely humbled that a family-owned business from humble beginnings in Uganda is being seen and recognized on the global stage”.
“It all started with the vision of our founder who dared to dream big despite having no experience in the food business. Our awarded new plant is more than brick and mortar and is being successfully run by hard-working Ugandans. Being the only Ugandan business acknowledged at these prestigious Awards is a true testament to the power of innovation and building a brand that people can identify with even across different borders. We are dedicated to offering high-quality dairy products, and constantly looking at how we can innovate to meet the demands of both our local and international customers,” he said.
Mr. Mulwana further said that the awards, “validate our drive to continuous improvement and the commitment to developing and creating solutions to complex challenges.”
“We strongly believe that a commitment to innovation, cutting-edge technologies and disruptive techniques to stay ahead in today’s constantly changing world, is crucial to success in our sector,” he concluded.
