Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) was on Thursday crowned the Employer of the Year for 2022 by the employers’ umbrella body, the Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE).
The brewer emerged the overall winner, from a survey that involved 127 public, private and not-for-profit organisations. The survey was conducted by a Makerere University team, led by Professor Kikooma Julius. 3,019 respondents took part.
The 2022 awards, were held under the theme “Employer resilience in a Covid-19 world and beyond.”
The awards ceremony was held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday night 21st July 2022 to recognise employers who excelled in upholding the best Human Resource Practices amidst Covid-19.
This is the second time, the Luzira-based brewer, is winning the prestigious award, following another win in 2017.
The 2022 Silver Award went to Cipla-Quality Chemical Industries Limited Uganda, while the third place, the Bronze Award went to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).
FUE is a national organisation instituted to represent Ugandan employers’ interests in matters dealing with employment and people management. The Organization in 2001 launched the EYA Survey which seeks to identify and rank HR best practices, climaxing with an awards event to recognise top employers in Uganda that have excelled in establishing the best human resource management policies and practices. The EYA Survey also provides for employers to visit, learn, share and benchmark from each other those best practices.
Rosemary Nakuya, the Acting Human Resource Director of Uganda Breweries Limited during her acceptance speech said:
“As a business that has championed inclusion and diversity, individual employee development and team building over the years, the award is a mark that such policies at the workplace not only help us uncover the potential of all but also value human resources in every form, and positions workers to better exploit their capabilities – the award is a revelation that we are making strides in the right direction.”
“We have also shattered stereotypes at the workplace by employing women in production processes that were previously men’s stronghold. Currently, one of our production lines is managed by a 75% female staff, with a production capacity of over 25,000 bottles a day,” she said while receiving the award.
She also said that in 2021, the brewery committed to creating the most inclusive workplace by recruiting ten talented young people with disabilities for six months of work experience placement roles.
UBL has in addition to all these best practices and achievements rolled out the first-ever all-female commercial graduate program that led to the recruitment of 7 young ladies in the first cohort as an opportunity to inspire more girls to take up positions of leadership at the brewery. The purpose of the program is to develop a sustainable pool of young female professionals to take on the challenge of managing the brewery in future to fill middle management and senior positions.
Irene Mwoyogwona: Beyond the Numbers – How Pride Bank's Award-Winning CFO Combines Profitability and Social ImpactThe brewery has also registered several other significant signs of progress that they have made towards attracting, growing and retaining talent some of which include:
- A thriving talent exchange program that has seen the brewery export 19 Ugandan employees across the Globe within the Diageo network.
- Leadership coaching at various employee tiers.
- Offering education opportunities in professional courses and senior leadership training courses.
- Capability development enhancing staff knowledge and skills.
- Employee wellness programs to keep staff engaged and happy.
Strong values and resilience
According to the organisers, Cipla-QCIL was among others recognised for their elaborate COVID-19 prevention and management program that ensured no disruptions in the supply of medicines.
“We are honoured to be Silver Award Winners from the Federation of Uganda Employers(FUE), in recognition of our elaborate COVID-19 prevention and management program that ensured no disruptions in the supply of medicines, giving millions of people continuous access to affordable health care,” the company commented on their official twitter account.
The company was also feted for their #HopeIn EveryDrop blood donation campaign as well as their contribution to the expansion of the Rotary Blood Bank in Mengo Hospital.”
Other winners of the night included Bio Core Enterprises which won the Young Employer Award and Partners for Children Worldwide which scooped the Best SME Employer Award. The Ministry of Public Service scooped the Government Ministry with The Best Employer Practices Award. Rwenzori Commodities Ltd, won an Award for Elimination of Child Labour while Cheshire Services won an award for Disability Inclusion. NUDIPU won the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights accolade while Marifa Investments and AMREF took home the Refugees Employers and Talent Management accolades respectively.
Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development and Chief Guest at the awards lauded all employers and employees for their resilience during the pandemic.
“It is work that puts and continues to put food on our tables,” she said adding; “On behalf of my ministry I want us to give a handclap to the organisers (of the awards).”
“A resilient institution is one with a strong value system. A resilient institution is one which knows how to survive in hardship,” said Dr. Silver Mugisha, the FUE Chairman.
The awards were sponsored by, among others, Nation Media Group & MultiChoice Uganda. Other partners included the International Labor Organization, the Danish Family Planning Association and the NUDIPU.
