Gorilla Trekking Uganda Gorilla Safaris

East Africa Breweries (EABL), the mother company for Uganda Breweries, has joined the soft drinks business with the launch of Alvaro.

“We realize that adults want more choices in drinks, especially soft drinks and customers are getting more sophisticated in their selection of soft drinks,” Gerald Mahinda, the EABL Group chief executive officer, said;

This was at the launch of the soft drink at the Pyramids Casino in Kampala. “Alvaro is designed and targets young adults who are exciting and adventurous,” he said.

Patricia Ithau, the Uganda Breweries managing director, said Uganda was the second African country where the drink was being introduced.

Alvaro was introduced onto the Kenyan market a year ago.

Mahinda said sh900m was invested in the project. He said Alvaro would be available in two flavours, pineapple and pears.

Mahinda said the soft drink would be introduced in Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi soon.

By Deborah Allen

Gorilla Trekking Safari News Reporter

Kampala

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) customer deposits have reached sh21b, the Group chief executive officer, Martin Odour Otieno, said;

“The bank has also given out loans worth sh8.7b during the last nine months it has been in operating in Uganda. The third financial quarter results indicate a 64% growth in profits for the KCB Group. Our profits before tax rose to sh119.6b from sh73.6b, The assets stand at sh4.3 trillion as opposed to sh2.5 trillion last year,’ Odour said.

He said the bank was in final stages of opening new branches in Hoima, Gulu, Lira and on Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala before the end of the year.

He added that other branches would be opened later in Fort Portal, Mbale and Arua.

On the matter of cross listing on the Ugandan border, he said KCB had obtained approval and would introduce a sub-register for ease of trading.

“We expect a lot of interest from the market,” he said. KCB had registered 7,500 customers in the last nine months. He also added that the bank would help businesses who have transactions in southern Sudan.

KCB recently launched a financial facility code-named Biz flex, to help businesspeople involved in cross border trade. Biz flex enables traders to transfer money or get funding.

By Deborah Allen

Gorilla Trekking Safari News Reporter

Kampala

Contractors of the long-awaited oil pipeline extension project from Eldoret to Kampala are expected to announce the commencement of the works by the end of November, sources said this week, writes our Reporter.

The sources explained that because of the complexity of the project, some previous announcements of the impending start of the construction works of the 350km pipeline by Tamoil Uganda have turned out to be over-simplified and unjustified. This time, the sources added, it appeared to be the “real thing.”

“Teams of the energy ministry personnel are now sensitizing people along the Eldoret-Kampala oil pipeline route before surveying and valuing the land for compensation,” the sources said on Monday.

Earlier industry sources explained that the pipeline process was delayed by violence following the disputed elections in Kenya last December.

They also said there were numerous legal and project agreements that needed joint resolution before any major undertaking could be effected.

A joint government statement made in November 2006 said they expected the laying of the pipeline to start in the second half of 2007. This was expected to be completed within 12 months. This, however, not happened.

By Deborah Allen

Gorilla trekking safari News Reporter

Kampala