Sugar Mill Details
Sugar Mill Details
Sugar Mill Details
Contents
even more cleanly in the fuel-efficient ethanol stoves the
Group is planning to roll out to Ugandans. Watch this space!
As the largest sugar producer in Uganda, Kakira Sugar 8 Marasa Africa wows at international tourism expos
factory has always been a landmark to visit, especially for Proprietors 9 Expect top customer service, flexibility at EAPS
students. With the addition of the ethanol plant, Kakira Madhvani Group Ltd.
cements its position as a trade Mecca, and I strongly Plot 25 Main Street,
10 Madhvani Group awarded for preserving heritage
recommend that you pay us a visit. It costs nothing and P.O.Box 54, Jinja building on Main Street
you’ll be amazed at the great things happening right under 11 Madhvani Properties Division commended by clients
your nose. Correspondence
All correspondence should be 11 Madhvani Group acquires Rwanda’s Umubano Hotel
In this edition, we will be talking tea – that magical beverage addressed to: 12 Architect receives prestigious Prix Versailles award
that the world cannot seem to do without. In any case, The Editor, Group Magazine
for Tirupati design
we make the sugar that sweetens your tea! In a dramatic P.O.Box121 Jinja, Uganda
recovery from the economic turbulence of the 1970’s, the Tel: +256 - 41 - 4444000 13 Marasa Sarovar Premiere Tirupati giving back to
Madhvani Group’s tea estate at Mwera is back on its feet and E-mail: editor@kakirasugar.com the community
growing steadily.
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper 13 Marasa Sarovar Premiere Tirupati scoops
We have the usual flood of awards and accolades for our certificates of excellence, ranks in top 1%
companies and staff who are excelling in their various fields. Contacts
We are particularly proud of the recognition we received Jinja: 14 Five decades with the Madhvani Group
for our community involvement work under KORD and Madhvani Group Ltd. 18 Makepasi Match burns the African competition
Makepasi Matches, as well as our commendation on for Plot 25, Main Street,
energy conservation in our cogeneration facility at Kakira. P.O.Box 54, Jinja
19 Makepasi upgrades to Q-mark certification
Tel: +256 - 33 - 2342100/200 20 Mweya hosts Presidents
I have found that at the Madhvani Group, partnerships, 21 Jinja Sailing Club participates in Kampala
legacy and longevity are important, and we therefore Kakira:
strive to build lasting monuments and relationships. Read Kakira Sugar Ltd. Restaurant Week
about a decades-old building where the beginnings of 10 Kms Jinja - Tororo Road 22 Giving back to Kakira
the Madhvani Group were birthed, and that still stands Tel:: +256 41 - 4444333/6
to this day. We also feature Edgar Wadley – a friend of the
23 What’s brewing at Madhvani Tea
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2017
Madhvani Group who has been a consultant, advisor and Kampala: 26 The traditions of tea
friend for over 50 years. Madhvani Group Corporate Office 28 Madhvani Group at major shows
2 3
Kakira Commissions
Ethanol Plant
January 23rd saw the official opening and commissioning of
the Kakira Ethanol Plant. The inaugural ceremony was carried
out in Kakira by President Yoweri Museveni, who was flanked
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2017
6 7
Marasa Africa
wows at
international
tourism expos
EAPS visits Abacus, L to R: Moses Buyemba – Accounts Manager Abacus, Anatharaman Nagarajan – CEO Abacus, James Oyugi, Finance Manager Abacus, Roni Madhvani – MD EAPS,
Muhamed Nizam – Marketing Manager EAPS, Sanjay Somani – Finance EAPS, Rogers Muwonge – Human Resource Manager Abacus, Peter Maswere – Production Pharmacist
Safari Lodge plus what Uganda as a whole had to offer. Congratulations to the Jinja team for their quick and efficient
Marasa Kenya was not left out, with Kandarp Amin, Head of response.
by clients
L to R: Kamlesh Madhvani Mayur Madhvani, Joint Managing Directors Emmanuel
Butare, Court Appointed Liquidator for the Hotel, K. P. Eswar, Director-Corporate Affairs,
K. N. Nair, Executive Director.
The four star hotel has 100 rooms, 14 suites, four conference
rooms, a swimming pool, tennis court, and a mini-golf course,
and is located approximately 5km from the heart of Kigali.
The government of Rwanda put the property up for sale
in 2013, and it has been acquired for US$20million. With
hospitality and tourism properties in Kenya and Uganda, the
Madhvani Group has cemented its footing across the East
African region.
particular recognised its efforts to conserve the Head Office CCFU, and Prof. Austin Bukenya of Makerere University.
restoration work being done at the property. Blessings!”
building located on Main Street in Jinja. The certificate, plaque and cash reward of Ugsh2 million
10 11
Architect receives
prestigious Prix
Versailles award for
Tirupati design Marasa Sarovar
The organisation provides residential care and rehabilitation
services for orphans with disabilities. These include the
mentally challenged, visually or hearing impaired or
physically disabled. Abhaya Kshethram also caters for those
Premiere Tirupati adults with similar challenges who have been ostracised by
society.
Madhvani Group
Sydney, Australia to London. “Back in the 1960s, communication was by cable, using
Bentley’s second code,” he explains.
“I flew to India straightaway to meet with Manubhai’s
wife Jyoti, from where I proceeded to Nairobi to wait for Messages had to be as short as possible and one needed to
As the Madhvani Group fast approaches its 100th year of In the years that followed, Mr. Wadley was involved with Manubhai,” Mr. Wadley narrates. “I was met by J.K. Chande, know Bentley’s code in order to read the message on the
existence, it has been through many varied seasons. While its the creation, financing or purchase of companies in Kenya, and together we waited until the next day when we recipient’s side. This technology was followed by the telex
success depends on the hard work of many people at all levels, Tanzania, India, Lebanon and Uganda. Together with key confirmed that Manubhai was safely on a flight to India.” and then the fax machines, which have now been made
few individuals have had as unique a view of the Group as Mr. figures in the Group such as J. V. Paun, S. L. Desai and C. J. obsolete by emails and other internet-based communication
Edgar Wadley. He shares some highlights of his 55+ years of Bandi, Mr. Wadley undertook financial consultations on many Although the bulk of the Madhvani business and personal systems. Mr. Wadley, however, prefers to be reached by fax.
financial consulting for the Madhvani Group. key projects between 1960 and 1971. assets were based in Uganda and had been taken over He also still holds the memories of Jayant and Manubhai, and
*** by Amin, there were still business concerns in other parts commends their exemplary leadership in keeping both the
In July of 1958, Group patriarch Muljibhai Prabhudas “Jayant and Manubhai had a great vision and drive to expand of the world. After leaving Uganda, the Madhvani family business and the family together. “They were a remarkable
Madhvani passed on, and his elder sons – Jayant and the Madhvani holdings, and until the sad events of the early met in London and agreed to divide these international team,” he says. “Jayant could always be relied upon to see
Manubhai – took over the reins of the business empire. They 1970s, this is what we focused on,” Mr. Wadley says. assets between them. As each family unit managed its own everyone’s point of view and put things together for the best
soon determined that the best way to honour the wishes of businesses, Mr. Wadley was still called on for his assistance benefit.”
their father was to place his assets into a family trust. They It was not always easy to switch between the different and financial expertise during the next seven years, when
sought the assistance of a firm to iron out the details, and businesses that have come to make up the Madhvani Group, the holdings of the Madhvani Group outside Uganda grew. Mr Wadley was struck by Jayant’s loyalty and commitment
their search led them to a London Chartered Accounting but he welcomed the challenge. A sugar estate, steel factory to Uganda. “Where Jayant was an extrovert, Manubhai
company, Midgley Snelling. or tourist lodge, for example, may seem worlds apart, but to was quieter, taking notice of all the details it takes to run a
Mr. Wadley the challenge is essentially the same. “I believe business,” he says. “Manubhai was good
It was here that Jayant and Manubhai first met Edgar Wadley, that you learn and adapt as you go along. When you are with numbers and together they made a
a partner at the firm. He took charge of the creation of the asked to find a solution to a problem, you will find that at great combination.”
family trust in 1960, and placed the Group assets into trust their core, the business elements and the structures involved
in EMCO Ltd and East African Holdings Ltd. This was the are similar.” Mr. Wadley points to the challenges of
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2017
start of a long relationship with the Madhvani family and running a family business, and says that the
Group which has since spanned five decades and numerous Jayant Madhvani’s sudden death in 1971 was a huge blow, commitment of the family to the legacy and
5 6 7 8
1. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (in yellow tie) arrives at Kakira Airfield for an official visit to the estate 29.04.16
2. Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda shares some final thoughts with Joint Managing Directors Mayur Madhvani and Kamlesh Madhvani
before his departure
3. Directors from East African Holdings Limited on tour at the Kakira Sweets factory. L to R: Scott Pearman, Mayur Madhvani, Mike McCabe,
Mary McCabe, Dhawal Modi, Marcello Ausenda,Saskia Pearman, B. Mahesh , Sweets Factory Manager V. D. S. R. Prasad and Shaik Sahib
10.9.16
4. EAHL directors visit Kakira - L to R: Works Manager Chris Strathern, Shrai Madhvani, Kakira General Manager Christian Vincke, Mayur
Madhvani, Roni Madhvani, Pratap Madhvani, Mary McCabe, Marcello Ausenda, Saskia Pearman, Mike McCabe, Kamlesh Madhvani, Scott
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2014
16 9 10 10. Kakira General Manager Christian Vincke (left) and Mayur Madhvani (centre), host a visiting team of MPs who were on a fact-finding
mission regarding working conditions 18.10.16 17
Makepasi Match burns the African competition MAKEPASI UPGRADES TO Q-MARK
CERTIFICATION
Makepasi Match Ltd was recently recognized for “Most
effective Program in Community Involvement and
Development” for employing physically challenged people
in our manufacturing facility.
20 21
Giving back What’s brewing at
Kakira estate seems to have chosen a life path for Prakash, who
showed an aptitude for numbers and decided early in life that
he wanted to pursue accounting as a career. Every Sunday
to Kakira
morning, at the Kakira sokoni (market day) Prakash honed
Madhvani Tea
his skills in mental arithmetic, negotiation, accountability and
the ability to remember details. “My mother used to give me
Shs5 and a shopping list of items with their units/weights,”
he explains. “I had to negotiate with local market traders, and
I learnt the concept of value for money where you paid the
least amount of money for the best quality of food.”
Different sized tea leaves brew at different speeds, therefore Estate life
the leaves must be separated into batches of the same size.
Next, they leaves are classified by size, type and appearance, Mwera estate exudes an air of peace and calm and the
and finally packed into foil-lined paper sacks which keep undulating hills of green bushes give one the same sensation
the leaves dry for their journey to market. The packaging as being by a lake. On the day we visited, the pace was even
also prevents the tea from absorbing external moisture and slower than usual, due to a prolonged drought. “In the
smells, Mbedha explains. dry season, we are not able to harvest as much tea,” Kiirya
explains. The tea is usually processed in the night.
The finished tea must be sold within three months, and
usually leaves the factory for the Mombasa auction house Every Monday, Mbedha shuts down her plant for regular
within a week from processing. After a three day journey by maintenance of the machines.
road, the tea from Mwera is ready for sale.
The majority of the workers in the tea fields are women, and
Growth and expansion many of the workers live on the estate with their families.
Some come from the surrounding villages. A small primary
Since 2016, there has been a steady expansion of the tea- school on the estate educates 150 of the workers’ children,
growing area at Mwera. “We plan to add 200 hectares to from P1 to P7.
the total tea growing area,” Banerjee says. The new tea tree
seedlings are grown and matured for transplanting in a This pace of life is mirrored on the Nakigalala Tea Estate –
nursery tucked away within the Mwera estate. located in Kajjansi, Wakiso District. Presided over by Manager
Karunthankandy Sushand, Nakigalala is a satellite tea estate
The tea picking is also now completely mechanised. It which also supplies the Mwera factory. Nakigalala has 188
used to be done by hand, which was time consuming and hectares of land planted with tea bushes, and produces 1.2
required special skills that could only be honed while on the million kilogrammes of tea per year.
job. Purists insist that tea picked by hand is of better quality,
but Kiirya has noted that with time, the tea bushes grow out The combined workforce on both estates is 110 pluckers
Growing a good tea in a way that is optimal for machine harvest. and 18 staff members. Tea picking has also recently been
The tea-making process mechanised on the Nakigalala estate, however, there are no
A tea tree takes four years from planting to maturity, but Mwera is also encouraging a few tea outgrowers in the immediate plans for expansion there.
after that can be maintained and harvested for decades. Eva Mbedha, the Factory Manager at Mwera estate, oversees
According to Kiirya, the ideal spacing for the trees is two feet the transformation of tea from green leaf to black. She
apart for trees in the same row, and four feet between each explains the process, which begins with a stage called
row. Withering.
Plucking of green leaf is done every 15 days, and involves When they arrive at the factory, tea leaves are full of moisture.
harvesting ideal leaves on the top while leaving enough Withering reduces their water content to about 60%−70%.
maintenance foliage. Maintenance foliage refers to the This is done by laying out the tea leaves on a wire mesh. Air
leaves the tree requires to make food for itself and keep is then passed over them, gently drying them out. “This can
growing healthy. take between 12 and 17 hours, depending on the weather
and the quality and amount of green leaf,” Mbedha says.
After harvesting, the tea must go straight to the factory Withering makes the leaves pliable enough to move to the
for processing, therefore proximity to the factory is next step, where they are passed through a series of machines
very important. The process by which the green leaf is which cut and roll the tea into tiny pieces. This process breaks
transformed into tea is called ‘cut, tear and curl’, or CTC. down the leaf cell structure, which releases the juices and oils
“The majority of the world’s tea, about 70%, is made by this from the leaves, giving each tea its distinctive flavor. Mbedha
method,” Banerjee says. explains that some of the world’s most expensive teas are
rolled by hand.
Other methods include using high pressure steam or
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2017
plucking unopened tea buds, and this creates what experts Cutting up the tea leaves automatically sets off the next
The next stage is called Drying or Firing. Once the leaves have
been oxidised to the right level, they are passed through hot
air dryers, which dry the tea evenly. The drying reduces the
water content to about 3%, halting oxidation and locking in
24 the final flavor of the tea. 25
Tea originated in Southwest China, where it was first used as a Processing the tea in different ways creates different kinds
Every little girl loves her toy tea set, and many a parent has
been forced to sit down and sip at imaginary cups of tea
while eating imaginary cakes. What is it about tea that has
taken such a hold of us that we drink it morning, evening and
sometimes through the day? Tea is actually the second most
consumed drink in the world, with water as the first.
26 27
Madhvani Group Excel trains
at major shows University
The Madhvani group is always a strong participant and one of the
largest exhibitors in Uganda’s main annual trade and agricultural
students
shows.
In July 2016, Kakira Sugar Limited once again lifted the trophy for
best large scale exhibitor at the 24th Source of the Nile Agricultural
In line with the Excel Construction training policy, since the
and Trade Show held in Jinja. The show, organised by the Uganda
beginning of Makerere University projects, Excel has been
National Farmers Federation, focused on ways to enhance food
actively engaging students studying construction-related
security in the midst of climate change.
courses under various disciplines on Excel sites.
Attended by thousands of students, farmers and small business
So far, two batches of a total 68 students from Makerere
owners, the weeklong event was opened officially by President
Both aircraft can carry eight passengers each, with a lavatory seat Cessna 208 At Mara, you can enjoy a unique safari adventure with our
and allowance for an in-flight baggage area.
Crew 1-2 experienced local Masai guides, as well as educational
outings to the community. For the discerning palate, we have
Passengers 8 expert chefs who deliver mouth-watering 5-star cuisine that
All enquiries to Captain Moses Okello | bb1650@madhvani.org |
+256-752-790088/66 Speed 500km/h can be enjoyed as a bush dinner for that ultimate experience.
Range 3,756km
Accommodation options range from jumbo tents to comfy
Empty weight 3,773kg cottages with inter-connecting options, which are ideal
Max flying weight 5,693kg for families. There is a curio gift shop, swimming pool with
MADHVANI GROUP FEBRUARY 2017
Madhvani Foundation He added that they were confident the selected students
would complete their studies and go on to play a valuable
Against the odds, he passed his primary leaving examination “That is when someone told me about the Madhvani inhabitants and was co-funded by KORD. The National Water and
and began to work even harder to save for secondary school. Foundation scholarship,” he says. “I said a prayer and put in Sewerage Corporation tested and certified the quality of water
New faces
He was awarded a scholarship that enabled him to successfully Maradzika Makomborero joins the
he says. He used his meagre earnings to buy what he needed, complete his Law degree. Currently a busy student at the Madhvani Group under Marasa
and the school subsidised his expenses with a bursary. Law Development Centre, Ibembe is still working hard to Holdings Limited as the Head of
clear prior debt from his first year of university and continue Sales and Marketing. We welcome
Their belief in Ibembe wasn’t misplaced, as he emerged the Sameeh Kavil joins the Madhvani Group our new members to the Madhvani
to pave the way for his future.
best student in the entire school for the national O’ Level under East African Distributors Limited Group.
exams. Nothing was going to slow him down now. Ibembe as the General Manager. Sameeh has a
However, he remains grateful to the Madhvani Foundation
borrowed a bicycle so he could be more efficient at fetching background in engineering, marketing
for their transparent, impartial selection process and for their and sales and has worked extensively in
water to make money for A’Level studies. He asked the timely intervention in his life’s journey.
32 India, the Middle East and Kenya. 33
headmistress at the orphan school to let him work there