Ugandan to head Uganda Breweries

L-R: Mr Ocitti, Dr Shonubi and Mr Mabunda

KAMPALA- Beer maker Uganda Breweries Limited has hired Mr Mark Ocitti, the managing director for East African Breweries Limited International as its new managing director effective August.

This makes him the second Ugandan to lead the brewer since Diageo Plc, acquired majority stake in East African Breweries Limited (EABL) the parent company of UBL.

He now joins Baker Magunda as the only two Ugandans to have led the brewer.

Dr Alan Shonubi, the UBL board chairman Thursday announced Mr Ocitti as the new managing director replacing Mr Nyimpini Mabunda whose contract expires next month.

Dr Shonubi explained that as part of company leadership, “our leaders serve a fixed term contract which is three years.”

“We have been waiting Mark since 2014 when EABL decided to recruit him as a credible successor to Nyimpini. I am proud to have a Ugandan at the helm of the most trusted and respected company in this country. I boast in knowing that within EABL and Diageo we have exported Ugandan talent to countries like Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and the United Kingdom,” Dr Shonubi said.

Mr Ocitti is not new to the EABL group having served as managing director for EABL since August 2014. During his term, he was responsible for EABL business in South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo.

During his tenure, Mr Ocitti led EABL business in an extremely complex business environment in volatile South Sudan and DR Congo. A statement from UBL says, he doubled EABL’s contribution to the EABL group from five percent to over 10 per cent.

“His strength in commercial and operational experience enabled him to develop a robust distribution network in South Sudan, Rwanda, growing the Tusker brand in to the number one preferred brand in South Sudan,” the statement reads in part.

Prior to joining the brewer industry , the bachelors of statistics graduate from Makerere University  spent 11 years in the Oil industry working with Shelter International Uganda, eight year in telecommunications industry working with Bharti Airtel international and one year consulting in ComzAfrica, an African entrepreneurial telecoms value added services firm.

During Mr Mabunda’s tenure, UBL returned to volume and market share growth despite the challenging trading environment.

“The market has been challenged especially from the consumption point of view, but we have been able to respond through Nguule, a low cost beer,” Mr Mabunda said. 

Mr Ocitti is an alumnus of Makerere University where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics before embarking on a Master of Business Administration degree from  Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland.