This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(January 2024)
The group traces its beginnings to 1962, when its founder chairman, Hasmukh Dawda, began a trading business in neighboring Kenya.[1] Having dropped out of school at age 13, he first began trading in confectioneries, before he eventually raised enough capital to start manufacturing his own.[2][3]
In 1991, the group set up the Britania biscuit manufacturing in Kampala. In 1996, the group acquired the company Uganda Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (UPL, manufacturer of medicine in Uganda, from the government in 1993), and sold 30% of it to Libyan investors in 2016.[4] From 1990 to 2016, the group invested over $75 million in development.[5]
In 2002, the group acquired the Kenyan business formerly known as House of Manji, which was under receivership. After reviving the business, it was renamed Manji Food Industries Limited.[6]
The Dawda Group is mainly involved in the manufacture of fruit juices, beverages,[7] mineral water, confectionery and the distribution of cosmetics, hardware, and pharmaceuticals.[8] The group is also involved in the growing of organic cotton.[1] The conglomerate has its headquarters and majority of its businesses in Uganda, with manufacturing plants in Kenya, and distributes ts products in the countries of the East African Community, as well as exporting to Europe and Asia.[2]
The subsidiary companies of the group include, but are not limited to, the following businesses:[2]
Britannia Allied Industries Limited: Ntinda, Uganda - Manufacturer of confectioneries, fruit juices, artificial drinks, mineral water and sauces.
Charms Uganda Limited : Kampala, Uganda - Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) distributor in Uganda.
Uganda Pharmaceuticals Limited: Jinja, Uganda - Pharmaceutical distributor and retailer.
Manji Foods Limited: Nairobi, Kenya - Manufacturer of confectioneries.
Masaaba Cotton Company: Mbale, Uganda - Exporter of premium roller lint to Europe, the Far East, and Japan.
Kyoga Cotton Company: Lira, Uganda - Exporter of premium roller lint to Europe, the Far East, and Japan.
Mika Appliances Ltd: Nairobi, Kenya - Appliance Brand selling various household Appliances.
One 2 One Logistics: Mombasa, Kenya - Transportation of various goods throughout East Africa.
Bahari Salt Works Ltd: Mombasa, Kenya - Manufacturing of Cooking Salt.
DG Properties Ltd: Nairobi, Kenya - Real Estate Development.
Panafric Chemicals Ltd: Webuye, Kenya - Manufacturing of chemical fertilizers.
Kikuuboonline: Kampala, Uganda - E-Commerce Platform for FMCG products
Pusha Uganda Limited : Kampala, Uganda - Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) distributor in Uganda.
^Nitsan Chorev (10 December 2019). Give and Take: Developmental Foreign Aid and the Pharmaceutical Industry in East Africa. Princeton University Press. ISBN9780691197852.
US$10 million (2023)
US$18 Million (2023)
