House of Dawda Group

Overview

The House of Dawda Group is a privately owned conglomerate in Uganda, established in 1962 by Hasmukh Dawda. The group operates in sectors including fruit juices, sauces, mineral water, confectionery, warehousing, and real estate, employing over 7,000 people as of 2022. The group traces its beginnings to 1962, when its founder chairman, Hasmukh Dawda, began a trading business in neighboring Kenya. 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. 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. From 1990 to 2016, the group invested over $75 million in development. 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. The conglomerate has its headquarters and majority of its businesses in Uganda, with manufacturing plants in Kenya, and distributes its products in the countries of the East African Community, as well as exporting to Europe and Asia. The subsidiary companies of the group include, but are not limited to, the following businesses: 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. The House of Dawda Group is a leading diversified business group in the East African region, engaged in manufacturing, trading, logistics, and property development. Its activities cover industries as varied as food and beverages, electronics, appliances, agro industries, pharmaceuticals, and real estate. The group is a prominent proponent of sustainable and green practices, corporate social responsibility, and poverty eradication initiatives. The group has a strong business presence in cotton, cosmetics, hardware, pharmaceutical distribution, and more. In a bid to focus on its core strength of food manufacturing, a review of the business was carried out, leading to discontinuation of the non-core activities. The group's activities and its leadership thinking are based on a comprehensive and strategic vision. The House of Dawda Group is committed to taking on the challenges that lie ahead with the same level of optimism and enthusiasm that has brought it this far. The eventful history of the group would never have resulted in such positive outcomes without the exceptional contribution from dedicated people throughout the years. The combined strength of managers, sales personnel, administrators, engineers, technicians, operators, and skilled specialists exceeds 1,000, excluding the casual staff. The group's mission is leadership through excellence. While individual creativity is encourage

Investment Focus

• Focus on food and beverage manufacturing
• Interest in real estate development
• Commitment to sustainable and green practices
• Engagement in corporate social responsibility initiatives
• Willingness to invest in East African markets
• Preference for companies with a strong local presence
• Interest in agro-industries and pharmaceuticals
• Openness to logistics and property development ventures
• Alignment with the group's strategic vision
• Commitment to excellence and innovation

Portfolio Companies