Kampala — The Uganda tourism sector will receive US$13 million (Approx. Shs 25 billion) for its development work over the next five years from USAID and the Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance. Each will contribute half the sum.

Patrick Papania, the senior communications strategist heading the Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift (STAR) said the project is aimed at a brand for Uganda tourism on the international arena.

The project also aims at improving livelihoods and economic growth in the southern rift where the Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla parks are located and the northern Albertine rift where the Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori, Budongo Forest and Murchison Falls national parks are located.

Uganda is among the few countries identified internationally for its rare treasures like the mountain gorilla and the over 1000 bird species. A similar project is being run in Mali, Ethiopia, Montenegro, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

Ecobank scoops prestigious African bankers award

Ecobank, the pan African bank, has scooped the 2009 African Bank of the Year for 2008. Ecobank beat United Bank for Africa, another West African based bank, for the African Banker award. Ecobank has a presence in 28 African countries and opened shop in Uganda in January 2009.

The awards ceremony was organised by the African Banker, a business magazine dedicated to banking and finance development in Africa and supported by the African Development Bank. The African Banker Awards reward individuals, companies and institutions that excel in the banking and financial sector. Receiving the award, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Arnold Ekpe attributed the bank's achievement to the efforts of its 11,000 staff. The awards ceremony coincided with the just ended 2009 World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meeting held in Istanbul.

Last year, the award was taken by South Africa's Standard Bank, the mother company of Stanbic Bank Uganda.

Nile Breweries beer sales grow

The SABMiller group, the parent company of the Nile Breweries Ltd in Uganda, has released its half-year performance statement showing that Africa, (excluding South Africa) was one of the group's stronger performing markets. The statement showed that Nile Breweries sales grew by 18% in the six month ending Sept. 30. SubMiller products were led by the beer growth of 3% and soft drinks growth was at 5%. Uganda and Zambia beer volumes grew 18% and 23% respectively, while Tanzania volumes were down 6%. In spite of the growth in beer volume, the statement shows a decline of 1% of the group sales volume of beer compared to last year's, while sales of soft drinks were 1% up compared to the same period. SABMiller is among the largest brewers with distribution agreements worldwide. SABMiller's subsidiary in Asia was the strongest market with a volume growth of 9% with China posting a beer volume growth of 12%.