KAMPALA — Victoria Sugar Ltd has been recognized for its contribution to Uganda’s industrialization drive, job creation and value addition after receiving the 2026 African Development Entrepreneur (Industrialist) Award from the Pan-African Pyramid (PAP).
The award was presented during the 2026 PAP Global Awards at Speke Resort Munyonyo, where individuals, businesses and organisations were recognised for their contribution to Africa’s development through investment and practical initiatives.
PAP described Victoria Sugar, the flagship company of Victoria Group of Companies, as an example of African enterprise and industrial development, citing its investments in manufacturing, agriculture, employment, taxation and energy generation.
According to the award citation, Victoria Group has invested more than $200 million (about Shs710 billion) in Uganda since its establishment in 2018 and contributed more than Shs225 billion in taxes between 2018 and 2024.
Victoria Sugar operates a 17,000-acre sugarcane estate in Luweero and works with out-grower farmers who supply cane to its factory.
The arrangement links agricultural production to industrial processing, creating income opportunities for farmers while providing raw materials for the company’s manufacturing operations.
PAP said the factory has the capacity to crush about 3,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day and produces approximately 36,000 tonnes of sugar annually.
The organisation said the company’s model demonstrates the economic potential of processing locally produced agricultural commodities within Uganda rather than exporting raw materials for processing elsewhere.
Beyond sugar production, Victoria Sugar has invested in electricity generation using bagasse, a by-product of sugarcane processing.
According to PAP, the company generates about 15 megawatts of electricity, of which approximately 10MW is supplied to the national grid.
The company is also exploring the use of biogas, an initiative PAP said could further improve the utilisation of waste generated during industrial production.
The award citation said such investments demonstrate how manufacturing can contribute not only to value addition but also to Uganda’s energy supply.
PAP also pointed to Victoria Group’s wider portfolio of investments as part of the reason for the recognition.
The group has interests in businesses including Yogi Steels, Victoria Nile Plastics, Millennium Tiles, Gold Star Batteries, Total Cables, Mayuge Stone Quarry, Tembo Aluminium, Simba Creation, Delta, Shakti Sugar and Victoria Tyres, among others.
According to the award citation, the group’s diversification has helped expand local production, create employment and increase economic activity across different sectors.
The group directly employs more than 10,000 people and supports an estimated 5,000 indirect jobs, according to the citation.
The employment generated across the businesses supports thousands of households and contributes to the broader economy through wages, taxation and local procurement.
PAP said Victoria Sugar’s investment model reflects its vision of African-led economic development, particularly through the use of local resources, labour and entrepreneurial capacity to create value on the continent.
The organisation placed particular emphasis on value addition, saying African economies can derive greater economic benefits by processing their raw materials into finished products locally.
PAP also linked Victoria Sugar’s industrial approach to President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing call for Uganda to reduce dependence on exports of raw materials and increase production of finished goods.
“Victoria Sugar’s top leadership attended President Museveni’s repeated classroom lectures on the need for Uganda and Africa to export finished products rather than raw materials,” PAP said in its citation.
The organisation said Victoria Sugar’s investments demonstrate how industrialisation can translate Pan-African ideals into practical economic outcomes through manufacturing, employment, farmer support and domestic value addition.
The African Development Entrepreneur (Industrialist) Award places Victoria Sugar among businesses recognised by PAP for their contribution to economic development and industrial transformation.
For PAP, the company’s activities illustrate the role that private investment can play in supporting Uganda’s industrialisation agenda while creating jobs, generating tax revenue, supporting farmers and contributing to national energy production.
The award comes as Uganda continues to encourage investment in manufacturing and value addition as part of efforts to expand the productive sectors of the economy and reduce reliance on imported finished goods.