In commemoration of World Environment Day, Nile Breweries constructed a protected water spring well in Mbiiko Village, Njeru Municipality.
This was in line with the call by United Nations for restoration of ecosystems as was the theme. According to United Nations, Ecosystem restoration means preventing, halting and reversing enviroment damage – to go from exploiting nature to healing it.
According to Thomas Twinomasiko, Environment and Safety Manager, Nile Breweries Jinja plant, the natural water spring has been subject of degration and pollution yet the community depends on it for their water. “This structure will channel water appropriately, reduce contamination and guarantee water availability to this community. We also believe that this will facilitate improved hygiene and disease control,” he said.
The protected water spring well was commissioned by Local Council leaders, Njeru Municipal, Senior environment officer, Area Councillor, Municipal Deputy Mayor, Municipal Speaker and Municipal Mayor on June 8 in Mbiiko Village.
“This well has been contaminated and yet many in this community depend on it for their water needs as they cannot afford piped water or to pay for the water bills. The hilly terrain of the place has made it hard for the community to access tapped water and some residents have in the past expressed displeasure at lack of adequate water so such a source is welcome,” said Yassin Kyazze, Mayor of Njeru.
He appreciated the efforts of Nile Breweries at environmental conservation and caring for the communities in which it operations. He challenged the community to do their part by boiling the water and taking good care of the water source.
Moses Salongo, a resident through whose land the stream flows revealed that in the past the community has called out for helping restoring the water spring in vain.
“ We are happy by this initiative, we are now looking forward to better water supply in this village,” he said. The construction of the protected well cost the company Shs15M.
Still in line with the call for eco system restoration, Nile breweries staff in Njeru planted trees around the well area while their counterparts in the Mbarara branch of the company planted trees around the breweries to commemorate World Environment day.
According to Clare Asiimwe, Sustainability Manager NBL, while World Environment Day gives an opportunity to showcase the interventions done by the company, throughout its operations, Nile Breweries ensures it follows strict climate conservation actions.
“We are committed to building a better world for all our stakeholders, including the ecosystems and communities where we operate. Our business is one that is closely tied to the natural environment: agricultural crops and water are our key ingredients, we require raw materials for our packaging, and we need energy and fuel to brew and transport our beers,” she said.
“We are proud of our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, and we are working in partnership with others to tackle climate change, water stress, packaging and waste and biodiversity loss,” she added.
According to Asiimwe, collective action is key to restoring and protecting the ecosystems that enable our business and communities to thrive.
The company’s interventions are summarized in what it calls 2025 sustainability goals;water stewardship, smart agriculture, circular packaging and climate action.
