Nile Breweries Limited has appointed Nkanyiso Mncwabe as its new Managing Director, with effect from January 1, 2026. The announcement was made on January 5 in Kampala.
Mncwabe succeeds Adu Rando, who stepped down on December 31, 2025, after steering the company through a period of strong performance. Nile Breweries credited Rando with strengthening operations, expanding the market and deepening the company’s community impact during his tenure.
The new Managing Director joins Nile Breweries from South African Breweries (SAB), a subsidiary of global brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, where he most recently served as Regional Commercial Director. He brings over two decades of senior leadership experience in general management, revenue management, trade marketing and logistics across several African markets.
Throughout his career, Mncwabe has led commercial operations in five provinces in South Africa. He also served as Commercial Director for Lesotho between 2019 and 2021, and later for Eswatini from 2021 to 2022, building a reputation for driving growth and commercial excellence.
Announcing the appointment, Emmanuel Njuki, Legal and Corporate Affairs Lead at Nile Breweries Limited, said the company was confident in Mncwabe’s ability to lead its next phase of growth. He praised Mncwabe’s deep understanding of the AB InBev system and his strong track record across Africa, noting that these qualities position him well to strengthen Nile Breweries’ leadership in Uganda’s brewing industry.
Beyond his executive roles, Mncwabe currently serves as an Executive Director on the boards of Eswatini Beverages, a position he has held since 2021, and SAB SHARP, where he has served since 2022. He previously sat on the board of Maluti Mountain Breweries until 2021. Academically, he holds a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa and is further sharpening his skills through an executive leadership programme at Hult Ashridge International Business School.
Nile Breweries also paid tribute to the outgoing Managing Director, thanking Adu Rando for his leadership and noting that the company achieved several key milestones under his guidance.
Founded in 1951, Nile Breweries Limited operates breweries in Jinja and Mbarara. The company produces popular brands such as Nile Special, Club Pilsener, Eagle Lager and Castle Lite. As part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev group, Nile Breweries works with more than 25,000 farmers across 32 districts and plays a significant role in Uganda’s economy through local sourcing, tax contributions and community development programmes.
