British American Tobacco Uganda (BATU) is a leading tobacco growing and processing company in Uganda, with a long history rooted in both agriculture and manufacturing. The company is a subsidiary of BAT (Investments) Ltd., UK, one of the global leaders in the tobacco industry.
History
The origins of BAT Uganda trace back to 1927, when commercial tobacco varieties were first introduced in the country. By 1928, the company had established its first cigarette factory in East Africa at Jinja.
In 1949, BAT acquired the East African Tobacco Company Limited, which had operations in Tanganyika (modern-day Tanzania) since 1934, and was also running a cigarette factory in Kampala. This acquisition made BAT Uganda the main operating arm of British American Tobacco in East Africa for the next 15 years.
However, in 1972, BAT Uganda was nationalized under President Idi Amin Dada through the Properties and Business (Acquisitions) Decree. A decade later, under the Expropriated Properties Act of 1982, BAT sought to reclaim control of its Ugandan operations. This led to the 1984 joint venture that granted BAT (Investments) Ltd. UK pre-emptive rights over government shares.
In 1988, the company formally changed its name to British American Tobacco Uganda Limited and adopted the new universal corporate identity of BAT. In 2000, BATU transitioned into a public company, paving the way for its listing on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE).
USE Listing
On 28 June 2000, BAT Uganda shares were floated to the public. The IPO was 5% oversubscribed, marking it as the second government divestiture of shares through the Exchange. Trading began on 3 October 2000, with BATU becoming one of the early blue-chip listings.
The company has 64 million authorized ordinary shares of Ushs 1.25 each, representing authorized share capital of Ushs 80 million. Of these, 49.08 million shares are issued and fully paid, with a nominal value of Ushs 61.4 million.
As of September 2002, BAT Uganda’s market capitalization stood at Ushs 58.9 billion. By 2025, the company’s capitalization had grown to Ushs 736.2 billion, underscoring its strong presence on the USE.
Operations
BAT Uganda is the leading tobacco processor in Uganda, producing globally recognized cigarette brands such as Benson & Hedges, Embassy, Rex, and Sportsman. The company remains one of the largest tax contributors in Uganda, supporting both government revenue and rural livelihoods through tobacco farming.
Contact Information
- Address: Plot 69/71 Jinja Road, Industrial Area, P.O. Box 7100, Kampala, Uganda
- Phone: +256 414 2345678
- Fax: +256 414 2345678
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.bat.com
Uganda Securities Exchange Details
- ISIN: UG0000000022
- Listing Date: 3 October 2000
- Shares Issued: 49,080,000
- Market Capitalization: UGX 736,200,000,000