Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has appointed Ms. Olive Birungi Lumonya as Chairperson of its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026.
Ms. Lumonya succeeds Francis Onapito Ekomoloit, who passed away in September 2024.
The company also announced a full reconstitution of its Board with the appointment of three new members: Jose Moran, Business Unit President Southeast Africa at AB InBev; Nkanyiso Mncwabe, Managing Director of NBL; and Emmanuel Njuki, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs at NBL.
They join Eunice Muheirwe, Finance Director, completing the board’s composition.
Leadership experience
Ms. Lumonya brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the private, public and non-governmental sectors. She currently serves as Deputy Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Her professional journey began at Nile Breweries, where she served as the company’s first Brand Manager and among Uganda’s pioneer brand marketing professionals. During her decade at NBL, she played a key role in developing flagship products such as Nile Special and Club Pilsener, which remain market leaders.
Following her tenure at NBL, Ms. Lumonya served as Head of Marketing and Communications at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and later as Country Director of SOS Children’s Villages Uganda.
Ms. Lumonya has held several high-level governance roles, including Chairperson of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and board member of the League of East African Directors. She has also chaired FINCA Uganda and served on the boards of UAP-Old Mutual, Uganda Tourism Board, and Uganda Child Rights NGO Network, among others.
In the aviation sector, she chairs Africa Women and Youth in Aviation under the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), promoting gender and youth inclusion.
Her service has been recognised nationally and internationally. In January 2025, she received the Diamond Jubilee Medal from President Yoweri Museveni. She was also named among the Top 100 Women in Africa at the Africa Women Awards 2025 in Kigali.
Ms. Lumonya holds an MBA from ESAMI, a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, and an Africa Board Fellowship (ABF). She is a Chartered Marketer (UK) and a Certified Balanced Scorecard Champion (USA), and has undertaken executive education at London Business School.
“I am deeply honoured to assume the Chairpersonship of Nile Breweries Limited, a company where I began my corporate journey over two decades ago,” Ms. Lumonya said, pledging to uphold the legacy of her predecessor while steering the company toward sustained growth.
New Board Members
Jose Moran oversees AB InBev operations across six Southeast African countries. He previously served as Managing Director of Tanzania Breweries Limited and Country Director of Zambian Breweries.
Nkanyiso Mncwabe, who assumed the role of NBL Managing Director on January 1, 2026, brings over 20 years of leadership experience from South African Breweries (SAB), including regional commercial oversight roles in Lesotho and Eswatini.
Emmanuel Njuki chairs the Uganda Alcohol Industry Association and serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nile Breweries Provident Fund. He has represented the industry in engagements with the Ministry of Finance, Uganda Revenue Authority and Parliament on regulatory and excise matters.
With the reconstituted board, Nile Breweries said it is well-positioned to strengthen governance and drive sustainable growth in Uganda’s beverage industry.
