Nile Breweries enters spirits market with launch of Kyooto Waragi

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reported that Nile Breweries Limited has entered Uganda’s spirits segment with the launch of Kyooto Waragi, its first product in the waragi category. The company unveiled the brand at Ndere Cultural Centre in Kampala on July 22, at an event attended by distributors, business partners, government officials and consumers. NBL is best known for beer brands including Nile Special, Club, Bell Lager, Eagle Lager and Castle Lite.

According to the report, Managing Director Nkanyiso Mncwabe said the launch extends the company’s long-standing drinks portfolio and responds to changing consumer preferences. NBL Country Marketing Lead Wangechi Gitahi described Kyooto as a 40% alcohol-by-volume spirit developed for Ugandan consumers, with the company emphasizing consistency, smoother taste and product security.

The Independent reported that Kyooto will be packaged in a PET bottle and retail at Shs4,000. Gitahi said the bottle includes anti-counterfeit features such as a double-seal system and an authenticity stamp behind the label. NBL Sales Director Ifeoluwa Subair said the product is intended to offer consumers a trusted alternative within a market where illicit and counterfeit alcohol remain concerns.

The launch matters because it signals a strategic shift by one of Uganda’s major brewers into a growing spirits market, broadening competition beyond beer. While the publisher framed the move as part of rising demand for quality and authentic alcoholic beverages, the claims about product performance and safety features come from company officials cited in the report and will depend on market uptake and consumer verification.