By Catherine Gita – People and Culture Director at CCBU, a company in the Coca-Cola Beverages Africa group.
Namanve, Uganda – At Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU), culture isn’t just something we talk about – it’s something we live. It’s the foundation of our growth. In my time here, I’ve seen how an inclusive, forward-thinking environment drives both business success and individual potential. In a rapidly evolving world, where flexibility, creativity and commitment are key, our most strategic investment remains our people.
We know that diverse perspectives fuel collective progress. That’s why we strive to create a space where open dialogue, learning and mutual respect are part of the everyday. This commitment to inclusion and adaptability helps us attract top talent and build a culture where everyone feels they belong.
A purpose-driven culture means connecting our business goals with a mission that resonates personally. I have seen colleagues thrive when they realise their work contributes not only to our performance but also to the wellbeing of our communities.
CCBU is a customer-obsessed, digitally enabled, growth-driven organisation. We aim for excellence across our value chain, and harness opportunities in our markets with bold, focused strategies to unlock sustainable topline growth.
When people feel valued and understand the impact of their work, their engagement deepens, our ability to innovate grows. This connection between purpose and performance strengthens our reputation in a competitive market.
I’ve seen team members grow into confident leaders through initiatives that prioritise development and empowerment. These personal success stories are powerful reminders of why we continue to invest in our people to foster an inclusive and thriving workplace that accelerates our growth.
One example is our Frontline Leadership Development Programme, which aims to empower and grow employees to advance in their careers while also cultivating a strong pipeline of leadership talent for the business. Selected employees participate each year in specialised learning programmes led by the country management team and guest industry experts.
The Competence Acquisition Process (CAP) Summative Assessment aims to enhance employee skills and attitudes, in order to improve competency and productivity.
Our reward and recognition programme (known as League Exceed) recognises employees who consistently exceed expectations and deliver ahead of commitment. The Exceed Premier League recognises employees across the business every month, while Exceed Champions League is quarterly.
Once a year, we celebrate the previous year’s achievements at a special CCBU Celebration Day.
Our aim is to attract, develop and retain high-performing talent, empowering individuals to reach their full potential, and to build a culture of growth that inspires passion, impact and continuous learning.
Through authenticity, empathy and collaboration, we create an environment where everyone can succeed together as a team.
At CCBU, building a future-ready workforce is an ongoing journey. I am proud to be in an organisation that places culture at the heart of its growth strategy.
I invite you to join the conversation on creating adaptive, inclusive workplaces. Let’s share insights and experiences to shape a future where culture and people are our strongest assets.
