Robert Ejiku
Group Manager, Igara Growers Tea Factory Ltd

Robert grew up in a small country town called Arus, North of West Kampala, Uganda. He is happily married with a lovely 2-year-old daughter.  He also takes care of 6 orphaned children.  He studied Food Science and Technology at Makevere University in Kampala and graduated with a Bachelor degree in 1999.

Description of a typical day:

My typical day starts with a tour in the factory and discussions on processes with the Quality Controller and Factory Manager, then to the office to answer urgent correspondences and write memos. On occasions I continue with approval of payments, tea dispatches, signing cheques and factory reports. Then walk through other departments to find out results of last assignments and give any new assignments. I end the day with a factory tour and check through new tea deliveries for quality and quantity.

On another day after the factory tour, signing and answering urgent documents and correspondences, I go to the Field to visit the Estates or Farmer Demonstration farms or weighing sheds with some selected Field staff. Several days are meeting days as I lead the HACCP team and I am a core member of the Environment team and have to chair Management and other Committee meetings. The preparations for these meetings and Board meetings may also constitute part of my day.

I do take quite a number of trips locally and abroad for the purpose of training, promotion and marketing as it will be with this particular trip to Cafédirect. 

‘Selling to Cafédirect widens our market options but more importantly comes with a Premium fund that can be utilized for the various community projects we undertake. These funds have been mainly used for community projects in the areas of water and sanitation, health, education and environment. We have constructed staff houses for health centres, classroom blocks, maternity units, protected wells, offices and ablution blocks for workers at the estates.’

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