BAT Uganda to quit lowly leaf business

British American Tobacco Uganda (BATU) is to discontinue its leaf growing and export business after 86 years with the loss of 147 jobs, according to a story in New Vision.

BATU’s managing director, Jonathan D’souza, was said to have told reporters that the decision to quit was reached after the company’s biggest client, British American Tobacco Global Leaf Pool Ltd, had decided instead to use Alliance One International.

“We will now focus on importing and distributing cigarettes and growing our brand equity,” he said.

Tobacco was an agricultural crop, and like any agricultural crop it was affected by many risks, especially weather changes, said D’souza. It was also a low-return business.

“I do not think the shareholders should be disappointed,” he was quoted as saying.