COUNTRY
FEATURE
EAST AFRI CA
Uganda lubricants market
— a brief overview
T
By Edwin Kamau
he Ugandan economy is considered to be
amongst the fastest growing economies
in the world and in Africa in particular.
With this growth, comes an increase in the
usage of automobiles and machineries, with
new industries being set up day-in and dayout.
The lubricants market has seen a steady
growth from the days when it was dominated
by multinationals to the current situation
where there are numerous independent
lubricants suppliers with a sizeable market
share. The notable lubricants brands include
Total, Shell, Enoc, Fuchs, Engen, Valvoline,
Kobil, Mogas International and Hass.
Just like in other countries in the region,
cheap, low quality products have flooded the
Ugandan market and this is evidenced by the
many such lubricants available in downtown
Kampala areas of Kiseka market. This area
is the hub of retail lubricants business in the
country. Here, the movement of a brand is
solely determined by the mechanics and their
opinion moves the market.
Nevertheless, increased awareness and
use of top of the range vehicles have seen
the Ugandan market demanding the latest
specifications of oil including fully synthetic
lubricants like 5w 30 and 10w 40. Companies
like Cooper Motors who deal in vehicles like
the Range Rover and Suzuki are now using
oils like 5W20 and 5W30. Enoc lubricants,
through its distributor CITY LUBES have
launched into the market 5W 30 which is a
fully synthetic lubricant.
Four Stroke Motor Cycle Oils Gains
Prominence in Ugandan Market
Though the use of two wheelers in Uganda
has been gaining popularity for the last 10
years ,the lubricants marketers have not
been moving in to capitalize on this and the
servicing of the motorcycles has been left to
the prerogative of the mechanics who use any
oil as long as its friendly to their pockets.
With a shift from two stroke to four stroke
July-September 2012 | Lubezine Magazine
The lubricants market
seen a steady growth
from the days when
it was dominated by
multi-nationals to now
when there are numerous
independent lubricants
suppliers with a sizeable
market share
Participants in a training workshop organized by City
Lubes, displaying 4T oil from Enoc. Use of 4T oil is
growing in the Ugandan market. Below: Motorcycle
service clinic by City Lubes in Kampala.
motorcycles, the oil of choice has been motor
oils and specifically monogrades such as SAE
50. But this is changing thanks to the introduction of four stroke motorcycle specific oils
by notable lubes marketers. These include,
Protec 4T from Enoc Lubricants, Special 4T
oil from Total and Reliance 4T by Gapco.
Additionally , VERMACO, a local dealer of 4
stroke motor cycles ( Bajaaj) has also introduced own label of 4T oil .The motorcycle oil
sector has become the most competitive segment and this has seen lubricant marketers
conducting town by town service clinics, to
popularize their brands.
.
— Edwin Kamau works for City Lubes(
U) Ltd. City lubes is the authorised
distributor of ENOC lubricants in
Uganda.
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