Sadolin Paints: Painting Uganda for decades and generations to come

Last month Uganda celebrated 55 years of Independence in a colorful ceremony held in Bushenyi District in the western part of the country, as they looked back to the year 1962 when the national flag in red, yellow and black stripes was hoisted and the British blue-white- red Union Jack lowered to make a political statement that Ugandans were finally free to govern themselves.

Over the last five decades and even before, the one other thing Ugandans have known and celebrated is the Sadolin paint brand, a proven household name in Uganda. In fact many a Ugandan say Sadolin Paint has never disappointed and they believe that the brand is the number one paint in the country and will continue to be for generations.

Ugandans say the Sadolin Paints brand, despite the economic instability and political upheavals the country has gone through, has found itself in all spheres of Uganda’s life history: used by government departments; the real estate and construction sector; educational, religious and financial institutions; hospitals, industries, markets, non-government organisations, homes and even used at the sendoff of loved ones, at the graveyards.

Further, Sadolin Paint has a presence in almost all towns and village hardware shops, and this is evidenced by the used up tins you find everywhere in the country, some used as water cans by households. It is a testimony of the wide network the Sadolin company has created over the decades.

According to company officials, over the years the Sadolin Paints brand has made its name through technological innovations and it will be hard for any new brand to come and expunge it from the Ugandan market. It is the market leader, respected and used by Ugandans from all walks of life.

“Sadolin is a market leader here in Uganda and maybe in the region. Others will just have to follow,” says a top tax revenue officer when asked about paint companies that pay most taxes. “I think that the good quality of Sadolin Paint attracts more clients to it,” the ‘taxman’ added.

But why do people love Sadolin brand? A simple quality research shows Sadolin paint is liked because of its good qualities and easy application, withstanding the adverse environmental conditions for long and forms a thin film of uniform nature when applied.

Sadolin Paints brand, according to those who have used it, is decorative and resistant against chemicals. “I have used Sadolin Paint on the number of projects and I can tell it is good and makes an artist like me or any other person love his work,” says Moses Kamoga, an artist who works with one of the big construction companies in Uganda.

Another painter adds that: “I have worked with Roko Construction Company since 1992. I can tell you that Sadolin paint is the best that I have ever used. The new technology they use to produce the paint is superb. The experience I have with Sadolin is that it is water resistant, easy to remove, environmentally friendly, does not allow moulds and algae to grow on it. It is also relatively cheap,” he says.

Unlike other companies in Uganda, Sadolin has a rich history that started when Gunnar Sadolin founded Sadolin Farver in 1907- a concern focused on artist’s paintings and inks. This shows how far Sadolin Paints has come and therefore worth the praise of its users spread worldwide and particularly here in East Africa.

Paying taxes

The ranking of the top 100 taxpayers released in February 2016, shows that Sadolin Paints paid Shs11,132,609,038 in taxes in 2014, an indicator that the company has over the years been key in the development Uganda.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Ugandans appreciate Sadolin Paints for being involved in community activities and the company has partnered with a number of non-governmental organisations to refurbish schools and health centres in several parts of Uganda. Indeed, Sadolin Paints is aware of global CSR requirements and its responsibility towards employees and society.

Awards

Sadolin Paints has received many awards but among the major ones, was when it emerged among the top manufacturers in the region that performed well in reducing their contribution to environmental pollution in Uganda. The company recycles and re-uses wastewater to wash the vessels. This means less water is used from the main water supply and there is close to zero discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment.

Sports

Who in sports doesn’t know the Sadolin Football Club? The club is sponsored by Sadolin Paints and has participated in the Uganda football league. Sadolin Paints knows that Ugandans enjoy football. “Football is happiness to us and we thank Sadolin for what they have done for this club,” says a fan of the Club, Ahamed Kizito.

Employment

There is no doubt that Sadolin Paints has provided both direct and indirect jobs to Ugandans for all the decades it has been in Uganda and continues to do so. It has provided both professional and causal jobs, thus catering for all classes of Ugandans.

The future is bright

The proposed installation of the over Shs10 billion manufacturing plant is expected to provide more jobs and help stimulate Uganda’s economy.

Felix Aduba, the Public Relations Officer for Sadolin says the brand is here to stay. “Those wishing for its closure can go and hang,” he says.

For now, despite some challenges it has faced in the recent past, Sadolin Paints remains the market leader in Uganda, says Mr. Aduba.