Movit Africa has been crowned Best Overall Exhibitor at the 32nd Uganda International Trade Fair (UGITF) at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, Kampala. Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna presented the award to the team.
In addition to the top overall prize, the personal care manufacturer won Best Sector Exhibitor in the cosmetics and petrochemical products category, as well as an appreciation award as a Silver Partner.
The nine-day event, organized by the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), runs through October 11 under the theme “Formalising Trade to Secure Uganda’s Economic Future”.
Founded in 1997 by Simpson Birungi in Namasuba, Wakiso District—starting with its debut Herbal Baby Jelly in 1999—Movit has grown into a regional brand serving ten African markets. At this year’s fair, the company’s standout “World of Beauty” stand traded traditional shelf displays for an interactive hub featuring live product demonstrations, salon services, and direct customer feedback.
Mary Kobusingye, Corporate Affairs Manager at Movit Africa, noted that the win honors the hard work behind the brand:
“Being recognised as Best Overall Exhibitor is a significant honour for Movit Africa… it speaks to our journey as a Ugandan manufacturer, the strength of the brands we have built and the people behind them. We receive this recognition with gratitude, but also as a challenge to continue innovating.”
Movit plans to keep using the annual trade fair platform to connect with consumers, distributors, and policymakers as it expands its footprint across East Africa and the continent.
Movit Africa (Movit Products Limited) has solidified its position as Uganda’s dominant player in the beauty and personal care industry. Following its recent rebranding from Movit Products Limited to Movit Africa, the company has aligned its market strategy with sweeping continental and global ambitions
Movit commands a leading 32% market share in the Ugandan cosmetics sector ahead of major multi-national and regional competitors, including Nivea (21%), Vaseline (19%), and Mukwano Industries (16%)
The brand features an extensive, dense domestic distribution network that reaches all 146 districts in Uganda. They have aggressively invested in last-mile distribution, including equipping long-term regional traders with transport assets (like Tuk-Tuks) to deepen consumer access.
Movit currently operates across 10 to 12 African nations—including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, South Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. The company’s long-term plan is to scale operations so that Movit items are present in households across all 54 African countries
In established export hubs like Rwanda (where they have operated since 2009), Movit has scaled up to over 5,000 retail outlets and continues to experience consecutive double-digit growth by expanding into multi-category personal care items.
Moving past continental bounds, Movit achieved a significant export milestone by flagging off its first commercial product shipment to the United States. This move signals their intent to compete directly in highly regulated Western cosmetic markets.
