A LEADER PAR EXCELLENCE
Mr. Ashish Monpara, the Chairman and Founder of the Modern Group, is one of Uganda’s most influential industrial leaders who has been reshaping the country’s manufacturing sector through bold and sustained investments. An entrepreneur with roots in India, Mr. Ashish is inspired by self-made visionaries. He believes that ambitious dreams and hard work can transform lives significantly. Today, he stands as one of Uganda’s most enterprising industrialists, a first-generation businessman who bet on a country overlooked by many.
“AT THE AGE OF 42, MR. ASHISH HAS BUILT THE MODERN GROUP OF INDUSTRIES INTO A HUB THAT HAS INVESTED OVER $850 MILLION IN UGANDA’S ECONOMY. IN LESS THAN A DECADE, HE HAS TRANSFORMED A SINGLE VENTURE INTO A DIVERSIFIED EMPIRE OF 11 COMPANIES.”
Fertilisers, which uses organic waste to provide farmers with eco-friendly solutions that improve soil health. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Mr. Ashish launched Modern Sanitizer, which not only met the urgent demand for hygiene products but also created job opportunities for women and young people in Mbiko. Later that year, he opened Modern Tiles in Njeru, Buikwe District, a facility that produces 49,000 square meters of tiles daily, the largest of its kind in eastern and central Africa. It employs 500 Ugandans directly, and controls nearly half of the domestic market while also exporting to Kenya and other regional markets. Modern Tiles has been honoured with several international awards, including recognition at the Abu Dhabi Investment Congress 2023 as the Best Investment in Africa.
UNFAZED BY CHALLENGES
During the pandemic, while many industries shut down, the Modern Group, led by Mr. Ashish, continued operating at 50% capacity. Workers were housed on-site and provided with food and accommodation. This bold move not only kept the business going but also allowed the group to open two new factories during lockdown.
RISING AS UGANDA’S SUGAR LEADER
Mr. Ashish’s greatest impact has come in sugar production. In 2021, he launched Kidera Sugar in Buyende District by setting up a facility with a crushing capacity of 2,500 tons of cane per day. This Greenfield project was designed as a closed-loop operation, using by-products to create ethanol and fertilisers, which minimised waste and created additional revenue streams. In 2023, he took a bold step by acquiring and refurbishing the historic Kaliro Sugar Factory under the government’s privatisation program. The revamped plant was commissioned in August 2025 with an initial capacity of 7,500 tons per day, with plans to scale to 20,000 TCD within five years. When fully operational, it will produce nearly a million tons of sugar annually. President Yoweri Museveni attended the launch and hailed it as a milestone for Uganda’s industrial progress, praising its role in supporting farmers and strengthening rural economies. Mr. Ashish pledged the project would empower smallholder farmers through out-grower schemes. Additionally, the Modern Group recently added Kassanda Sugar to its portfolio, solidifying its status as East Africa’s leading sugar producer.
THE MODERN GROUP TODAY
With total investments exceeding $700 million, the Modern Group now operates 11 companies spanning alcohol distilling, gas production, aluminium, tiles, fertilisers, sanitisers, and sugar. In 2022, the group launched luxury spirits for export to the US and Asia — a global first. Likewise, Modern Power, introduced in 2023, addresses Uganda’s growing demand for energy, while major new projects include a $200 million iron ore steel plant in Muko and a $100 million vaccine manufacturing facility. The group employs 20,000 employees directly and indirectly through its supply chains, and contributes over UGX 12.5 billion annually in taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority. For Mr. Ashish, Uganda represents more than a business destination; it is a second home. His long-term goal is to expand Kaliro Sugar to 30,000 TCD, grow the group’s steel production capacity, and create 10,000 jobs within five years. At the 2025 India-Africa Conclave, he encouraged Indian investors to explore Uganda’s potential, citing its favourable business climate.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Mr. Ashish is celebrated for his communityfocused leadership at the Modern Group. Under his guidance, the company has enhanced local infrastructure by building roads, installing boreholes upgraded to solar systems, and constructing fully equipped classrooms in Njeru, Buikwe District. The leader prioritises local employment, with Ugandans making up 95% of the workforce, and has initiated training programs in Buyende and Kaliro to help farmers increase sugarcane yields, thereby boosting incomes and promoting rural development.
