Roofings: The heart of steel

Roofings Group @ 25:The heart of steel

Once upon a time, in Nsambya Hospital, I was born into a family of six children; four brothers and two sisters.

I attained primary and secondary education from Uganda, after which, I left for India in 1963 and got my higher certificate. Aside from education, I also went to India to see where my forefathers came from.

I am a third generation Ugandan- Indian and my grandchildren are fifth generation. In 1966, I left for the UK where I received a certificate in medical laboratory technology, specialising in histopathology. Later on, I joined my parents' business in Rwanda. At the time, my father ran a thriving supermarket and fuel station in Butare, Rwanda.

I worked with him for a few years before relocating to Kigali to start my own electronics business in 1969. Within a short time, our establishment became an agent for Philips domestic appliances. The business grew quite big.

It was around thistime that we came to learn that the Japanese were looking for an agent of Bridgestone Tyres. Not one to miss out on the opportunity, we met with the Japanese and convinced them to give us the sole agency. We also acquired sole distributorship of several other brands. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STORY 

The steel that builds the nation

Founded by Dr Sikander Lalani under licence of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Roofings Group launched operations in 1994 and has since not looked back.

Roofings Group offers a one-stop service and diversified product shop for the entire steel and plastic construction materials industry in East and Central Africa. The world of Roofings Group is one without boundaries — growing, changing and challenging an environment that embraces different skills, continuous innovation, sustainable growth and a better quality of life.

Some of the new products displayed during Roofings' celebrations to mark 25 years in business

"I had a dream to build something I could be proud of. Decades later, I am a part of something we can all be proud of," said chairman Lalani at the launch of Roofings Rolling Mills, Namanve. "From the houses we live in; the schools that teach us, the farms that feed us, the bridges we cross, to the protection around our homes; we strive to deliver unparalleled quality through our value-added solutions to make your life easier.

"This is made possible by The steel that builds the nationour commitment to a culture of continuous improvement, through which we drive operational excellence in processes, products and people. "We care enough to ask and are courageous enough to do, this is why Roofings Group is creating solutions that meet our customers' needs for today and tomorrow. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STORY 

A one-stop centre for all construction materials

Roofings Group is the largest manufacturer of steel and plastic construction materials in East Africa.

We offer a wide range of products that conform to the current ISO Standards and our quality offers long term benefits to consumers.

The steel products include plain galvanised and pre-painted coils and roofing sheets, hollow sections, mild steel plates, open profiles, barbed wire, razor wire and chain link, all widely used for domestic, commercial, public and industrial purposes.

The plastic products include PVC, HDPE & PPR for plumbing, electricity conduits and sewerage pipes. As for services, we promote partners in business by offering transport services and financing options especially for dealers so as to foster their growth. We also build confidence in the public by offering technical support and testing services to our customers. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STORY 

Roofings' impact on the economy

Roofings Group is one of the 11 businesses that Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has awarded the prestigious Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) status. Umar Nsubuga interviewed the finance and economic advisor, Dr Martin Kyeyune, about the recent accreditation of the group and the impact of their business on the economy 

What does this new status mean to your company?

The AEO status means recognition for high level of compliance for tax and other regulatory requirements. It is also a regional certification of our products, which means our products are complimented in the East African Community. This status, therefore, smoothens and lessens our cost of operation. For example, we get priority status treatment by URA, translating into faster clearance of goods as well as timely manual clearance of goods in the event of system breakdown across borders. We are privileged to have uninterrupted system availability to allow timely lodging of assessments and payments and dedicated support by a relationship officer, creating room for better business facilitation. 

Can you tell us a little more about the products and services you offer?

Roofings Group, which comprises Roofings Limited and Roofings Rolling Mills Limited, is the largest manufacturer of steel and plastic construction materials in East Africa. Our products conform to standards set by the International Organisation for Standardisation and our quality offers long term benefits to consumers. The steel products include plain galvanised and prepainted coils, roofing sheets, hollow sections, mild steel plates, open profiles, barbed wire, razor wire and chain link. All our products are widely used for domestic, commercial, public and industrial purposes. We have plastic products such as polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene random copolymer pipes for plumbing, electricity and sewerage conduits. We offer transport services and financing options especially for dealers, so as to foster their growth. We also offer technical support and testing services to our customers. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS INTERVIEW

Roofings managers promise Ugandans more

Dr Sikander Lalani, chairman
The last 25 years have been focused on investment, and for the next 25 years, our plan is to go more into innovations, and manufacturing new products. I want to thank the government of Uganda and all Ugandans for supporting us at all times. We are really grateful. As the 25 years campaign slogan says, ‘There is so much more to do', we retaliate our intention to work towards the continued growth of this great country.

Winnie Lalani, Executive Director
In the next 25 years, we should be able to increase on employee satisfaction as well as reducing on rates of labour turnover. We should also be able to increase on client satisfaction as well as venturing into more construction materials so that when customers come, we are able to serve them with the whole package.

Anisha Lalani, Executive Director
Our customers are our main priority and we are continuously striving to make them feel this way. We also promise to continue to priotise innovation with the aim of producing the best quality products and services in sub-Saharan Africa. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THESE PROMISES 

People, profits and purpose: Roofings' 25-year journey

Oliver Lalani, executive director Roofings Group, outlines the vision, journey, achievements and challanges of the group as well as the future projections. 

Briefly tell us about yourself and Roofings Group
Roofings is a crown jewel in the manufacturing sector in Uganda, having a far reaching influence across the east and central African steel and plastic market space. I have been involved with the company since 2009, although I spent a few summers during my schooling abroad doing some jobs down on the shop floor.

This involved stacking steel pipes and Roofing sheets fresh of the production line and learning about the various processes in steel forming and shaping. I joined the company after doing my bachelors degree in economics and management just when breaking of the ground at Roofings Rolling Mills in Namanve started.

The experience in watching the three unique production plants being built from scratch and then gradually operating at higher utilisation levels was one of a lifetime and which I cherish to this day.

Most especially, the diversity of nationalities and cultures working together to construct and commission one of Africa's finest steel complexes was inspiring to me. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS INTERVIEW

Everyone's wellbeing is key at Roofings

At Roofings Group, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is given priority for the sustainability of the company, the employees, the community, the environment and the entire country in general.

"We do not only think of profitable solutions for this company, we also analyse the impact business decisions we make today have on social and environmental results decades from now," Nashila Lalani, the executive director Roofings Group, says.

As such, the company has come up with CSR campaigns dubbed "Forever", with the view that the impact from these campaigns should last forever. "And as you are well aware, nobody knows when forever ends, it transcends generations and this is exactly what we are looking at, having CSR initiatives whose impacts can last for generations," Nashila says.

Nashila adds that these should be achieved together, because the impact is much more visible and effective if we all invest together for a forever Uganda. "We follow the African philosophy: Ubuntu: I am - Because we are.

It is not about you, It is not about me. It is about us. Below, we look at some of those initiatives," Nashila Lalani says. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STORY 

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