Makepasi Match Limited traces its roots back to 1963, when the Associated Match Company Ltd (AMCO) began producing safety matches in Jinja, Uganda under the leadership of Jayant Madhvani. At the time, both the matches and matchboxes were manufactured entirely from wood, establishing one of the region’s earliest large-scale match production operations.
Following environmental concerns and a shortage of local timber after 1972, the industry underwent a significant transformation. In 2007, a joint venture between the Madhvani Group and the Keshwala Group led to the formation of Makepasi Match Limited, combining decades of manufacturing and distribution experience with sustainable practices.
Makepasi Match Limited stands as Africa’s largest producers of wax safety matches, manufacturing over 60 million matchboxes every month for domestic and international markets.
Driven by innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to regional industrial growth and inclusive employment, Makepasi Match Limited continues to build on a legacy that spans more than six decades.
Why Wax safety Matches?
Environment
Wax safety matches are environmentally friendly as the matchsticks are made from wax coated paper rather than wood. No trees are cut down in Uganda as paper is imported, furthermore we have an undertaking with our supplier that for every tree cut down they plant two more.
Cost Effective
Wax safety matches are more cost effective for the consumer as they are cheaper than wooden matchsticks.
Value for money
Wax safety matches are better value for money as each splint burns evenly.
Tranportation
Wax safety matches are easier to tranport as the size of the overall matchbox is smaller than wooden matchboxes. This means that bulk transport of matchsticks to remote rural areas is considerably cheaper.
Wax matches have better buring qualities and thus better wind resistance than wooden matchsticks.
Largest Producer of Matches in Africa
Makepasi Match Ltd is the largest producer of wax matches in Africa with a production capacity of 60,000,000 individual matchboxes per month and is presently employing over one thousand people. Makepasi currently has three brands: Krishna, Elephant and Tausi. Of the three, Krishna is the bestselling brand in the region.
