Old Main Road, Big Bend, Eswatini   +268 23 63 80 00   info.ubombo@illovo.co.za

Historical Timeline

  • Ubombo Ranches Formed

    Ubombo Ranches was formed as a partnership between South African Lawyer, Carl Todd and Hendrik van Eck.

    1942

  • Beef Cattle Ranching and Irrigated Crop Production

    Beginning of beef cattle ranching and irrigated crop production.

    1949

  • The First Sugar Cane Plant Material

    The first sugar cane plant material was sourced from South Africa.

    1951

  • United Plantations Partnership

    Ubombo Ranches partnered with United Plantations to construct 40km canal for irrigation purposes.

    1952

  • The first Commercial Sugarcane Crop

    Ubombo ranches planted the first commercial sugarcane crop.

    1957

  • Purchasing of Small Second-hand Mill

    Ubombo Ranches purchased and erected a small second-hand mill and produced the first sugar in August 1958.

    1958

  • Construction of a new mill for Sugar Production

    Ubombo Ranches constructed a new mill for sugar production and obtained a 40 000 ton sugar quota from South Africa.

    1960

  • Lonrho Sugar bought Ubombo Ranches

    Lonrho Sugar bought Ubombo Ranches. A partnership with King Sobhuza II was formed, through which 40% of Ubombo was passed onto Tibiyo Taka Ngwane in exchange for the development of Tibiyo land for the mill.

    1969

  • Cane growing commenced

    Cane growing commenced at Sivunga farm.

    1974

  • Local Schools Development

    Development of local schools.

    1981

  • Integration of small farmers on Swazi Nation

    Ubombo started integrating small farmers on Swazi Nation Land into the industry, resulting in notable developments for Siphofaneni town and surrounding areas.

    1992

  • The construction of a 25000 ton Refined Sugar Conditioning Silo completed

    Ubombo completes the construction of a 25000 ton refined sugar conditioning silo, funded by the European Union for Eswatini Sugar Association.

    1994

  • Eswatini’s first Conservancy

    Ubombo creates Eswatini’s first conservancy.

    1996

  • Illovo Sugar purchased Lonrho Sugar

    Illovo Sugar purchased Lonrho Sugar. (Prior to this purchase, Lonrho Sugar managed Ubombo).

    1997

  • Factory Expansion

    A major factory expansion and co-generation project were successfully commissioned, consequently providing support to the development of the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Projects (LUSIP)

    2011

  • A new 1 ton and 50kg bagging and storage facility and sugar warehouse construction

    Eswatini Sugar Association began the construction of a new 1 ton and 50kg bagging and storage facility and sugar warehouse at the Ubombo Sugar mill.

    2020

  • New Sugar Warehouse Launch

    Official launch of the new sugar warehouse.

    2022

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