The recently concluded the 7th Global Logistics Convention (GLC) 2026, which marked an important milestone for the East African logistics industry with the launch of the inaugural FEAFFA Logistics Excellence Awards. Held in Juba, South Sudan, from 25 to 27 August 2026, the awards were introduced for the first time as part of the GLC program, creating a platform to recognize individuals, companies, and national freight forwarding associations excelling in their contribution to the development and professionalization of the region’s logistics sector.
The development aligns with FEAFFA’s mission of promoting a professional freight logistics industry for trade facilitation and regional economic growth. By recognizing professional competence, leadership, innovation, institutional contribution, and business excellence, the awards provide a practical platform for advancing the standards and capabilities needed to strengthen the region’s freight logistics industry and support more efficient trade.
The awards added a new dimension to the annual convention. While GLC provides a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss issues affecting transport, trade, and logistics, the awards provided an opportunity to recognise the people and institutions putting professionalism, leadership, innovation, and service excellence into practice. They also created a platform for highlighting the different contributions required to build a stronger and more competitive regional logistics industry.
FEAFFA President Mr. Charles Mwebembezi has emphasized the importance of professional standards in strengthening the freight forwarding industry. He described the development as a demonstration of a shared commitment to building a professional, compliant, and standards-driven freight forwarding sector.
To promote fairness and credibility in the inaugural awards, the submission, assessment, and evaluation processes were independently managed by an awards board appointed by the FEAFFA Board. The board reviewed submissions against the established criteria and determined the winners, ensuring that the process was conducted objectively and impartially. This provided participants with an equal opportunity to have their submissions assessed fairly against the established criteria.
The inaugural awards featured several categories reflecting different aspects of the logistics profession.
The Host Country Logistics Excellence Award recognized outstanding performance within South Sudan, the host country for GLC 2026. G and L Investment Limited emerged as the winner, while National Carrier Logistics was named runner-up. G and L Investment stood out for its ten years of operations along the Nimule to Juba corridor, strong local ownership and contribution to youth employment and mentorship, alongside process innovations that have helped improve clearance times.
The Young Professional of the Year Award focused on emerging professionals contributing to the future of the industry. Solomon Kalule of KASO Logistics, Uganda, received the award, with Jacob Thuch Biar Abraham of Diphthong General Trading Company, South Sudan, named runner-up. At 30, Kalule already leads a logistics company serving more than 200 clients and a youth-focused initiative that has reached over 300 young professionals through masterclasses. He also represents his peers at regional and international industry platforms.
The Female Achiever in Logistics Award recognized the contribution and leadership of women within the sector. Juliet Kirenga Umutoni of Multilines International was named the winner, with Priscilla Khamati Makokha of Tamati Logistics as first runner-up and Ayen Rachel Ajuong of National Carrier as second runner-up. Umutoni’s career spans nearly three decades, during which she has progressed from customer service agent to deputy group CEO, led a major logistics operation’s transformation, and grown her own organization to approximately Rwandan francs 2 billion in turnover. Her contribution has also received wider industry recognition.
The Best National Freight Forwarders Association in East Africa Award recognized the role of national associations in representing freight forwarders, promoting professional development, and supporting the growth of the sector. The Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association (RWAFFA) received the award, followed by the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA) as first runner-up and the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) as second runner-up. RWAFFA stood out for its strong professional development record, having graduated more than 2,100 professionals through its certification program while achieving high member satisfaction and retention. It also secured three-year customs licenses for its members, held leadership roles on two major trade corridors, and maintained two consecutive years of clean audited accounts.
The awards programme also recognized excellence at the company level through the Customs & Freight Logistics Company of the Year categories, covering large, medium, and small enterprises. The focus on different company sizes acknowledged the contribution of businesses operating at different levels of the logistics value chain and provided a broader platform for recognizing corporate achievement.
The inaugural awards also provided an opportunity to honor individuals whose contributions have shaped the logistics profession in East Africa. During the gala dinner on 26 August 2026, the FEAFFA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mr. John Mathenge, a pioneer of the regional freight forwarding profession, founding CEO of KIFWA and FEAFFA, and a key figure in the development of the region’s freight forwarding industry. Mr. Mathenge currently serves as Regional Managing Director of Viaservice Limited, which provides container guarantee solutions supporting freight forwarding firms across East Africa. He was also among the founding architects of the CCFL, a professional qualification now held by freight forwarding professionals across the region.
The FEAFFA President’s Award was presented to Mr. Charles Kareba, one of the founders of FEAFFA and a professional with more than 40 years of experience in the regional logistics sector. Mr. Kareba has served on the board of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), is a Fellow of the Institute of Freight Professionals, and is a member of the British International Freight Association. His career has taken him from the Port of Mombasa to Dar es Salaam and later to Uganda, where he continues to serve the industry, including as Chairman of the Uganda Shippers Council.
The recognition of Mr. Mathenge and Mr. Kareba added an important historical dimension to the inaugural awards. While other categories celebrated current achievements, emerging professionals, and institutional performance, the two presidential awards recognized individuals whose careers have contributed to the development of the institutions, professional structures, and practices that underpin the region’s logistics industry today.
Taken together, the categories demonstrated that excellence in logistics is not defined by one type of achievement. It encompasses professional competence, leadership, business performance, innovation, representation, experience, and the development of the next generation of industry professionals.
The Logistics Excellence Awards were not simply a one-off celebration. FEAFFA plans to embed the awards as a regular component of future Global Logistics Conventions, establishing a consistent platform through which excellence across the East African Community’s logistics sector can be recognised and encouraged.
FEAFFA Executive Director Mr. Elias Baluku has emphasized the Federation’s broader objective of building a professional freight logistics industry that supports trade facilitation and regional economic growth. This objective provides an important context for the awards, which seek to encourage individuals, businesses, and associations to pursue higher standards of professionalism, competence, and performance. He added that FEAFFA intends to introduce additional award categories as the programme gains ground and encouraged individuals and organizations that missed the 2026 opportunity to prepare for the 2027 awards. He noted that participation offers several benefits, including greater profiling and individual feedback on areas for improvement, which can be critical in building strong and sustainable institutions.
The inaugural FEAFFA Logistics Excellence Awards at GLC 2026 in Juba have established the foundation for a new tradition within the Convention. As GLC continues to bring together freight forwarders, policymakers, logistics operators, development partners, and other stakeholders, the awards will provide an annual opportunity to celebrate those contributing to the advancement of the profession while reinforcing FEAFFA’s mission of promoting a professional freight logistics industry for trade facilitation and regional economic growth.
The writer, Andrew Onionga, is the Communications and Advocacy Officer at the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) secretariat and can be reached at oniongaam@gmail.com.
