KT&G (President Bang Kyung-Man) is supporting children in Uganda, a tobacco leaf exporting country, by providing 400 environmentally friendly water purification devices to 94 local primary schools, valued at 110 million KRW.

The distribution ceremony was held on the 30th last month in Hoima City, Uganda, and attended by Park Hyeon-seok, KT&G's Tanzania Materials Branch Manager, and local officials.

According to Uganda's Water Environment Authority, out of approximately 49.9 million nationals, 9.2 million lack access to safe drinking water, relying on rainwater and puddles. This contributes to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever,  etc. leading to high infant mortality rates and severe social issues.

The gravity-fed filtration devices will not only address Uganda’s drinking water hygiene issues but also replace the traditional water purification methods that involve boiling water using wood and charcoal, thereby saving up to 3,500 tCO2eq annually in carbon emissions.

As a global corporation exporting to over 130 countries, and in order to fulfill its social responsibility, KT&G actively participates in solving social issues related to education, housing, and the environment in countries where it operates, especially in developing nations. In 2021, KT&G also supported a Tanzanian primary school by providing 1,300 water purification units. Additionally, the company has implemented customized global CSR activities tailored to the specific conditions of various countries. These activities include supporting vocational training centers in Indonesia, establishing agroforestry education centers in Mongolia, and constructing schools in Laos, thereby embodying its corporate philosophy of 'Growing Together' through these initiatives.

Shim Young-Ah, Director of KT&G's ESG Management Office, stated, "We hope that this water purification support will help improve the sanitary conditions in Uganda. As a global corporate citizen, we will continue to focus on and fulfill our social responsibilities to countries in need."

(Photo Description 1) On the 30th, KT&G held a water purification unit delivery ceremony in Hoima City, Uganda, attended by Park Hyun-seok, KT&G's Tanzania Raw Materials Branch Manager, and local officials. The photo shows Park Hyun-seok (center) and local officials taking a commemorative photo.

(Photo Description 2) On the 30th, KT&G held a water purification unit delivery ceremony in Hoima City, Uganda, attended by Park Hyun-seok, KT&G's Tanzania Raw Materials Branch Manager, and local officials. The photo shows Park Hyun-seok (sixth from the right in the front row) and local officials taking a commemorative photo during the ceremony.