By Karim Were
*KAMPALA— President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended Ugandan entrepreneurs Ponsiano and Mrs Ngabirano for investing in the hospitality sector, describing the opening of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments as a significant addition to Uganda’s economy.
The President made the remarks during the grand inauguration and handover ceremony of the hotel in Kampala, where he joined ministers and other guests to celebrate the completion of the major hospitality investment.
The hotel, developed by the Ugandan entrepreneurs behind Capital Shoppers Supermarkets, brings the global Marriott International brand into a major new hospitality project in the Ugandan capital.
President Museveni said the investment demonstrates the growing capacity of Ugandan businesses to move beyond traditional trading activities and participate in sectors capable of generating greater value for the economy.
He described the Ngabiranos as examples of Ugandan entrepreneurs who have progressively expanded their businesses, beginning with a small bakery before establishing Capital Shoppers supermarkets and eventually venturing into large-scale tourism and hospitality investment.
#From bakery to major hotel investment
The President highlighted the couple’s business journey as an example of how Ugandan entrepreneurs can grow from small enterprises into major investments.
The Ngabiranos reportedly started with a small bakery before developing Capital Shoppers Supermarkets and later venturing into the hospitality industry.
Museveni said the transition represented an important shift from importing products to investing in productive sectors that create employment, generate economic activity and support local value addition.
He described the entrepreneurs as “healthy actors” in the economy, noting that their decision to invest in tourism and hospitality could contribute significantly to Uganda’s development.
The President’s remarks also underscored the Government’s broader emphasis on encouraging private-sector investment and expanding productive economic activities.
#Marriott brand seen as vote of confidence
A major feature of the project is its association with Marriott International, one of the world’s major hospitality companies.
President Museveni said the involvement of an internationally recognised hospitality brand was a vote of confidence in Uganda’s economy and its investment potential.
He argued that the presence of global brands in Uganda demonstrates that the country can attract serious international investors and provide opportunities for businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The partnership is also expected to increase Kampala’s visibility as a destination for business travellers, tourists and international organisations.
The new facilities are expected to strengthen the city’s capacity to accommodate major meetings, conferences and other international events.
#Jobs and tourism opportunities
The President said the investment would create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Beyond jobs within the hotel itself, large hospitality developments can generate demand for services and supplies from other businesses, including transport operators, farmers, food suppliers, tour operators and other service providers.
The project therefore has implications beyond the hotel industry, particularly for businesses connected to Uganda’s tourism and services sectors.
Museveni said the investment would add value to the economy by supporting tourism and hospitality, two sectors with significant potential to generate foreign exchange and employment.
Uganda has in recent years sought to expand its tourism industry by promoting the country’s wildlife, cultural attractions, natural landscapes and conference tourism.
The development of internationally branded accommodation facilities is considered important for attracting visitors who require globally recognised hospitality standards.
#Kampala eyes bigger conference market
The new hotel is also expected to contribute to Kampala’s ambitions to become a stronger destination for regional and international conferences.
The President said the facility would help position Kampala to host more regional and global meetings.
Conference tourism can generate economic benefits for hotels, restaurants, transport companies, tour operators and other businesses that provide services to visitors.
With the addition of a major international hotel brand, Kampala gains further capacity to accommodate business travellers and delegates attending large events.
The development could therefore complement Uganda’s wider efforts to promote meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions as part of its tourism strategy.
#NSSF partnership
The President also acknowledged the role of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in the investment.
He thanked NSSF for partnering with the Ngabiranos in what he described as a critical investment.
NSSF has increasingly invested members’ savings in various assets and projects as part of its investment strategy.
The involvement of the pension fund alongside private entrepreneurs demonstrates the potential for institutional capital to support large-scale developments in Uganda.
For the hospitality sector, such investments can help increase accommodation capacity while creating assets capable of generating long-term economic returns.
#Private sector and economic transformation
The inauguration comes amid continued Government efforts to encourage Ugandan businesses to participate more actively in productive sectors.
President Museveni has repeatedly called for investment in manufacturing, tourism, agro-processing and other activities that can increase household incomes, create employment and reduce reliance on imported goods.
The Kampala Marriott project fits within that broader economic narrative by representing a transition by Ugandan entrepreneurs from retail and trading into a capital-intensive service industry.
The President’s remarks also reflected the importance of domestic investors in attracting international companies.
Rather than an international brand establishing an entirely new operation independently, the Marriott brand has become associated with a project developed by Ugandan investors.
That model, officials argue, demonstrates how local capital and international expertise can work together to create major enterprises.
#Hospitality sector remains important
Tourism and hospitality remain important components of Uganda’s economy, supporting employment and providing markets for businesses across the country.
Hotels depend on a broad network of suppliers, from food producers and manufacturers to transport companies and professional service providers.
A major hotel can therefore have an economic footprint extending well beyond its premises.
Internationally recognised brands can also provide Ugandan hospitality workers with opportunities to gain experience operating under global industry standards.
For Kampala, increased hotel capacity could be particularly significant as the city seeks to attract more international conferences and business events.
#An expanding Kampala skyline
The Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments add another prominent development to the city’s growing skyline.
The project represents the increasing investment in Kampala’s commercial and hospitality infrastructure as the capital continues to expand.
Modern hotels serve not only tourists but also business travellers, diplomats, conference delegates and Ugandans seeking accommodation and meeting facilities.
The development consequently reflects the changing nature of Kampala’s urban economy, where hospitality, business services and tourism are becoming increasingly important components of the city’s commercial landscape.
#Recognition for the investors
President Museveni congratulated Mr and Mrs Ngabirano and the other partners involved in completing the project.
He said their journey from a small bakery to a major supermarket business and eventually to a large hospitality development illustrated the potential of Ugandan entrepreneurs.
The achievement also highlights the importance of long-term investment and business expansion.
The President encouraged the private sector to continue investing in activities that generate employment and contribute to Uganda’s economic transformation.
#Conclusion
The inauguration of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments marks a significant development in Uganda’s hospitality industry and represents an ambitious expansion by Ugandan entrepreneurs into the tourism sector.
For President Museveni, the project demonstrates the potential of domestic businesses to evolve from small enterprises into major investors while attracting internationally recognised partners.
With its Marriott branding, new accommodation capacity and potential to support conference tourism, the facility is expected to contribute to Kampala’s appeal as a regional business and tourism destination.
The project also illustrates the broader role of private investment in Uganda’s economic transformation, particularly when domestic capital, international expertise and institutional investment come together.
For the Ngabiranos, the opening represents another stage in a business journey that began with a small bakery and grew into a supermarket enterprise before reaching the international hospitality market.
**Source:🇺🇬 Be Blessed
