Luxury Expansion: President Museveni Unveils New Marriott in Kampala

President Yoweri Museveni recently underscored the critical importance of wealth creation and national production for African economies, asserting that a failure by leaders to differentiate between development and wealth has hindered economic growth. These remarks were made during the grand inauguration and handover ceremony of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala in Nsambya, Makindye Division.

President Museveni particularly commended Mr. Ponsiano Ngabirano, Chairman of Capital Shoppers Ltd, for his entrepreneurial journey, which transformed a small Nakasero grocery business into a significant investment within the hospitality sector, now branded under Marriott. The President highlighted Mr. Ngabirano's evolution from an importer to a distributor of locally produced milk as a prime example of Uganda's desired transition: moving from import dependence towards increased national production. He cited similar successful transitions, such as Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote's shift from importing cement to large-scale manufacturing and petroleum. Museveni emphasized that wealth creation in Uganda should be primarily driven by four key sectors: commercial agriculture, services, ICT, and manufacturing, encouraging investors to prioritize local manufacturing to foster job creation, expand the tax base, and boost the national economy.

Further endorsing strategic local investments, President Museveni expressed satisfaction with the National Social Security Fund's (NSSF) decision to invest in the hotel, deeming such domestic investments more beneficial to Uganda's GDP than investing workers' savings in foreign bonds. He also acknowledged Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala for facilitating the project by making land available and welcomed Marriott International's expansion, recognizing Africa's rapidly growing population as a significant market opportunity for the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala represent a dual-branded hospitality development. It features 181 hotel guestrooms and suites, alongside 96 fully serviced apartments. The facilities include six restaurants and bars, comprehensive wellness and business amenities, and 1,293 square meters of meeting and event space, prominently featuring the Kampala Grand Ballroom, capable of hosting up to 985 guests. This substantial investment has already generated over 350 direct employment opportunities, with approximately 95 percent of the workforce being Ugandan nationals and over 120 women employed across the properties. Furthermore, about 90 percent of procurement is sourced locally, directly supporting Ugandan businesses and suppliers. This opening marks the debut of the Marriott Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments brands in Uganda, increasing Marriott International's footprint in the country to seven properties across five brands.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Henry Musasizi, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, hailed the Marriott Hotel's opening as a clear indicator of Uganda's growing appeal as an investment and tourism destination. Minister Musasizi highlighted the government's provision of a 10-year tax holiday for qualifying new investments, with corporate income tax applicable only upon an investor achieving profitability. He affirmed that such investments significantly contribute to Uganda's economy through tourism, employment, and increased revenue. The Minister also raised concerns about the limited specialized training facilities for hospitality workers, pledging government efforts to establish more training opportunities and encouraging private sector investment in this area.

Mr. Johan Cronjé, Regional Vice President of Marriott International for Sub-Saharan Africa, underscored Marriott's commitment to the communities where it operates, including supporting school infrastructure and other initiatives. He noted the strong momentum in Uganda's tourism sector, driven by increasing visitor demand, investment, and infrastructure development, and expressed confidence that the new development would enhance Kampala's capacity to host business events and international meetings.

Mr. Ngabirano, on his part, attributed the hotel's realization to Uganda's peace, stability, and conducive investment environment under President Museveni's leadership. He stated that the hotel currently employs about 400 people, with projections to exceed 1,000 by year-end. While thanking the President, the Ministry of Finance, and NSSF for their support, Mr. Ngabirano voiced concerns regarding high taxes on hotels, advocating for a review to boost the industry's competitiveness. He also called for increased investment in hospitality training facilities and the allocation of more land, particularly along the Kampala-Entebbe corridor, for future hotel developments, reiterating that approximately 97 percent of the Marriott's employees are Ugandans.

The opening of the Kampala Marriott Hotel aligns with Uganda's expanding tourism sector, which, according to the Uganda Tourism Statistical Abstract 2025, generated Shs5.8 trillion (US$1.62 billion) in tourism earnings in 2025, contributed an estimated 5.9 percent to the national GDP, and supported over 876,000 jobs. The two properties are also actively collaborating with Ugandan universities, hospitality colleges, and technical institutions to provide internship and training opportunities, nurturing future professionals for the hospitality industry.