FAMReports News Desk | August 2026
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially inaugurated the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala in Nsambya, describing the major hospitality investment as an example of the transformation Uganda needs to achieve through local entrepreneurship, investment and wealth creation.
The President officiated at the grand inauguration and key handover ceremony on 27 August 2026, where he congratulated Ugandan businessman Ponsiano Ngabirano for transforming a business that started as a small grocery shop in Nakasero into a major investment in Uganda’s hospitality sector.
Museveni said the investment demonstrates the importance of moving Uganda from dependence on imports towards domestic production, investment and wealth creation.
“I congratulate Mr. Ponsiano Ngabirano for growing his business from a small grocery shop in Nakasero into this major investment. This is the kind of transformation we want to see, from importing to producing and creating wealth here in Uganda.”
The President said Uganda’s development should be driven by four key sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communications technology.
He also welcomed the investment’s contribution to employment and local supply chains, saying the hotel would create opportunities for Ugandans and support local businesses.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
– Property: Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala.
– Location: Ggaba Road, Plot 2646, Block 15, Nsambya, Kampala.
– Official inauguration: 27 August 2026.
– Local investor: Ugandan businessman Ponsiano Ngabirano and his wife.
– International brand: Marriott International.
– Hotel accommodation: 181 contemporary rooms and suites.
– Executive accommodation: 96 fully serviced apartments.
– Combined accommodation capacity: 277 rooms and apartment units.
– Facilities: Restaurants and bars, swimming pool, spa, fitness centre and conference facilities.
– Economic significance: Tourism, employment, local procurement, investment and conference tourism.
– Government focus: Commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT as drivers of economic transformation.
From Nakasero grocery shop to major hospitality investment
Museveni used Ngabirano’s entrepreneurial journey to illustrate the type of local business transformation he wants to see across Uganda.
Ngabirano began with a small grocery business in Nakasero before expanding his commercial interests and establishing the Capital Shoppers supermarket chain.
The Kampala Marriott investment represents another stage in that journey, taking a Ugandan founded business into the international hospitality industry through a partnership with Marriott International.
The President described the transition as an example of how Ugandan entrepreneurs can grow businesses, create wealth and build investments capable of attracting internationally recognised brands. Museveni also encouraged more investors to explore opportunities in Uganda.
Government highlights four pillars of economic transformation
During the inauguration, Museveni reiterated his view that Uganda’s economic transformation should be anchored in four sectors.
These are:
– Commercial agriculture, to increase productivity, food production and agricultural incomes.
– Manufacturing, to promote local production, value addition and industrialisation.
– Services, including tourism and hospitality.
– ICT, to support innovation, digital services and a modern knowledge economy.
The Kampala Marriott investment falls primarily within the services and tourism sectors while also creating linkages with suppliers, construction businesses, food producers, transport companies and other local enterprises.
The President said he was pleased that the investment is creating jobs for Ugandans and supporting local suppliers.
Marriott makes its debut in Uganda
The opening marks the debut of the Marriott Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments brands in Uganda.
The Kampala Marriott Hotel is located in Nsambya along Ggaba Road and offers 181 contemporary rooms and suites.
Marriott says the hotel combines modern design with Ugandan hospitality and includes accommodation with views across Kampala’s hills, multiple dining venues, wellness facilities and extensive meeting and events spaces.
The adjoining Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala provides 96 fully serviced apartments designed particularly for extended stays. The apartments include fully equipped kitchens, living and dining areas, workspaces and other facilities suited to business executives, relocating families and long term visitors.
Together, the hotel and apartments provide 277 accommodation units, strengthening Kampala’s capacity to accommodate international visitors, business travellers and long stay guests.
A new five star hospitality facility in Kampala
The property adds a major luxury hospitality facility to Kampala’s growing tourism and business infrastructure.
Its facilities include multiple restaurants, bars and lounges serving local and international cuisine. Guests also have access to an outdoor swimming pool, spa, steam room and fitness facilities.
The hotel has substantial conference and events capacity, including the Kampala Grand Ballroom, Nsambiya Junior Ballroom and versatile meeting spaces.
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The conference facilities could strengthen Kampala’s position as a destination for regional meetings, corporate events and international conferences.
Investment expected to support tourism
The opening comes as Uganda seeks to expand tourism and increase the contribution of the sector to the national economy.
A five star international hotel of this scale provides accommodation and conference infrastructure for high value visitors while creating opportunities for businesses operating across the tourism supply chain.
These include food suppliers, transport companies, tour operators, event management businesses, entertainment providers, agricultural producers and other service providers. The investment therefore has potential economic effects beyond the hotel itself.
Museveni thanks partners behind the investment
Museveni thanked His Eminence Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala for making the land available for the project, as well as Marriott International, the National Social Security Fund and other partners who contributed to the investment.
The involvement of an international hospitality brand alongside a Ugandan investor demonstrates the potential for partnerships between domestic businesses and global companies.
The Marriott brand brings international operating systems, standards and a global reservation network, while local ownership anchors the investment within Uganda’s private sector.
Employment and local supply chains
The President specifically highlighted employment and local procurement as important benefits of the investment.
The construction and operation of a large hospitality facility can generate opportunities across a wide range of occupations, from hotel management and hospitality services to security, cleaning, catering, maintenance, transport and administration.
Local suppliers can also benefit through the provision of food, beverages, furniture, maintenance services, agricultural products and other inputs required by the hotel.
The extent to which the investment continues to source locally will therefore be an important measure of its contribution to Uganda’s domestic economy.
Strategic location in Nsambya
The Kampala Marriott Hotel is located on Ggaba Road, Plot 2646, Block 15, Nsambya, within Kampala’s business and entertainment environment. Marriott describes Nsambya as a location surrounded by embassies, shopping centres and cultural attractions.
The location also places the hotel within reach of Kampala’s central business areas and key diplomatic and commercial facilities.
Its combination of accommodation, dining, wellness and conference facilities is intended to serve both business and leisure travellers.
A boost for conference tourism
The hotel’s conference and events facilities could become particularly important as Uganda seeks to attract more international meetings and business events.
The ability to host large conferences requires not only meeting facilities but also sufficient quality accommodation, dining, transport and leisure infrastructure.
The new Marriott complex provides a combination of these services within one development. This could strengthen Kampala’s competitiveness in the regional conference tourism market.
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