Inns of Uganda which owns two up market lodges-Jacana Safari lodge in queen Elizabeth and Nile Safari lodge in Murchsion Falls national parks, and are set to open a new one, Mabira forest Lodge in Mabira Forest. The company has changed names and logo and now it is called Geolodges Uganda. The Managing director Zahid Alam said the new name and logo represents the company’s interests in conservation, community responsibility tourism.

Jacana safari lodge has seven luxury chalets constructed from natural local materials, in harmony with its forest setting. Each spacious chalet is individually decorated and has an enclosed verandah with large windows, providing panoramic views over the Crater Lake. You can savour a chilled sundowner or dine al fresco in privacy on your private balcony, served by your personal waiter.

BY Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Hotel news

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the end of 2007 has led to the construction of new and expansion of hotels as more preparations go on.

Uganda boasts of a few hotels of international standards like the newly under-construction Serena Nile Hotel, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Sheraton Kampala, Hotel Equatoria, Grand Imperial, Hotel Africana, Imperial Resort Beach and Imperial Botanical Beach hotels, which provide about 1,000 hotel rooms.

There is therefore the need for at least three new hotels, or expansion of the already existing ones to provide 6,000 hotel rooms to accommodate thousands of visitors who will include at least two thousand international journalists.

Government has also joined the preparations, by paying duties and taxes on construction materials and hotel utensils like Linen and curtains, Kitchenware, air conditioning systems, washing machines, cookers, fridges and freezers, cutlery, TV sets, carpets, and furniture, which have to be engraved, printed or marked with a logo of the hotel on behalf of the hotels.

A few Hotels under construction in the heart of the city like the Golf course and work on Bujagali in Jinja is due to start.

Mr. Julius Bagonza, the Chairman of Uganda Hotel and Catering Association (UHCA) urged all hoteliers to embark on refreshment training of their staff, to ensure that they provide quality services to local and international customers especially the delegates who are going to attend the Common Wealth summit.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

Sheraton Kampala Hotel, a 4 star Hotel has made changes in its management by making new executive appointments.

Paul Ocama has been appointed as the Banquet Sales Executive at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. He is a graduate in Tourism Management and Marketing from the University of Applied Sciences and Technologies in Salzburg, Austria and has eight years working experience in Uganda’s tourism industry. He has worked for Travelust African Safaris, Scio Specereyen (Salzburg), Reachout Safaris and Travel Agency as an administrative officer, and Nile Hotel International.

Priyantha IIleperuma has also been appointed as Executive Chef. Priyantha worked with several international hotels like the Sheraton Doha, Sheraton Alger, Hilton Hotels and the 7-star Emirates Palace, the second largest worldwide.

The two new staff members have brought creativity and innovative skills to Sheraton Kampala Hotel and are set to work with the already tremendous team at the Sheraton Hotel in the continuous provision of international services.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

Three Hotels are to be built in Uganda by prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, a member of the Saudi Royal family, said the executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

“Prince Alwaleed, who owns a multi-billion company called Kingdom Holding Company, expressed interest in building three hotels. He is the fifth richest businessman in the world and has investments in banking, entertainment, electronics, telecommunications, media, hospitality, computers and agriculture, upscale fashion, retailing, supermarkets, tourism, travel and automotive manufacturing.

The investor who met President Yoweri Museveni and government officials proposed joint ventures and a list of locations that include land at the source of the Nile and another one near Garuga on Entebbe Road have been proposed for construction.

“The Ministry of Education has resolved to relocate Shimoni Demonstration School and the teachers college to Lugogo Bypass. The investor is to construct a five-star hotel on the 15.1 acres of land,” Dr. Maggie Kigozi said.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel news

Sheraton Kampala a five-star hotel has been undergoing intensive renovation. The hotel recently completed a massive renovation of its rooms, lounge and other facilities inorder to host the commonwealth meeting 2007.

Mr. Jawaid Akhtar, the hotel’s new General Manager said that enough space is needed for guests inorder to stimulate the market. We have to sit together as hoteliers and find the way out on how to handle the situation beyond 2007

The hotel has a target to have every thing ready before 2007. The Lion Bar will be converted into the Equator Bar and many more facilities are coming up such as a new bar, new meeting facility, a nightclub and more or less 100 new rooms to offer a wider range of services and high-class comfort to its guests. The renovation process has delayed due to the limited budget since Finances come from the headquarters in Dubai, but the Hotel will be ready by November 2007.

The Sheraton Kampala employees 10,000 people worldwide and is among 750 chain of hotel global hotels that provide high quality and international hotel services. Built in 1957, the hotel is one of the products of starwood, our mother company.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News