Kampala Serena Hotel, located right in the heart of the city will on July 31 open its gates to the public.

The hotel formerly the Nile hotel has been undergoing an intensive reconstruction and restyling of the golden yellow facility for 17 months.

The $41 million (about Shs74 billion) facility is an inspiring blend of five star sparkle and Ugandan cultural and traditional flair.Symbols of Uganda’s flora and fauna plus art works by the finest local artists adorns the every wall.

According to the Managing Director of Serena Hotels, Mr Mahmud Jan Mohamed,
the Hotel is here to redefine the concept of the five star.
The hotel will open for public use at the end of this month but its official opening will be at the end of the year, by President Yoweri Museveni and His Highness the Aga Khan.

The Hotel will host the Heads of the commonwealth meeting due to take place in November 2007.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

Only Fifteen months to the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting, Uganda hotels are continuing upgrading, expansion as well as construction.

The Ugandan hotel industry is targeting 2,223 rooms and at least 140 suites for at least 57 heads of government, including the Queen of England, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, delegates and over 1,500 international press who are expected to cover the meeting.
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Serena Hotel , will on July 31, unveil the renovated and expanded former Nile Hotel with an increase in the number of rooms from 90 to 152 and 8 suites plus a 1500-seater conference facility. Speke Resort & Country Resort, Munyonyo has also just completed a $3.5 million (Shs6.5b) and 120-room expansion, bringing to 315 rooms, creating Uganda’s biggest hotel.

New Expansions and constructions include Sheraton Kampala Hotel that is expanding to 222 rooms, 60 presidential suite resort worth $30m by Sudhir Ruparelia’s Meera Investments, Kampala Hilton Hotel, which will have 235 international standard rooms and 37 suites in all, Imperial Royal Hotel is also expected to bring on 130 rooms and over 5 presidential suites and Golf course is bringing on board 113 rooms and 2 presidential suites. Ruparelia Group is bringing on board over 500 international standard rooms including 75 rooms at Kabira Club, 50 at Speke Hotel, 315 at Speke Resort and Country Club and 60 presidential suites also at Munyonyo. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel is doubling its size to 244 rooms and four presidential suites, Grand Imperial with 103 rooms, Imperial Resort Beach Hotel with 181-rooms and the Hotel Africana with 115 rooms.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel News

Construction of 120 rooms has been completed at the Speke Resort & Country Home Munyonyo.

The 120 rooms added have brought the room number to 315, at the expansive resort on the shores of Lake Victoria. The expansion makes the 50-acre resort, the biggest hotel in Uganda. All the self contained rooms are fitted with modern amenities like a 28 inch plasma screen with a DVD player, air conditioning, are spacious and have balcony and a splendid view of the lake.

The resort’s proprietor, Mr Sudhir Ruparelia said that the upcoming Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), Speke Resort was positioning itself to tap into growing opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industries. The expansion of the hotel cost some $3.5 million (Shs6.5 billion). The hotel will be ready by end of August this year.
Several Ugandan hotels are also expanding and new ones are being built ahead of the upcoming Chogm scheduled for November 2007.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel News

One World Foundation Africa, a non-governmental organisation is to introduce a new service of vending condoms and sanitary pads through automated machines.

The service is to be introduced in the country next month and the machines will be installed at strategic locations including Hotels.
The NGO’s Chairperson Sarah Kakayi said that the vending machines which dispense condoms and sanitary towels at half the market price, provide a safer, cheaper, discrete and healthier option for good personal hygiene, good sexual health and safer sex.

The vending machines would be accessible 24 hours in all major public places, and the service will be a boost to the continued effort to fight the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel news

Jinja municipality leaders and the management of Jinja Golf Course are in talks with Malaysian investors with a view to acquiring land to establish an 18-hole international golf course and a five-star hotel.

The investors wanted over 100 acres of land on the shores of Lake Victoria, neighbouring the source of the River Nile, which covers the land occupied by Hotel Triangle, the golf course, agricultural show ground, Sunset Hotel, Victoria Primary School and a number of residences. Kezaala on Wednesday said the investors, whom he did not name, had suggested that all affected people become shareholders in the multi-billion investment.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News