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

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

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

The Kampala Serena Hotel’s two phase renovation has been completed. The former Nile Hotel was leased to the Serena Group for 30 years.

The managing director, Serena Hotels Mahmud Janmohamed said that the Implementation was to be done in two phases but in November 2005, the board of directors felt that it would be a mistake to implement phase two after the opening of the hotel as there would be disruption to hotel services.

The initial cost of renovation was estimated at $18m for the first phase. The cost of implementing the first phase was $26.5m, and the project was on schedule for completion in March. Costs went up to $30.5m to complete the at the same time before reopening to the public.

The Kampala Serena Hotel will set new standards related to innovative food and beverage outlets and providing caring service to our clients. Janmohamed said

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel News