In a bid to make Kampala “as green as possible”, Kampala City Council (KCC) wants Sheraton Kampala Hotel to restore part of the green area now used as a parking area.

Godfrey Kisseka, the assistant town clerk of Kampala Central, said the green space was leased to Sheraton a few years ago on the understanding that “it would remain a green park.’’

Sheraton officials said they would rehabilitate the degraded part of the green sitting on the eight acre piece of land as soon as the renovation is concluded. Janet Mzigo, the director of sales and marketing, said, “The renovations will be over soon.’’ She said Sheraton meets the cost of maintaining the park.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

The Government will spend Shs102 billion on the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting scheduled for November next year.

The money would cater for infrastructure, transport, security, accommodation, health, publicity and conferences among other things. Another Shs37 billion is for the completion of State House, Entebbe. Work on the place has stalled for years.

He said her Majesty the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth would pay a state visit, three days before the opening of Chogm.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sam Kutesa, said the government is putting the infrastructure in place to make sure that Kampala and Entebbe shine.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

The construction of a US$90m Hilton Hotel by AYA continues.

The hotel, located where the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and several government offices were razed down, is expected to be ready for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2007.

AYA managing director Mohammed Hamid said although his project had been hurt by negative publicity, he had enough resources to complete the hotel. He said that the project will be finalised by October 2007.

“We have an agreement with the Government, which has a clause that in five years’ time, we should have a five-star hotel in place or we forfeit the land,” said Hamid.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

Starwood Hotels has won the prestigious Corporate Partnership Award.

The parent company to the Sheraton Kampala Hotel worn the award for significant contribution to the work of UNICEF UK. Starwood Hotels has been UNICEF’s committed partner.

The which acknowledges the contribution of an organisation to the fulfilment of UNICEF’s mission for children during the last decade is given out every 10 years.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

Speke Resort Munyonyo and Serena Hotel Kampala have been selected as main venues for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year.

The tourism ministry’s director of tourism, trade and industry, Blandina Nshakira, said that they are inspecting already existing hotels, those making extensions and the new ones. Hotels that will not be ready by April 2007 will be a bit late for purposes of the CHOGM.

Nshakira said the East African Community Council of Ministers had approved the criteria for classifying hotels, motels, vacation hotels, lodges, tented camps and restaurants.

“We still have gaps we need to know. We need to know the number of rooms that meet the standards, the levels of professionalism and human resources.

She said the aim is to satisfy the delegates and use it as an opportunity to attract more international conferences to the country.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News