The construction of the Kampala Hilton Hotel has delayed.

Aya Investments manager pledged that construction will be through within 52 weeks only, at a cost of US$90m in preparation for CHOGM. However, It is alledged that Aya investments is experiencing a financial crisis which made them solicit for partners in Europe and Middle East to fund the project.

President Museveni who approved the construction of a 22 storey Hotel in May this year; has appointed a team under the chairmanship of vice president, professor Gilbert Bukenya to find out why the construction has delayed to start.

The Hilton Hotel to be established on 14.5 Acres of Land on Nakasero hill, is expected to be managed by Hilton group of Hotels, will have 292 Guest rooms and presidential suites, with facilities like swimming pools, spas ,beauty saloons, business centres, Large garden pools and a ball room.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

About $24m (sh44.3b) has been used in the Sheraton Kampala Hotel’s renovations.

The renovations are being carried out in sections to ensure the hotel is still functional.
The general manager, Jawaid Akhtar, said that the Guest rooms have been renovated while new presidential suites, junior suites, park square suites and a shopping arcade have been added, improved and modernized. The hotel’s sales and marketing director, Janet Mzigo, said the media night would be an annual event aimed at narrowing the gap between hotel and the media.

Jawaid said in future, three floors would be added.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

The Serena Hotels in Africa have invested seriously in the arts.

The former chief Executive officer of African Heritage Alan Donovan, said that Going by the way the Serena management is integrating art into the architectural design of their new Kampala Serena, it is likely to be the premier hotel on the continent.

Yony Waite’s metal work covers the entrance with a warm, rich glow that one is bound to carry all the way into the Lake’s Restaurant, one of several in which Waite has created incredible mosaic glass columns and shimmering turquoise blue and sea green wall dressings. The hotel has two giant cranes at the front entrance of the hotel. Made from wrought iron by Dennis Matthews of Kenya, the larger-than-life birds extend their full wings gracefully as if to welcome visitors to Kampala.

Donovan says that no one is pretending that Serena will be a showcase for authentic antique African art, but it will certainly be a treasure trove of the next best thing.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel News

The National Organisation of Trade Union has asked the government to check the on-going violation of workers’ rights in the country.

The national Chairman of the Uganda Hotels, Food, Tourism and Allied Workers’ Union, Mr Joseph Mbabazi, said that he has already asked all hotel owners to allow their workers to enjoy their right to form and join labour unions. Mbabazi said hotel employers have always defeated the workers’ attempts to form unions through intimidation, frustration and threats to dismiss and terminate employees who attempt to join the union.

The the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations last July, lodged a petition in Geneva, Switzerland, saying Ugandan hotels which do not recognize unions should not host delegates to the Chogm Summit next year.

The petitioners want non-compliant hotels to be disqualified by December from hosting Chogm guests next year.

Uganda Hotel News

Half the required 4,000 rooms are ready for CHOGM use.

Fifty-seven heads of state are expected to attend the CHOGM and 4,000 hotel rooms required must be built and renovated to international standards. They will accommodate the delegates’ entourages and at least 1,500 journalists among other delegates.

The Hotels with ready rooms include Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel with 122 rooms and 133 beds. It is adding 122 rooms and four suites. Sheraton Kampala Hotel has 222 rooms, four presidential suites and 273 beds. Serena Hotel added 195 new rooms and 17 presidential suites. Imperial Resort Beach Hotel 181 rooms and 362 beds, Arch Apartments 36 rooms and 50 bedsBoma Limited in Entebbe six rooms and 12 beds and Lindsay Cottages 10 rooms and 15 beds.Hotel Africana has 110 rooms with 203 beds, Royal Suites Bugolobi 30 rooms and 60 beds, Bougainviller Hotel 13 rooms, Muyenga Club 11 rooms and 13 beds, Cosna Palms Inn nine rooms with 12 beds, The New Diploma Hotel 22 rooms and 24 beds.
Mamba Point six rooms and 12 beds, Mosa Courts Apartments 119 rooms and 135 beds, Fang Fang Hotel 30 rooms and 46 beds, Speke Hotel 57 rooms and 80 beds, Kabira Country Club 94 rooms and 184 beds. Mandela Sports Hotel 55 rooms and 86 beds, Sports View Hotel 124 rooms and 173 beds, Dolphine Suites in Bugolobi 15 rooms and 30 beds, Pal Suites 18 rooms 18 beds, Airport View in Entebbe 12 rooms and 13 beds, Grand Imperial Hotel 103 rooms and 132 beds, Emin Pasha 20 rooms and 20 beds.

Bunga Hill House 26 rooms and 26 beds, Ranch on the Lake 43 rooms and 60 beds, Ridar Hotel 100 rooms and 135 beds, Colline Hotel 143 rooms with 116 beds, Hotel Olympia 24 beds and 26 beds, Aspen Place Executives eight rooms and 13 beds, Green Valley Hotel 45 rooms and 70 beds.

Forest Cottages 27 rooms and 34 beds, Ivy’s Hotel 62 rooms and 75 beds, Jeliza Hotel 19 rooms and 24 beds, Kampala Regency 60 rooms and 78 beds, Shan Grila Shangai Hotel 13 rooms and 16 beds, Holiday Express 41 rooms and 68 beds, Hotel Catherine 24 rooms and 24 beds and Kampala Kolping House 20 rooms and 40 beds.

Blandina Nshakira,the director of tourism said that the hotels that are not mentioned but had been approved are Serena Hotel with 87 rooms, Speke Resort Munyonyo with 143 rooms, where renovation of the 10 cottages to be turned into 60 presidential suites is taking place. Construction is expected to take 15 months and it started in May.

Hotels that are not on the list and are yet to be approved include Golf Course Hotel that is constructing 133 rooms and two suites, Hotel Equatoria with 89 rooms, and the new ones that include Karim Hirji’s 14-storey Imperial Royal Hotel, Bwebajja Jogo Hotel, which is constructing 500 rooms and the $90m five-star Hilton Hotel that replaced Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) in Nakasero.

It is expected that 1,479 rooms and 60 presidential suites will be added in the new extension and construction of new hotels programme.

Uganda Hotel News