Individuals and institutions who took part in organising the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) have received awards.

A number of Hoteliers received awards from the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). These included Kampala Serena Hotel was awarded for hosting the Queen, Sheraton Kampala Hotel which was recognised for accommodating the Business Forum delegates and foreign affairs ministers, Sudhir Ruparelia for Speke Resort Munyonyo, which accommodated the Heads of government, Imperial Group of Hotels, which hosted 20% of the delegates and Hotel Africana got an award for hosting the People’s Forum and putting up 200 new rooms and a conference center.

The Hoteliers were recommended for their hard work by the executive director of UIA, Dr. Maggie Kigozi.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

The Government has withdrawn from the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort project after they had, in principle, decided to pull out its investments in all CHOGM hotels.

In 2005, government which paid sh13.3b as its contribution to a joint venture with Meera Investments, owned by Sudhir Ruparelia, to construct a hotel at Munyonyo to host heads of state during the Commonwealth summit, which money amounts to 25% shares in the project.
Government pulled out saying that continuation in the project would cause a loss.“This venture would have turned into a burden rather than a profit- making project” said Committee chairman Nandala Mafabi.

The government is however yet to enter into negotiations of how the money will be paid.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda News

Speke Commonwealth Resort recently hosted the WARID Telecom’s launch.

The launch attended by President Yoweri Museveni and chairman, His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan saw over 30 tonnes of equipment was flown in from Europe and Asia and this included the stage, the vast array of lights and lasers and a high output sound system.

President Museveni who on a rare occasion actually read a prepared speech, called for the reduction in prices and called on WARID to bring more people to Uganda to invest, while Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan talked about the warmth of Uganda and pledged to invest not just in the communications industry but also in banking and real estate.

The launch was graced with a combination of an Arabic drum beat mixed with traditional Ugandan drums, a laser show, an operatic performance and fireworks which captivated the audience.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda News

Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s Foreign Minister gave Pakistan-Foreign Ministers a formal dinner on November 20 at Kampala Serena Hotel.

The guests feasted on a special menu suiting the tastes of men and women from 53 different countries in five different continents Serena’s Executive created by Chef John Macharia.

The different dishes comprised of chutney made with jack fruit and spices, a Chicken and Goose Liver Parfait mixed with spices or served as a softener in a savoury

dish.and sesame seed as a crouton with the ‘Elixir of Sun-dried Tomatoes.

By Kisibo Jackie

Uganda Hotel News