Museveni Lauds Marriott Investment, Emphasizes Wealth Creation for Uganda's Growth

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has lauded the opening of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Executive Apartments, highlighting it as a prime example of the kind of investment that propels Uganda’s economic advancement.

During the grand inauguration ceremony, President Museveni commended Mr. Ponsiano Ngabirano, Chairman of Capital Shoppers Ltd, for transforming his grocery business into a substantial hospitality venture. The President emphasized that Uganda’s development must be anchored in robust wealth creation, distinguishing it from infrastructure development alone.

“Many of the African economies have not grown because of the mistakes of the leaders. They fail to distinguish between development and wealth,” President Museveni stated. He outlined commercial agriculture, services, ICT, and manufacturing as the key sectors that should drive wealth creation in Uganda.

The President noted Mr. Ngabirano’s journey from importing milk to distributing locally produced milk as a positive transition towards national production. He also cited Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote’s progression from cement import to manufacturing and oil as an aspirational model for Ugandan entrepreneurs.

President Museveni also welcomed the National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) decision to invest in the hotel, seeing it as a more beneficial use of workers’ savings than foreign bonds.

The new Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments feature 181 hotel rooms and 96 serviced apartments, along with extensive meeting and dining facilities. The development has already created over 350 jobs, with approximately 95% of employees being Ugandan nationals. Additionally, about 90% of procurement is locally sourced, bolstering Ugandan businesses.

Marriott International’s Regional Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Johan Cronjé, expressed optimism about Uganda’s tourism sector, noting the growing visitor demand and investment. He highlighted Marriott’s commitment to community support and the expansion of internationally branded hospitality in Uganda.

Mr. Ngabirano thanked the President for fostering a conducive investment environment, attributing the project’s success to Uganda’s peace and stability. He noted the hotel’s significant contribution to employment, with plans to expand the workforce.

The opening coincides with Uganda’s burgeoning tourism industry, which generated Shs5.8 trillion (US$1.62 billion) in 2025, contributing significantly to the national GDP and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Source: State House (Uganda)