KAMPALA: The Regional Vice President of Marriott International for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Johan Cronjé, has said Kampala Marriott Hotel has witnessed tremendous growth since establishing its presence in Uganda .
The hotel with an international brand officially opened last Thursday at an event presided over President Museveni.
With a lot of enthusiasm Mr Cronjé commended the government for its commitment to promoting tourism and the hospitality industry.
Mr Cronjé said Marriott’s philosophy is centred on caring for people, noting that the company is also committed to giving back to communities where it operates, including supporting school infrastructure and other community initiatives.
He attributed the successful opening of the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments to the partnership between the different stakeholders. It was constructed by SMS Construction Company Ltd , one of the prime contractors in Uganda and East Africa owned by Ugandan investors Ainea Ashaba, Ponsiano Ngabirano and Sadat Muhinda .
“Uganda’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong momentum, supported by growing visitor demand, investment and infrastructure development,” Mr Cronjé said.
He added that the new development expands internationally branded hospitality capacity in Uganda, creates employment opportunities and strengthens Kampala’s ability to host business events, conferences and international meetings.
While officiating at the grand opening of the hotel, President Museveni welcomed Marriott International’s decision to expand its presence in Uganda, noting that Africa’s rapidly growing population presents significant opportunities for investors in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
“I am very glad to see that Marriott is beginning to see where the market potential is, because the African population is growing rapidly,” he said.
Mr Museveni congratulated the Chairman of Capital Shoppers Ltd, Mr Ponsiano Ngabirano, for transforming what started as a small grocery business in Nakasero into a major investment that has now expanded into the hospitality industry through the Marriott-branded development.
He cited Mr Ngabirano’s business journey as an example of the transition Uganda needs—from dependence on imports to increased national production.
“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 said.
He explained that while development is often associated with infrastructure such as roads, sustainable development must be supported by wealth creation.
According to the President, wealth creation in Uganda should be driven by four key sectors: commercial agriculture, services, ICT and manufacturing.
President Museveni commended Mr Ngabirano for starting as an importer of milk at a time when Uganda did not have sufficient local production and eventually transitioning into a distributor of locally produced milk.
“I want to congratulate Mr Ngabirano, from being an importer to now an internal distributor,” he said, describing the transition as a positive shift from importing to supporting national production.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Finance, Henry Musasizi, described Marriott Hotel’s entry into the hospitality business as a testament to Uganda’s growing position as an investment and tourism destination.
He said the government provides a 10-year tax holiday for qualifying new investments, clarifying that corporate income tax applies once an investor begins making profits.
The Minister noted that the hotel and serviced apartments, with more than 250 accommodation units combined, would contribute significantly to tourism and job creation.
Mr Ngabirano revealed that approximately 97 percent of the people employed at the Marriott are Ugandans, further demonstrating the contribution of the investment to local employment.
The Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala comprise a dual-branded hospitality development featuring 181 hotel guestrooms and suites and 96 fully serviced apartments.
The hotel has six restaurants and bars, wellness and business facilities, and 1,293 square metres of meetings and events space, including the Kampala Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 985 guests.
The investment has already created more than 350 direct employment opportunities, with approximately 95 percent of employees being Ugandan nationals. More than 120 women are employed across the two properties, while about 90 percent of procurement is locally sourced, supporting Ugandan businesses and suppliers.
The opening marks the debut of the Marriott Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments brands in Uganda and expands Marriott International’s presence in the country to seven properties across five brands. The two properties are also working with Ugandan universities, hospitality colleges and technical institutions to provide internship and training opportunities for future hospitality professionals.
According to the Uganda Tourism Statistical Abstract 2025, the sector generated Shs5.8 trillion (US$1.62 billion) in tourism earnings in 2025, contributed an estimated 5.9 percent to national GDP and supported more than 876,000 jobs.
