Museveni launches Oasis Shopping Mall
Aug 06, 2009
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday opened the $26m Oasis Shopping Mall on Yusuf Lule Road.
By David Mugabe & Kiganda Ssonko
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday opened the $26m Oasis Shopping Mall on Yusuf Lule Road.
The mall, which sits on two acres of land, employs about 1,000 Ugandans and houses 58 shopping units. It is expected to add to the cosmopolitan glamour of the rapidly expanding Kampala central business centre. It is owned by Amina Moghe, a Kenyan.
“We gave Amina four acres and she has erected this huge structure. If we had grown potatoes here, how many jobs would we have created?†asked Museveni.
The mall houses an array of services ranging from banking to pharmaceuticals, restaurants, retail shops and telecom outlets. Among the facilities at the mall is Nakumatt, a 24-hour retailer.
Last year, Amina won the Uganda’s Woman Investor of the Year Award.
Aisha Moghe, a director and sister to Amina, who spoke largely for an emotional Amina, said a five-star hotel with 150 rooms will be erected on the remaining two acres of land. The project starts in January 2010.
“We salute the friendly Ugandan people. Borders have been opened for regional trade, foreign investors have been welcomed,†said Aisha.
Amina hailed what she called the Government’s wise leadership in which the economy has blossomed and created an environment for investment.
Musevni disclosed that he had managed to defuse the tension between Amina and Sarah Kizito, the wife of Godfrey Nyakaana, Kampala LC3 chairman, over the ownership of the two acres of land. Kizito, who runs Centenary Park, attended the opening.
“Of course we need agriculture, there is land for it. Land which can be used for factories, real estate and services must be reserved because it produces more value. This is the comparison that Ugandans need to take all over the country,†said Museveni.
The President also asked Ugandans to work hard and add value to their country.
“Corporate citizenship is more important than just citizenship. There are some Ugandans who are still running around like the Karimojong stealing cattle. Who is more useful to the country?†asked Museveni. He urged Ugandans to learn from Amina.
“You can see what determination can bring, these people have discipline. It is high time we used our eyes to see where the opportunity is,†said Museveni.
During the construction of the first phase that began in 2007, the project employed over 1,000 Ugandans.
Finance minister Syda Bbumba said despite a contracting global economy, Uganda’s economy continues to grow, surpassing the regional average of 4%.
“Our economy is still growing steadily with the service sector taking a lead with 50%, industry 25% and others sharing the remaining percentage. Investors are welcome to invest in Uganda,†she said.
Amina took over management of the family business in Kenya at 21 years.
In Uganda, she also operates Kingstone Limited, a hardware store and is developing Laburnam Luxury Apartments in Nakasero.
President Yoweri Museveni yesterday opened the $26m Oasis Shopping Mall on Yusuf Lule Road.
The mall, which sits on two acres of land, employs about 1,000 Ugandans and houses 58 shopping units. It is expected to add to the cosmopolitan glamour of the rapidly expanding Kampala central business centre. It is owned by Amina Moghe, a Kenyan.
“We gave Amina four acres and she has erected this huge structure. If we had grown potatoes here, how many jobs would we have created?†asked Museveni.
The mall houses an array of services ranging from banking to pharmaceuticals, restaurants, retail shops and telecom outlets. Among the facilities at the mall is Nakumatt, a 24-hour retailer.
Last year, Amina won the Uganda’s Woman Investor of the Year Award.
Aisha Moghe, a director and sister to Amina, who spoke largely for an emotional Amina, said a five-star hotel with 150 rooms will be erected on the remaining two acres of land. The project starts in January 2010.
“We salute the friendly Ugandan people. Borders have been opened for regional trade, foreign investors have been welcomed,†said Aisha.
Amina hailed what she called the Government’s wise leadership in which the economy has blossomed and created an environment for investment.
Musevni disclosed that he had managed to defuse the tension between Amina and Sarah Kizito, the wife of Godfrey Nyakaana, Kampala LC3 chairman, over the ownership of the two acres of land. Kizito, who runs Centenary Park, attended the opening.
“Of course we need agriculture, there is land for it. Land which can be used for factories, real estate and services must be reserved because it produces more value. This is the comparison that Ugandans need to take all over the country,†said Museveni.
The President also asked Ugandans to work hard and add value to their country.
“Corporate citizenship is more important than just citizenship. There are some Ugandans who are still running around like the Karimojong stealing cattle. Who is more useful to the country?†asked Museveni. He urged Ugandans to learn from Amina.
“You can see what determination can bring, these people have discipline. It is high time we used our eyes to see where the opportunity is,†said Museveni.
During the construction of the first phase that began in 2007, the project employed over 1,000 Ugandans.
Finance minister Syda Bbumba said despite a contracting global economy, Uganda’s economy continues to grow, surpassing the regional average of 4%.
“Our economy is still growing steadily with the service sector taking a lead with 50%, industry 25% and others sharing the remaining percentage. Investors are welcome to invest in Uganda,†she said.
Amina took over management of the family business in Kenya at 21 years.
In Uganda, she also operates Kingstone Limited, a hardware store and is developing Laburnam Luxury Apartments in Nakasero.