Uganda's tallest building set to open

Jun 14, 2017

At least 15 floors out of the 22 will be opened for use by the public, with 250 fully-furnished rooms.

(Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)

RECREATION | HOTELS


When its doors are flung open to the public on Thursday (June 15), Pearl of Africa Hotel (formerly Kampala Hilton Hotel) will officially be Uganda's tallest completed building.

The five-star luxury hotel rises highest atop Nakasero Hill, on a 14-acre piece of land previously occupied by public broadcaster then-Uganda Television (UTV), which is now Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).

Kampala Hotel investor Muhammed Hamid, who is the chairman of the Aya Group of Companies, has sunk in an eye-spinning sh1.75 trillion to lift the megastructure to its dizzying height.

That's US$300m after quick conversion, by the way.

It has been a work 11 years in the making - since 2006 precisely - and with its completion, owner Hamid and co have all reason to smile.

"I would like to thank my partners the Carlson Rezidor Group, a world leading hotel operator, for making this a reality," he told journalists after confirming the hotel would open to the public on Thursday.

Kampala investor Muhammed Hamid took journalists around the facility. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)


The 296-room facility has luxurious rooms, two restaurants, three bars, a 15th floor executive lounge, nine meeting rooms and a cutting-edge business center.

"This facility is definitely one of the best in Africa and the world. It is going to be the first Quorvus Collection Hotel in Africa and the fourth in the world," said a jolly Hamid.

At least 15 floors out of the 22 will be opened for use by the public, with 250 fully-furnished rooms.

"Everything here is unique, from services to the setup of rooms and high quality standards."

Guests should brace themselves for five-star treatment

 

 

'Boost tourism'

Accompanied by his son Muhammed Hamidu, the tycoon took journalists around some of the rooms, the different gyms and other facilities, saying he had employed expert designers and engineers to make the finishing designs and setups.

In 2012, the total construction bill for the property was estimated at about sh350b (US$150 million) but still the money was not enough.

Currently, over 200 workers, mainly Ugandans, have been trained for a year to handle business in the hotel, with the hope that the facility will attract mainly international tourists planning visits in the East African region.

"We know the hotel is going to boost tourism in the country and there will be a chain of other financial benefits," said Hamid.

Other tall buildings in Uganda's capital, Kampala

1. Workers' House

2. Crested Towers - Tall Tower

3. Mapeera House

4. Uganda House

5. Cham Towers

6. Kampala Sheraton Hotel

7. Diamond Trust Building

8. Imperial Royale Hotel

 

 

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