By Mulengera Reporters
Even when some workers are up in arms petitioning trade unions protesting impending job losses, Rashid Kiyimba (son to Masaka-based Brovad hotel owner) is determined to actualize his dream to own and manage one of the biggest and most sought-after hotel and recreation facility in Mbale.
The gentleman man, who has done so well rapidly growing Brovad Sand Lodge Hotel in Kalangala in such a short time, has plunged into expanding his recreation business operations by acquiring the Mbale Hotel. Knowledgeable sources say that the very ambitious businessman had to put together billions of shillings to buy out the Muzungu owners to become the new proud owner for the upscale hotel facility in Mbale.
Rashid Kiyimba, who is growing the rest of the Suleiman Kiyimba family hotel business empire as his equally workaholic mum Hajjat Sarah Kiyimba concentrates on consolidating the Masaka Brovad brand, is these days based mostly in Mbale while remotely managing and supervising the more lucrative recreation business in Kalangala. He is also into luxury water transport for those wanting a quick access to Kalangala for leisure and relaxation.
In Mbale, Rashid has acquired not just the big hotel buying out the Muzungu, he has also invested billions buying several acres of prime land surrounding the Mbale hotel. This will be used to expand the hotel upon completion of the ongoing renovation and refurbishment works.
He is personally supervising all this and he is certain the staff chaos, being ignited by the disgruntled Mbale hotel old staffers, too will soon be resolved and focus remains on preparing to unveil what will be the biggest, trendiest and pace-setting hotel and recreation facility in Mbale city sometime next year.
His entry into the Mbale hospitality space has been welcomed by residents with enthusiasm as Rashid Kiyimba is determined to, in the long term, have his hotel become the standard bearer for the entire Eastern region. As to where all this expansion cash is coming from, Rashid Kiyimba must either be taking out loans from financial institutions (under the IFC arrangement) or working with a very liquid partner from some foreign country.
Because age is on his side, Rashid Kiyimba has to be on the list of this country’s very aggressive young entrepreneurs and business managers to be watched transforming Uganda’s hospitality industry in the next 15-20 years. He also owns Brovad Tours & Travel, through which dollar-splashing travelers and high-end guests are coordinated to take up accommodation and other services at the Kiyimba recreation facilities in Masaka, Kalangala and potentially Mbale. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
