Kampala Kingdom

Kampala Kingdom, described in the referenced Wikipedia article under the title “Kampala Kingdom Hotel,” is a mixed-use commercial and hospitality development in Kampala, Uganda. Despite the supplied name “Kampala Intercontinental Hotel,” the authoritative subject is not a standalone operating InterContinental hotel. The development is centered on a large shopping and commercial complex known as Kingdom Kampala, with a planned hotel tower, office accommodation, retail space, parking and conference facilities. The project occupies approximately 15 acres on Nakasero Hill, one of Kampala’s prominent upscale areas. The site is bordered by Nile Avenue, Yusuf Lule Road and De Winton Road, with the National Theatre and Uganda Broadcasting Corporation nearby. It is also adjacent to Oasis Mall and situated close to Kampala’s central business district. The location was formerly occupied by Shimoni Teacher Training College, which was moved to Kitikifumba in Kira Municipality before the site was redeveloped. The original development concept called for a luxury mixed-use complex incorporating a 200-room, four-star hotel tower, more than 22,000 square metres of retail and office accommodation, and parking for more than 450 vehicles. The project was initially associated with Kingdom Mall Investments, a Dubai-based real-estate investment and development company. In 2006, the company obtained a 99-year lease for the site from the Ugandan government and targeted an opening around 2009. The global financial recession of 2008–2009 affected the project’s financing. Kingdom Mall Investments subsequently sold a majority interest in the development to Azure Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Dubai-based Mara Group. The development was also connected with Kensington Uganda Limited, another real-estate investment company associated with Mara Group. Construction began in July 2010, although the project’s timetable and financing structure later changed. In January 2016, Crane Management Services, a subsidiary of the Ruparelia Group, and South African developer Abland Africa entered a joint venture with Kingdom Mall Limited to help complete the complex. The revised plans increased the proposed scale of the development, describing a 200-bedroom four-star hotel, approximately 40,000 square metres of office space and approximately 16,000 square metres of rentable space. The cited construction estimate was US$300 million, with completion discussed for 2018 and commissioning later anticipated in the second quarter of 2019. The referenced material also states that InterContinental entered into an agreement with the developers to manage the mall when completed. It does not establish that a functioning Kampala InterContinental Hotel opened, nor does it provide a confirmed current operator, owner, opening date or operating status. Accordingly, the subject is best represented as the Kampala Kingdom mixed-use property and development rather than as a verified active hotel brand.

The Kampala Kingdom development was conceived as a major mixed-use commercial project in central Kampala. Its site covers approximately 15 acres on Nakasero Hill, an upscale district near the city’s central business area. The land was previously occupied by Shimoni Teacher Training College, which was relocated to Kitikifumba in Kira Municipality to make way for redevelopment. In 2006, Kingdom Mall Investments, a real-estate investment and development company headquartered in Dubai, leased the site from the Ugandan government for 99 years. The initial concept was a luxury complex combining a shopping mall, hotel, offices and associated infrastructure. Early plans referred to a 200-room, four-star hotel tower, more than 22,000 square metres of leasable retail and office space, and parking for over 450 vehicles. The developers initially expected the project to open in 2009. The international recession of 2008 and 2009 weakened the project’s financing position. Kingdom Mall Investments was unable to fund the development alone and sold a majority stake to Azure Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based Mara Group. Mara Group was also associated with Kensington Uganda Limited, a real-estate investment and development company. Construction began in July 2010, but the project continued to undergo changes in financing, partnerships and completion plans. The development’s hospitality component was linked in the reference material to an agreement under which InterContinental would manage the mall when completed. The available material does not confirm the opening of an InterContinental-branded hotel, an operating date, or the current status of the proposed hotel. The name supplied for this dossier therefore appears to reflect a proposed or associated hospitality identity rather than a verified active hotel operation. In January 2016, Crane Management Services, a subsidiary of the Ruparelia Group, and South African developer Abland Africa formed a joint venture with Kingdom Mall Limited. The revised scheme was described as including a 200-bedroom four-star hotel, approximately 40,000 square metres of office space and approximately 16,000 square metres of rentable space. The overall construction cost was estimated at US$300 million. The reference material mentioned completion in 2018 and later anticipated commissioning in the second quarter of 2019. Kampala Kingdom’s significance lies primarily in its planned role as an integrated urban development rather than as a conventional hotel brand. Its location near Nile Avenue, Yusuf Lule Road, De Winton Road, the National Theatre, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and Oasis Mall positioned it to serve retail, business, hospitality and event demand in Kampala. However, the available reference does not provide reliable information about final completion, current ownership, operating companies, hotel-room inventory in service, or whether InterContinental ultimately operated the property.

• 2016

  New completion joint venture formed

  [1]Kampala Kingdom Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Crane Management Services and Abland Africa joined Kingdom Mall Limited in a venture intended to complete and expand the development.

• 2010

  Construction starts

  [1]Kampala Kingdom Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Kingdom Kampala mixed-use development began in July.

• 2009

  Financing affected by global recession

  [1]Kampala Kingdom Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  The 2008–2009 recession prevented the original developer from financing the project independently and contributed to a change in majority ownership.

• 2006

  Nakasero Hill site leased for mixed-use development

  [1]Kampala Kingdom Hotelen.wikipedia.org

  Kingdom Mall Investments leased approximately 15 acres from the Ugandan government for 99 years and announced plans for a luxury mall, hotel and commercial complex.

A large-scale, centrally located mixed-use commercial and hospitality development intended to combine upscale retail, offices, hotel accommodation and supporting facilities in Kampala.

• Commercial property

  Kingdom Kampala mixed-use complex

  The core offering is a planned integrated urban complex on Nakasero Hill combining retail, offices, hospitality and supporting infrastructure. The scheme was presented as a large shopping and business destination serving Kampala’s central commercial area, with a hotel tower and conference-related facilities included in later descriptions.

• Hospitality

  Four-star hotel tower

  Project plans described a 200-room, four-star hotel component within the broader Kingdom Kampala development. The available reference does not confirm that the hotel opened, identify a current operator, or establish that it became an InterContinental-branded property.

• Commercial leasing

  Retail and office accommodation

  The development was planned to include substantial leasable retail and office space. Early plans cited more than 22,000 square metres, while the revised 2016 scheme described approximately 40,000 square metres of offices and 16,000 square metres of rentable space.

• 2016

  Development plan revised through new joint ventureStrategy

  Background

  The complex required a new development arrangement to advance completion.

  Action taken

  Crane Management Services, Abland Africa and Kingdom Mall Limited formed a joint venture and outlined a larger scheme with a hotel, offices and rentable commercial space.

  Aftermath

  The revised project was associated with an estimated US$300 million construction cost and proposed completion targets in 2018 and 2019.

  Estimated construction cost. US$300 million (2016 project estimate)

  Source

• 2009

  Majority interest transferred to Azure HoldingsM&A

  Background

  The original developer faced difficulty funding the project after the global recession.

  Action taken

  Kingdom Mall Investments sold a majority shareholding in the development to Azure Holdings Limited, a Mara Group subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  The project continued under a revised ownership and development structure, with construction beginning in 2010.

  Source

1. 1Kampala Kingdom Hotelen.wikipedia.org