Know the rich Ugandans herein, including the “Mafia.”

 

Know the rich Ugandans herein, including the “Mafia.” The list herein consists of Ugandans whose accumulated assets can be converted into or controlled to produce liquid cash worth millions of dollars at any time. If one does not make it here, it means he or she is not rich according to agreed standards.

The list is based on the research got from sources in the know.  This list is divided into seven classes of wealthy individuals:

The new money class that include Ugandans who acquired their wealth within the last 20 years.

The young entrepreneurs (less than 50 years old.)

The executive class (CEOs and managing directors of government departments and private firms).

The expatriates (non-Ugandans though some may have dual citizenship).

The old money class (individuals who inherited their wealth that has run in their families for generations) and the super rich.

The super rich; these are guys whose wealth is internationally recognized and they include:

Sudhir Ruparelia
He is reportedly one of the biggest landlords in Kampala after the central and Buganda Kingdom governments. Ruparelia was once a supermarket attendant and cab driver in London. Ugandans believe he made a killing from his ‘Get Rich Quick’ lottery that had millions of Ugandans scratching for money in the mid-1990s.

Ruparelia’s major assets include Speke Hotel, Kabira Country Club, Munyonyo Country Resort and many more in Dubai and the UK.

Amiral Karmali aka Mukwano
His wealth is estimated to have hit the $700m (sh1.5 trillion) mark. His products from soap, cooking oil, plastics, tea leaves, toilet paper are household names. With new factories recently set up, including a big one in Tanzania and huge real estate properties increasing by the day around Kampala, the retired Karmali and his family are definitely wealthy by any standards in the world. Their wealth is bigger than Ministry of Education budget that covers UPE, USE and public universities at sh1.3 trillion.

The Madhvani family
Named among the 1,000 wealthiest families in the UK, the Madhvanis as a family holding are estimated to be worth over $500m (sh1.25 trillion), with key assets being their Kakira Sugar estate, soap and tea manufacturing company plus an insurance company. The Madhvani group also has vast interests in tourism, with CNN recently voting their breathtaking Chobe Lodge gym fifth best in the world. With their wealth, Uganda can fund the entire road sector for a year.

The Mehtas
In Uganda they are best known for their vast Lugazi Sugar estate. The Mehtas are also into industry and manufacture of cables and steel, among other products. This family also has other businesses in the US, India and Canada, with their estimated net worth being above the $400m mark.

Gordon Wavamuno
He owns the local franchise of the Mercedes Benz brand. He owns a mineral water factory and estates.

Mukesh Shukla
He mysteriously took over Katatumba Suites and turned it into Shumuk House, a name he uses for his Shumuk Group of Companies. The shrewd money lender owns many warehouses and bonds on top of importing cars, dealing in forex, aluminium and steel and hotels.

He owns the Roofings Steel Group that recently opened another steel plant in Namanve with total investment in both plants above $100m. Lalani, a Briton of Asian origin.

Charles Mbire
He has interests in financial management, railways, ports, telecommunications, power, banking and real estate.

He is still the only Ugandan shareholder in MTN’s Ugandan and Rwandan business to date. He is dubbed the ‘king of energy in Uganda’, having stakes and interests in Eskom Uganda, Aggreko and Jacobsen, among other energy firms. He also has interests in oil in Kazakhstan as well as investments in South Africa and Tanzania among other places.

Patrick Bitature
Bitature has extended his airtime distribution franchise from East and Central Africa to Nigeria. He has also moved into aviation, real estate, media, energy, forex trading, insurance, pay TV and electronics. He also owns commercial and residential properties.

Abid Alam and the Alam family
These are another of the entrenched industrialist families in Uganda and Kenya with massive interests in steel and related products under the stewardship of group chairman Abid Alam. The group is now into tourism as well. They also recently started a sugar plantation and factory in Mayuge district.

Karim Hirji
While his fortune is said to be declining, the man, who started out as a garments trader in downtown Kampala in the 1970s, is still one of the top hoteliers in the country. He owns the Imperial hotels, Imperial Insurance, Imperial Forex on top of other businesses and properties through his Dembe Group, do not forget Equatoria Hotel Building.

Also on this list include:

Aya brothers, BMK, Basajjabalaba, Isabirye Mugoya, Kibuka Musoke and Muhammed Alibhai

The women include:
Amina Hersi
She is the owner of hardware trading giant Kingstone Enteprises and Oasis Mall.

Morine Wavamunno
Executive director, Wavamunno group of companies.

Juliana Adyeri
She is founder of Delight Uganda, which makes Cheers juice.

Agnes Babirye Namubiru
She is the proprietor of HB Towers.

Hajat Sarah Kiyimba
She owns Hotel Brovad, Masaka and other prime properties.

Nalongo Christine Nabukeera

She owns Nana arcade and Victor plaza in Kikubo and more housing estates.

Maria Kiwanuka 
She is the proprietor of Radio One and Akaboozi ku Bbiri.

Mariam Luyombo, owns the famous Taibah schools.

Jyostna Ruparelia, director, Ruparelia Group

The Kwagalana group
This is a group of about 40 tycoons who own almost all the real estate in the city centre.

Ssebalamu

He owns two arcades in the city, sand quarries in lwera and the biggest mall on Entebbe Road known as Freedom City.

Guster Ntake
He became famous through his Ntake Bakery and has moved on to own a number of buildings in and out of town, including Nalule Arcade.
Matovu Yanga
He owns Suncity Arcade, another building on Luwum Street and Cooper Complex.
Godfrey Kirumira
He is the chairman of the group and could be the wealthiest. Apart from Kirumira Towers, he owns Royal Complex, a bus company, GKO security, Gelp Petroleum, Hotel International and many other properties.
Mutasa Kafero
He is the owner of Mutasa Kafeero Plaza and a number of other businesses.
Dick Kizito
He owns Kizito Towers and other properties.

New Money class.

Bob Kabonero
Apart from his Kampala and Pyramid casinos, Kabonero has an airtime distribution franchise etc

Emmanuel Katongole
He made headlines as the CEO of the first ARV factory in Africa, an investment worth $100m in Luzira. He is also a director in Quality Chemicals and owns a beverages and food processing firm.

Abu Mukasa
The only official Ugandan shareholder in Africel Telecom. Mukasa is said to own over 40 sq miles of land along Lake Victoria shores. He owns several bungalows in Kololo and cottages in Makindye, Kizungu zone. He has interests in private power supply.

Hamis Kiggundu

He owns Ham Towers on Makerere Road, an arcade on Market Street, Ham Shoppers at Nakivubo and the buildings at Park Yard.

Anatoli Kamugisha
He is the real estate revolutionary behind Akright projects.
Aponye
He made his money exporting grain to Sudan. He also owns a construction firm, a hotel and an arcade.

Ponsiano Ngabirano
The man behind the Capital Shoppers chain of supermarkets.

Joseph Magandazi
The Jomayi Company proprietor. He owns real estates and stone quarry.

Minaj Barot
His is the new name in uptown real estate, with shopping malls, office blocks and apartments in Kampala’s top suburbs.

Aga Sekalala Junior
He is a director of Radio Simba, among other businesses.

Andrew Rugasira
Good African and Rwenzori coffee are his brands. He started out as an events promoter and studio owner. He later ventured into advertising before he sold off his interests and joined the coffee business that has taken him global.

Ashish Thakar
Believed to be the richest Ugandan under 30, he is the owner of RAA group of companies. He also owns Mara Group, the majority owner of Kensington Estates in Uganda, Ghana and Dubai.

Balaam Barugahara, Charlie Lubega, Andrew Mwenda, Lt Col. Benjamin Kalizibwe, Aggrey Tumukye,  Haruna of Haruna Towers, Acaali Kobusingye, Ali Halari Kamru, Aminah Senankya Kiberu, Apollo Ntegamahe, Bernard Ogwang Ocwoo, Bosco Ogwang Edola, Christopher Nakabale, Chris Kafule, Elisha Kakyomya, Emmanuel Amaza, Felix Orii, Francis Magezi, Fred Akampumuza, George Atyam, George Kahwa, George Kermudu Adubango, George Namachi, Glueport Sande, Haruna Musiwa, Herman Kigoye MD, Johnson Ocol, Josephine Kizza, Kakanyero, Kayonza, Kellen Kayonga, Michael Awany, Moses Kyatwoha, Olet Elyak, Omar Mandela, Patrick Lucky, Phillip Mangeni Aremo, Sarah Kiyimba, Sebastian Munulo, Stephen Mugasa, Sulaiman Mafabi Lumolo, Elvis Sekyanzi, Moses Matsiko and Vincent Opio.

Old money
Many of these people actually fall in the Super Rich class.
Mohan Kiwanuka
He redeveloped a lot of old property in the prestigious Kololo suburb. He also owns Oscar Industries.

Joseph Roy Zziwa
The flight captain’s vast Conrad Properties are raking in dollars.
Aga Sekalala Senior
He owns Ugachick and Sekalala Enterprises from where he made his fortune way back selling agro supplies.
James Mulwana family
They own Uganda Batteries, Jesa Farm and Nice House of Plastics.
Dr. Martin Aliker
He has shares in some of the big corporate firms in town.
Dr. William Kalema
William S. Kalema was Board Chairman of the dfcu between 1998 – 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Uganda Investment Authority since 1998.

Ssebana Kizito family
They own big chunks of land in Kampala. The family is the majority shareholder in State wide Insurance and other properties and businesses in and out of Uganda.

Haji Musa Katongole
He was the chairman of Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association.
Kadu Kiberu
He owns Peacock Paints Company
Amos Nzeyi
He owns Crown beverages and Hot Loaf, National Bank of Commerce, Inscor Uganda Limited (foods)

He owns Kayonza Distributors of airtime, cement, beer, furniture, etc

Kwagalana in making
They include Godfrey Kirumira’s younger brother Moses Kalungi, Brigadier Elly Kayanja’s younger brother Flex Kabuye and Tom Kaya of the famous Kaki Investments that used to own a fleet of over 100 taxis. Kaki runs a huge motor garage, petrol station and money lending business.

Education
Lawrence Mukiibi family
Lawrence Mulindwa
Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo

Transport
Charles Muhangi{died) He left his Horizon Bus Company and some estate.
Tom Mugenga
Ben Mugasa

Regional
Sam Engola, north
Richard Byaruhanga, western
Ernest Kiiza, western
Steven Njubi, eastern
Budget Mugabirwe, eastern

Corporates
Philip Odere
Juma Kisame
Allen Kagina
Jennifer Musisi
Edigold Monday Richard Byarugaba
Ivan Kyayonka (Died)
Robert Kabushenga
Charles Hamya

CHURCH
Cyprian Bamwoze
Paul Kasoma

Gary Skinner
Imelda Namutebi
K. L. Dickson
Robert Kayanja

Aloysius Bugingo

Jackson Senyonga

Samuel Kakande

Construction
Kagga
Rtd Col. John Mugyenyi
Crescent Baguma
Paul Kasaga
Arch Henry Ssentongo