Latest Posts

From Vending Garments to Uganda’s Finest Business Mogul: How Hamis Kiggundu’s Story Inspires Young Entrepreneurs

When you ask most Ugandans about famous names of successful businessmen in Kampala, one name will fetch you many mentions. The name and the man himself is Hamis Kiggundu, one of Uganda’s youngest billionaires.

Born in February 1984 to Mr. Haruna Segawa and Mrs. Nakayiza Jalia Segawa in Kalungu, Masaka, Kiggundu popularly known as Ham started business in his early 20s after being given a start-up capital by his father. It was from this small start that Hamis Kiggundu multiplied to create the business empire he owns today employing thousands of people.

He started retailing garments, furniture and ladies’ accessories with the small capital he was given as early as 2005 at the age of 21 when he was still a student.

The retail business yielded him good returns and he later started importing goods for himself from China, Hong Kong and Dubai which transformed his business into wholesale trade. His business started supplying different goods across borders to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan.

When he graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelor of Laws Degree, Ham concentrated on his young but promising business. As his business continued to flourish, he upgraded and started investing in Real Estate.

His first signature real estate building is the famous Ham Towers Opposite Makerere University Main Gate which houses numerous offices of budding companies, Supermarkets, Restaurants and Apartments for rich urban dwellers.

Ham Towers Makerere

He later established the Ham Shopping Mall in the City Centre which houses his flourishing wholesale business dealing in garments and other accessories. It has since grown into a commercial building hub with many renting units for shops, supermarkets, restaurants and offices in the heart of Kampala City.

In 2017, Ham got a multi-billion deal to redevelop Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium. The Stadium is being redeveloped into a world-class standard sports facility with ample parking space, modern restaurants, shops and other in-built facilities. It is projected to have a seating capacity of 35,000 people, it’s in the final stages of completion which will make it preferably Uganda’s best stadium with modern facilities by International standards.

Nakivubo Stadium nears completion

Recently, Ham brought all his companies under one umbrella company known as Ham Group of Companies International.

Recently, Ham Enterprises Uganda Limited started an ambitious project of constructing more than 500 residential houses for affluent rich Ugandans and foreigners to live in a secure, luxurious and comfortable residential village with unmatched facilities known as Ham Palm Villas. This project is located along Entebbe Road and currently,  the fully furnished apartments are up for sale.

A housing unit in Ham Palm Villas

Ham also has plans of investing in Agriculture, especially in the section of Afro-processing. He believes Uganda must leverage on its strong domestic agriculture to spur economic growth. This project is aimed to promote import substitution where Uganda can add value to its local agricultural products before they are exported.

Ham has other investments in the United Kingdom, USA and Canada.

Ham Grounds Shopping Mall Nakivubo

Despite his great strides in business, he has met obstacles along the journey. The most recent and most publicized is his standoff with his Bankers, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).

The relationship between him and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) went bad when he realized that there were a number of authorized debits from his accounts which amounted to a sum of 100 billion Uganda Shillings over a period of 10 years. On approaching DTB for harmonization on the issue, DTB never heeded it and he ran to court to seek redress. The Court ruled in favour of Ham and instructed DTB to pay Ham all his monies.

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) and Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) teamed up and expressed their dissatisfaction through a court appeal. This resulted in a big debate within the banking sector and the business class in Uganda.

Since then Ham has been equivocal in explaining how commercial banks exploit Ugandans and sometimes deter their success in business. He remains one of the most charismatic businessmen whose vision is to see Uganda’s economy grow to prosperity.

Loading

Don't Miss

EXPOSED! Muyenga Tycoon’s Maid Cited In Land Wrangle

In recent days, Muyenga, Y2K Zone a push Kampala suburb,

Parliament Orders Closure Of Fuelex Petrol Stations For Adulterating Fuel

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade And Industry led by Mbarara

Big Story: Parliament Probes UETCL Bosses Over Corruption, Mismanagement & Controversial UGX 28Billion Compensation Deal

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment and Natural

‘Back Off Buganda Land’ Kabaka Mutebi Castigates People Pushing For Abolition Of Mailo Land Tenure System

The Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has

Big Story: IGG Probes Over Shs1bn Ubos Fraud

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating top officials

EXPLOSIVE: How Speaker Kadaga & Confidant Hon. Okupa Spent Over US $764,000 (Shs2.8 BN) In-less Than 2 Years In Travels Abroad

Since taking office as Deputy Speaker of Parliament way back

Ham Vs DTB Appeal: Bank Of Uganda Runs Out Of Case, Leaves DTB To Carry Its Own Cross

Bank of Uganda has officially quit the case involving city

Amnesty International Joins Push To Free Presidential Runner Robert Kyagulanyi

The Ugandan authorities must immediately lift the police and military

Exporters Call For Strong Action Against EAC States’ Trade Barriers

Manufacturers have called on the government to impose tough measures

Big Story: How KCCA Officials Messed Up Youth Fund Programs, Stole Billions of Gov’t Funds In Shoddy Deals

Kampala: If there is any government Authority that frustrating President

I Predict Museveni, NRM Victory In 2021 Elections

By Faruk Kirunda Kampala: As we dive into the high

Crisis: Lord Mayor Lukwago Defies Court Order, Appoints Balondemu As Chairman K’la District Land Board

Veteran lawyer Hajji Elias Lukwago, who is the Kampala city

Scandal: Stanbic Bank Bosses Allegedly Steal Borrowers’ Land Titles, Mortgage Them To Dfcu Bank

Several officials at Stanbic Bank are in deep trouble after

Scandal: KCCA Officials On Spot For Blowing Shs 8Bn Under The Guise Of Renovating Old Tax Park

Several officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), are

Covid-19 Crisis: Ugandan Students Expected To Sit For UNEB Exams In March 2021

All indications are that a dead year will not be

BoU To Appeal In Supreme Court Over Trashed Crane Bank Case

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) has said it will be

Shame As Top Police Boss Is Convicted Of Car Theft, Ordered To Pay Over Shs282M

Untold shame has engulfed the Uganda Police a senior officer

Just In! Energy Mafias Rock Parliament As Patriotic Young Turks Question AIGP Akullo’s Involvement In Min. Energy Corruption

Panic has rocked Parliament as renowned Parliamentarian and Lawyer Hon.

Energy Mafias Debunked Part III: How Werikhe, Turyagyenda Corruptly Swindled Shs15 Bn For 3 Electricity Distribution Projects In Acholi, Bunyoro & Kiruhura

FUNDING THE COUP THROUGH ENERGY AND MINERALS CORRUPTION By the

Just In: Top Energy Officials Fired On Presidential Orders Over Massive Theft Of Electricity Distribution Funds

By Our Reporter Kampala: Two senior officials of Rural Electrification

Salary Scam Hits KCCA AS 29bn Is Paid To Ghost Workers

After Eng Andrew Kitata took over as the acting Executive

Kabira Country Club Unveils Splendid “Grand Christmas Wast Lunch” Event

Wondering where to have your Christmas lunch? Kampala’s leading boutique

Former Presidential Candidate John Katumba Arrested

The latest landing on our desk indicates that Police in