A historic hotel in Mbale City has entered a new chapter after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially opened its renovated facilities, commending the Kiyimba family for investing in the hospitality sector.
Museveni opened the refurbished Mount Elgon Hotel on Sunday, September 27, during his visit to Mbale, where he was received by Hajjat Sarah Kiyimba and her son, Rashid Kiyimba, who is the proprietor of the hotel.
The president praised Sarah Kiyimba for her commitment to business and described her as a hardworking woman, recognising the effort behind the continued expansion of the Brovad Group’s hospitality investments.
The restoration has retained the hotel’s architectural heritage while introducing modern facilities designed to meet the needs of contemporary guests, business travellers and conference visitors.
Speaking after the opening, Museveni said preserving the landmark alongside the introduction of modern hospitality facilities was a positive development for the city.
“This morning, I was in Mbale City, where I officially opened the renovated Mount Elgon Hotel. The restoration has preserved this historic landmark’s architectural heritage while introducing modern hospitality facilities,” Museveni said.
He said the hospitality industry remains an important part of Uganda’s service sector because it creates employment, supports businesses, and contributes to economic growth.
Mount Elgon Hotel is part of the Brovad Group’s expanding hospitality interests, rooted in Masaka and now extending to other parts of the country.
The Kiyimba family has invested in upgrading the Mbale property, including its accommodation and conference facilities, as the city continues to attract business travellers, tourists, and conference organisers.
The renovated hotel now offers 65 rooms, including three executive suites, together with restaurants, bars, a swimming pool and spa facilities.
Rashid Kiyimba has been at the centre of the hotel’s development in Mbale, while his mother, Sarah, continues to head the family’s wider Brovad Hotels business.
The reopening represents another milestone for the family’s hospitality investments and comes at a time when Mbale is seeking to strengthen its position as a tourism and conference destination in eastern Uganda.
Sarah Kiyimba later took to X to celebrate the achievement, congratulating the Brovad Group and thanking God for the milestone.
“Congratulations to the Brovad Group. Thank you, Lord, for this milestone,” she wrote.
The reopening coincided with Mbale’s hosting of the national World Tourism Day celebrations, which brought renewed attention to tourism attractions and hospitality facilities in the Elgon region.
Museveni said investments such as Mount Elgon Hotel demonstrate the role private businesses can play in expanding Uganda’s service sector and creating opportunities through tourism and hospitality.
The renovated hotel is expected to add accommodation and conference capacity to Mbale while strengthening the Brovad Group’s presence in eastern Uganda.
