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Kirumira The Business Man
Godfrey Kirumira Kalule is a Ugandan businessman who is among the wealthiest people in Uganda with interests in Real estate, Education, Petroleum, hospitality, telecommunications infrastructure development, transportation, private security among others under his GKK group.
Born on the day Uganda got independence in 1962 to the late Zawedde Joyce Nakimbugwe Joyce (Princess) and the Late Muhammad Kirumira, the business tycoon started from humble backgrounds with importing Hankook tires from Korea and bicycles.
Kirumira has since developed his empire and is believed to have a net worth of his fortune to a tune of $400 million with several commercial, residential and hospitality buildings with in and around Uganda’s capital Kampala. The tycoon owns Kirumira towers, Hotel Havana, hotel International. He also owns Royal Complex a bus company, Kirumira Bargary Limited which invests in the Gas and Fuel industry in Uganda.
The tycoon also owns Gelp petroleum a brand which runs seven petrol stations around Kampala. He also plans to venture into upstream petroleum activities with the planned Tilenga Oil fields exploration in the Albertine Graben initially investing a whooping $5 million.
He’s the proprietor of GKO security, a private security firm in Uganda. Kirumira also has partnerships with local telecommunications company Airtel Uganda and MTN Uganda for network infrastructure development in the form of telecom masts.
Talking about this business mogul is a story worth telling, he was once a patron of the local club Express FC for almost a decade with focus on developing talent and to see the club with the local league. He is remembered for recruiting the best players in the league at the time and spending large amounts of money on remuneration to motivate the players and the entire club.
He was once chairman of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) a body that brings together all businessmen and traders with in the city that involves advocacy for better trade and working conditions for all traders and businesses. He’s also the chairman of Kwagalana group which brings together most prominent businessmen and owners of commercial buildings in Kampala. Together with other tycoons, the pool resources to further their investments in real estate, transportation, hospitality among other business interests.
Godfrey Kirumira has investments in education with two institutions of learning which include Bright Future Secondary School Bwebajja, a high school set along the Kampala-Entebbe highway. He also owns St Mary’s Junior School Nabbingo, a primary school which has both day and boarding sections.
The tycoon further owns a mansion worthy UGX2.5m in addition to a string of monster rides including Lexus, Range Rover, Hummer, G-Wagon, Chrysler and many others
Kirumira the Diplomat.
Just like his counterpart tycoon Sudhir Rupaleria who is a a Honorary consul of the Republic of Nepal to Uganda, Ambassador Godfrey Kirumira was also recently appointed Honorary Consul of Namibia to Uganda by president of Namibia H.E Hage Gottfried Geingob.
The appointment was formalized during a presentation of credentials ceremony on Thursday, May 6th where the Junior Minister of Foreign affairs Henry Okello Oryem received Kirumira’s credentials.
The minister congratulated Kirumira on his appointment and acknowledged that it would further bolster the relations between Uganda and Namibia.
“Kirumira is capable of doing that job of consolidating and strengthening the relationship between the two countries, promoting person to person contact, promoting trade and opportunities between our two countries and strengthening our political and diplomatic relations”-said Oryem.
Kirumira would later throw a lavish party where at Speke resort Munyonyo where friends gathered to congratulate him on his achievement upon being appointed to such a prestigious position which adds another title to his name of Ambassador.
The A-list guests included the Nabagereka of Buganda, Queen Sylvia Nagginda and indeed her attendance and others surely gave the event a deserved honor. Amidst the honor, feasting, entertainment and dancing, the biggest take way from most people was the seamless transformation of Kirumira into a diplomat.
During the celebration which was graced by legendary Awilo Longomba who took a whooping UGX367m to appear at the event, Kirumira expressed his commitment to strengthening the economic, cultural, and social ties between Namibia and Uganda.
“I pledge to work closely with both Namibian and Ugandan business enterprises and government agencies to promote trade and investment and to identify areas of mutual interest and benefit”-he said
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