Table of Contents
Ugandan property billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia has begun the next expansion of his Kingdom Kampala complex, unveiling plans for a 21-storey tower topped by a rooftop helipad in the heart of the capital’s business district.
The project, described by people familiar with the development as phase two of the long running Kingdom Kampala build, is pitched as a premium mixed-use addition that plugs into the existing mall and office blocks. Architectural renders circulating in Kampala show a glass-heavy high-rise with landscaped terraces and a podium designed for retail and offices, positioning the site as a self-contained hub rather than a single-purpose building.
A helipad is the detail grabbing the attention. It is a rare feature in privately developed commercial real estate in Uganda, and it signals who the building is meant to court: visiting executives, investors, deal teams and the sort of guests who arrive with security protocols and tight schedules.
Ruparelia’s group has not disclosed the cost or a firm construction timetable, but multiple local reports say the expansion is progressing, with phase two framed as a major statement of confidence in Kampala’s growth trajectory.
Phase one, completed in 2019, helped reset expectations for large scale private development in the city centre. It delivered a shopping mall, office space and multi-level parking, drawing both retailers and corporate tenants into a precinct built on a prime CBD site.
The second phase is being sold as something closer to a vertical city. Plans flagged in local coverage point to a luxury hotel component of about 200 rooms, alongside upscale apartments, penthouses and additional corporate offices. That mix matters in a city where new supply is increasingly being designed around people who want everything in one address: meetings, meals, gyms, beds, and a quick exit to the airport road.
Kampala’s commercial property market has long been split between older stock with patchy services and newer buildings aiming for international specifications. Developments like Kingdom Kampala sit in that newer camp, betting that demand for reliable power, security, parking and modern fit-outs will keep rising as the city densifies and regional businesses expand.
Ruparelia, through the broader Ruparelia Group, has been steadily building a portfolio that blends hospitality and commercial real estate. Recent projects highlighted in Ugandan business coverage include Pearl Tower One, pitched as a Grade A office landmark, alongside resort and hotel assets that feed into the same customer base Kingdom Kampala is chasing: corporates, conferences and high spending visitors.
Back when Kingdom Kampala first opened, international business media framed it as a roughly US$300 million completion for a long delayed project, pointing to the scale of retail space, office floors and basement parking that finally came together after years of construction stops and starts.
The economics of phase two will hinge on execution and timing. A tower that leans into premium offices and hotel beds can thrive when the pipeline is thin and corporate demand is strong, but it can also feel the squeeze quickly if too much similar space lands at once or if consumer spending softens. Kampala has grown used to big announcements; the real test is how quickly steel and concrete turn into paying tenants.
