Name: Godfrey Kalule Kirumira
Source of Wealth: Fuel Retailing, Security, Hospitality & Tourism, Transport & Logistics, Financial Services, Education Services and Commodities Trading.
Age: 60 years
Estimated Worth: US$ 30 million (UGX105 billion)
At 12 years of age, young Godfrey Kalule Kirumira had made up his mind to pursue the road to self-employment. He had been to school but that was not unfolding well. When he looked around, the idea of trading in cigarettes convinced him that it would be worth the salt. Those were the early 70s.
By the end of the decade, one which was marred with a lot of tension and turmoil, young Kirumira had mastered the nuts and bolts of doing business. He had become an aggressive trader willing to take on heavier weight. In 1979, he ventured into importing spare bicycle parts and tyres. By the 1980s, he was importing bicycles from India and later car tyres from South Korea. By the end of the 80s, he had established himself as a property owner and supplier of maize and beans to the World Food programme. He has never looked back.
Today, the business mogul is in his 60s. All his businesses are run under the Godfrey Kalule Kirumira (GKK) Group of Companies. The group is broad and under it are a number of companies among which include; Bargary Company limited that deals in fuel controlling 12 petrol stations under the name Gelp. Kirumira Towers, Muyenga Hotel (formerly known as Hotel International) and Royale Havana, Hotel Havana and Royale complex. Royale Cash Forex, Money Point Forex, KPI Security Company, BTC Transporters. He is the proprietor of Premium Commodities that deals in maize and beans. He is the leading importer of bales of second-hand clothes and the brains behind Nabugabo Updeal Venture Limited.
Many in his circles call him Chairman. And indeed, he is the chairman of Kwagalana Group, a closed club of wealthy Ugandans that he founded in 2002. Some of the billionaire members include Gaster Lule, Sudhir Ruparelia, John Yiga, Dr Sarah Nkonge, William Kajoba among many others.
I&M Select Banking Sapphire Club wins “Best Innovation of the Year” at UMEAS 2025He is also the chairman of the Landlords Association of Kampala as well as a Patron of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA).
He owns two schools St Mary’s Junior School, Nabbingo and Bright Future Secondary School Bwebajja. The school is a non-profit initiative.
Recently in an interview with Billionaire Tomorrow, Kirumira revealed that he has invested US$ 5 million in a laboratory that will assess the quality of oil samples.
Like many other billionaires, Kirumira is slowly mapping out a succession plan by introducing his son Gideon Kirumira as the face of his business. It is not uncommon to find father and son supervising business together.
In 2020, the luxurious billionaire opened up about his state-of-the-art palatial home atop of Buziga Hill, Uganda’s Beverly Hill.
Chairman’s net worth is estimated to be about US$ 30 million.
