Who is Ponsiano Ngabirano, the Billionaire Behind The Soon-To-Be-Opened Marriott Hotel Kampala? From just a small retail store in downtown Kampala, Ponsiano Ngabirano has built a multibillion brand that has etched him among Uganda’s most successful business people. He lives largely quietly but loud enough to impact communities and Uganda as a whole in so many different ways.

If you asked people around Kampala to choose Ponsiano Ngabirano, 57, from a crowd, few would pass the test.

Yet it is a totally different story when it comes to his business, Capital Shoppers, a household supermarket brand that is known all over.

Ngabirano lives a largely quiet life, free from the flashy Kampala showbiz enterprise and the grandeur braggadocio of some clout-chasing businessmen who are a regular sight in this town.

But it is perhaps this that has allowed him to become what he is today. 

In fact, people who know him or who have worked with him, say it is very unlikely that you will catch him on a random social night.

He is a well-built man, who speaks with a stern and cocky heavy ascent that some take for arrogance.

His business and enterprise story – founded more than two decades ago – speaks for itself and offers many life lessons and an inspiration to many Ugandans.

Born in 1968 in Rukungiri District (which part of Rukungiri) in western Uganda, Ngabirano holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Makerere University.

His career started in the banking sector, where he gained invaluable experience before transitioning to business ownership in the late 1980s.

In 1997, Ngabirano took a bold step into the retail business by opening his first Capital Shoppers Supermarket on Dastur Street, in the heart of Kampala’s dusty streets.

The venture quickly flourished, responding to the growing demand for quality, locally available groceries and retail products in Kampala.

His business idea had also arrived at a time when Uganda was experiencing some good growth in middle-income earners.

Thus, it feed off the emerging needs of a new generation of corporate workers and a mix of business people in downtown Kampala, who were adapting to a change in status and lifestyle.

By 2012 – fifteen years later – Capital Shoppers had established itself as a solid locally owned supermarket chain in Uganda, serving a wide range of customers across the city.

It quickly grew, amid a large supply of large supermarket chains such as Uchumi, Nakumatt, Shoprite and Game, among others that had spread in Kampala and the suburbs.

Thus, even when the retail business faced challenges in the mid-2010s, leading to so many exits, Capital Shoppers remained strong.

And over the years, the supermarket chain has expanded from a single outlet to more branches in strategic locations such as the city suburbs of Nakawa, Ntinda, and Garden City Mall.

It is by far one of the most recognised supermarket brands currently. Offering a one-stop shop for groceries and assorted merchandise, it has made it an easy choice for many shoppers in Kampala and beyond.

Its well-stocked stores and additional offerings, such as food courts, bakeries, and confectionery spaces, combined with loyalty programmes that provide a 4% reimbursement on purchases—the highest in Uganda in the last decade—make it even more attractive.

Real Estate Ventures

From building a solid retail empire, Ngabirano has successfully ventured into real estate, acquiring large tracts of land both inside and outside of Kampala.

He has capitalised on his properties by developing and renting out commercial spaces, generating a steady stream of income to complement his retail business.

His keen eye for lucrative real estate opportunities has made him a respected figure in Uganda’s property market.

He has also expanded his business portfolio into the hospitality sector, developing a 400-room, five-star hotel in Nsambya, Kampala, next to the Mestil Hotel and Residences Kampala.

The Marriot Hotel Kampala, is expected to open to the public later this year.

It will operate under one of Marriott’s renowned brands, adding to his diverse business interests and cementing his status as a prominent player in Uganda’s business landscape.

He also has major interests in SMS Construction Ltd., a construction company established in 2011. Some of the company’s major projects include the Marriott Hotel in Kampala, the 18-storey Inspectorate of Government Headquarters in Kampala, and the UGX164 billion 9-storey Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd headquarters.

Philanthropy and community engagement

Aside from business, Ngabirano is deeply involved in bettering the communities in which he lives and works.

He is an active philanthropist who serves on several boards and supports numerous charitable causes, such as the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Uganda Red Cross.

He is also the chairman of the Ponsiano Foundation, a non-profit organisation that focuses on improving the lives of Ugandans through various developmental projects.

In addition, Ngabirano plays a key leadership role in the AbanyaRuhinda Ba-Rujumbura Development Association, a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) group that seeks to uplift rural communities in Uganda.

Recognition

Ngabirano’s business acumen and wealth have not gone unnoticed.

In 2012, the local daily New Vision ranked him among the wealthiest individuals in Uganda, estimating his net worth at $50 million at the time.

Since then, his influence has grown in all spheres and continues to do so. His net worth is estimated to be well above $100m.

Last year, Mr. Ngabirano was voted as the 7th Most Admired CEO in Uganda (2024) in the CEO East Africa Magazine’s 100 Leading and Most Admired CEOs in Uganda 2024.  He was recognised for his business acumen, strategic leadership, and contribution to Uganda’s retail sector.