President Museveni has hailed fallen businessman Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige (BMK) for his numerous investments in the services industry, agriculture, and manufacturing which the President says has created avenues for employment and revenue for the country.
BMK was a self-made tycoon and businessman who rose from grass to grace after he dropped out of school. He has been mostly known as the Proprietor of Hotel Africana. He died on September 10 2021 at the age of 67.
The Ugandan Wire has established that the late is believed to have died of cancer related complications from a Nairobi hospital after years of battling ill health.
He was laid to rest yesterday at a cemetery he set up at Nkoowe Village, in Busiro County, Wakiso district.
“I received, with profound sadness, the news announcing the death of Dr. Alhaji Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige. My thoughts are with the family during this moment of grief and sorrow. I pray that Allah grants you the fortitude and courage to go through this loss.” President Museveni said.
Mr. Museveni said that the country has lost a great entrepreneur and innovative business leader, who ‘profitably took advantage of Uganda’s vast business opportunities to create jobs and incomes for our people.”
In his book titled “My Story of Building A Fortune in Africa”, BMK explains how he toiled for years and built Hotel Africana with branches in Kampala, Moroto and Lusaka in Zambia with business interests in Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda.
He also owned a chain of spare parts outlets in Uganda, Dubai, Japan and Zambia.
He was born in 1953 to Ali Kibirige, a businessman and Mariam Kibirige. He was one of 36 children.
Part of his rise was also marked by business deals in Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, and Japan sourcing commodities for his East African operations.
He is survived by 18 children and two widows.