Tycoon Sudhir, Matovu Yanga named Kampala’s top real estate gurus

KAMPALA, Uganda — In a nod to the unsung architects of the city’s bustling commercial landscape, two of Uganda’s most influential tycoons, Sudhir Ruparelia and Haji Muhammad Matovu Yanga, have been crowned Kampala’s Best Business Landlords of 2025.

The accolade, announced Tuesday by a coalition of urban development experts and tenant advocacy groups, underscores a growing emphasis on ethical property stewardship as the capital grapples with explosive economic growth and housing demands.

The awards celebrate landlords who exemplify professionalism, tenant welfare, and innovative management practices. Ruparelia, the enigmatic chairman of the Ruparelia Group, and Yanga, revered as the “king of commercial arcades,” were selected for their commitment to safe, accessible, and well-maintained spaces that foster business vitality.

“This accolade recognizes those who go beyond mere ownership to build thriving communities,” said a spokesperson for the awarding committee, a consortium blending real estate professionals, city planners, and rights advocates.

Ruparelia’s empire, one of East Africa’s largest property conglomerates, spans glittering office towers, luxury hotels, and vibrant shopping hubs. Iconic holdings like Kampala Boulevard, Kingdom Kampala, and Crane Plaza house thousands of enterprises, from multinational firms to fledgling startups.

Tenants laud the 68-year-old business magnate for his transparent leasing policies, swift repairs, and pandemic-era rent relief that kept small vendors afloat. “Sudhir doesn’t just rent space; he invests in dreams,” one longtime lessee at Speke Resort Munyonyo remarked, echoing sentiments from a survey of over 500 Kampala stakeholders that informed the selection.

Yanga, a self-made Hajji whose arcades pulse with the energy of downtown trade, brings a grassroots touch to the honors. His portfolio, including the sprawling Yanga Plaza and Yanga Mall, anchors high-traffic corridors teeming with retailers, wholesalers, and service providers. At 62, Yanga has prioritized affordability for micro-enterprises, bolstering security and sanitation in an era of urban flux.

“My buildings are for the people who make Kampala tick—the traders, the families starting out,” he told reporters last year. The committee singled out his properties for their “organized excellence,” crediting structured teams that resolve disputes and upgrades that enhance accessibility for all.

The gala presentation, slated for late November at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue, will draw urban luminaries, policymakers, and investors to toast these contributions.

Organizers view the event as a catalyst for reform. “In a city where commercial real estate fuels trade and jobs, this recognition signals a shift toward fairness,” the committee noted. “It urges all landlords to champion tenant protections, reasonable rents, and sustainable growth.”

Kampala’s property sector is no stranger to transformation. With foreign investment surging and a population swelling past 1.5 million, demand for quality retail and office space has skyrocketed. Yet challenges persist: informal evictions, maintenance lapses, and rent hikes amid inflation have strained relations.

Ruparelia and Yanga’s triumphs offer a blueprint. Ruparelia’s group, valued in the billions, reinvests heavily to meet global benchmarks, while Yanga’s arcades employ hundreds and support informal economies that underpin 70% of the city’s commerce, per recent World Bank data.

As Uganda eyes its Vision 2040 goals, such honors could ripple outward, inspiring a new ethos in African urbanism. For now, they affirm that in Kampala’s concrete jungle, the best landlords are those who nurture the human element.