KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Ruparelia Group has said the construction of the unique 4400-seater Speke Resort Convention Centre is proceeding as planned and will be completed in time for the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) next year.
The 2024 NAM Summit is scheduled to take place at the new convention centre in January 2024.
The Ruparelia Group, in collaboration with the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), were chosen as the developers of this state-of-the-art facility which will not only host the NAM Summit and the Followed by G77 China, but also enhance Uganda’s Meetings, Incentives, and Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) potential and competitiveness.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 18 at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, the Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, assured the media during a facility tour that everything is progressing smoothly.
With the construction of the centre underway adjacent to Lake Victoria, The group on Tuesday organized an on-spot-fact tour at the facility site for the media and stakeholders in order to dispel allegations related to land use.
Dr Sudhir on behalf of the Group clarified that they are not filling Lake Victoria, but rather, they are upgrading and securing the grounds against flooding, as the lake’s water levels rose significantly due to heavy rains in previous years.
“Overall, the development of the Speke Resort Convention Centre and the resort complex is being carried out in compliance with all relevant environmental and municipal regulations and laws, ensuring the preservation of Lake Victoria, a unique asset that the Ruparelia Group values deeply,” Dr Sudhir said.
Earlier this month, the tycoon had to make a fresh landscape so as to create a soothing ambience for his guests, and as a result of this, the conservationist had to relocate 20-year-old palm trees to the new convention centre that will host the mega summit in early 2024.
The convention centre, located on a 105-acre luxury resort complex, will not only include the impressive 4400-seater auditorium but also feature a multipurpose hall, 12 high-end conference/breakaway meeting rooms, and a floating restaurant with the capacity to accommodate over 900 guests, offering a breathtaking view of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake.
The centre will also have a suspended restaurant overlooking Lake Victoria and smaller conference rooms or sideline meetings during the summit.
Dr Sudhir has a track record of meeting construction deadlines at the same time delivering world-class facilities in the form of Public Private Partnership projects.
In addition to the Speke Resort Convention Centre, the loaded tycoon already owns two upscale lake-side resorts, Speke Resort Munyonyo and Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, also owned by the Ruparelia Group.
The combined properties provide Uganda’s hospitality sector with around 40 indoor meeting and banqueting facilities of varying sizes, with the capacity to host up to 19,000 people, along with several outdoor venues. The complex also boasts 476 accommodation rooms, including 54 presidential suites and 3 ballrooms.
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