Gov’t to take over historic Ripon Falls Hotel

Minister for East African Community Affairs Hon Rebecca Kadaga made the announcement on Friday, September 1, while speaking at the Busoga Investment Forum in Jinja City.

Kadaga said a decision had been made recently for the government to acquire this run-down facility and develop it for Busoga Kingdom.

Kadaga said this move came about after some unscrupulous people tried to steal the land where the hotel sits. 

“Recently we agreed with the Ministry of Tourism that Ripon Falls Hotel will be acquired by the Government compulsorily for Busoga,” Kadaga announced.

“Those who wanted to steal the hotel and sell it to themselves have failed. The minister (of tourism) directed that no one should touch it and it will be acquired for Busoga and turned into a tourism center.”

Located along Nile Crescent Avenue opposite Jinja Sailing Club, Ripon Falls Hotel was the third hotel built in Uganda by the British Colonialists.

It was built in the early 1950s specifically to host Queen Elizabeth who was visiting Africa at the time.

It later on accommodated the queen again when she returned to Uganda to commission Owen Falls Dam in 1954.

Thereafter, Ripon Falls Hotel went on to become the top hangout for affluent Europeans living in Jinja then till 1962 when it was handed over to the Ugandan government at independence.

But during Idi Amin’s time, the hotel collapsed and was abandoned.

Until recently, the building has been accommodating squatters.

For years, a number of property developers came up showing interest in the facility.

There have also been about two individuals claiming ownership of the hotel, supposedly from the Indian Properties Custodian Board.

The building reportedly still has some antiques like the furniture that the queen used on her stay at the hotel.