Hamis Kiggundu

Dr.
Hamis Kiggundu
Born (1984-02-10) February 10, 1984
Masaka, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
EducationKabojja International School, Munyonyo
Alma materSchool of Law, Makerere University, Kampala (Bachelor of Laws)
Occupation(s)Businessman, entrepreneur, investor, lawyer,
Years active2003–present
Notable workHamz Stadium
AwardsBusiness Motivation Book of the Year 2018, Uganda
WebsiteHome Page

Hamis Kiggundu (born 10 February 1984), commonly known as Ham,[1] is a Ugandan businessman, lawyer and author. He is the CEO of the Ham Group of Companies, and has written two books Success and Failure Based on Reason and Reality (2018) and Reason as the World Masterpiece (2021).[2]

In May 2025, Hamis was published among the top richest Ugandans by net worth. His net worth is estimated at $1.02 Billion.[3][4]

In March 2020, Kiggundu was featured prominently in Ugandan media for his court battle against Diamond Trust Bank. He alleged that the bank defrauded him over $30 Million over the course of 10 years.[5][6]

In October 2020, Kiggundu won the case and the Ugandan High Court ordered Diamond Trust Bank to refund all the unlawfully withdrawn monies totalling to USh 34.29 billion and US$23.4 million,[7][8] with an additional 8% interest for legal costs.[9] The court additionally ordered the bank to unconditionally release/discharge all mortgages allegedly created over all Kiggundu's properties and all corporate and personal guarantees issued by Kiggundu. The court also issued a permanent injunction to prevent DTB from enforcing the mortgages over Kiggundu's properties.[10] DTB Bank later appealed the decision in the High Court and were issued an injunction halting payment of the monies.[11]

In November 2023, this legal dispute was peacefully settled outside court. Ham and Nasim Devji, the group CEO of Diamond Trust Bank Group reached a mutual agreement in a private meeting to drop all court cases.[12][13][14]

Kiggundu present Nakivubo Stadium Re-development Proposal to President Museveni in 2015

Kiggundu received a presidential directive in 2015 to redevelop and upgrade Nakivubo Stadium under a public-private partnership with the Ugandan government.[15] Construction works began in 2017 following the demolition of the old structures.[16] The project expanded the stadium's seating capacity from 30,000 to 35,000 and introduced modern facilities including floodlights, seating, digital screens, and parking. The new upgraded stadium was officially commissioned by President Museveni in April 2024.[17][18]

Early life & education

Kiggundu was born on 10 February 1984 1984 in the Kalungu Masaka District in the Central Region of Uganda. He is the son of Haruna Segawa, who is part of a family with extensive property investments in Kampala.[19]

He attended his elementary education in Masaka, joined Kabojja International School in Kampala District for his high school education and later graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelors of Laws.[20]

Religion

Kiggundu was born and raised in a Muslim family. He talks about Islam as "the highest achievement of a lifetime".[21]

Business career and interests.

Hamis started his business journey in 2005 as a garments trader. Hamis used to support his father Hajji. Segawa in his textile shop from where he learnt basic business principles.[22] And during middle school holidays his father gave him capital to start his own venture.[23] As business burgeoned, he started buying and selling land and properties and In 2009 he incorporated Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd and advanced to constructing and owning commercial properties.[24] In 2010, Kiggundu started erection of Ham towers, his first commercial tower at the Makerere suburb of Kampala city. According to billionaires.Africa, having mastered the commercial real estate trifles with reference to lessons learnt from his first project, Kiggundu was able to move a bit faster and within 18 months, he had built his second property, Ham Shopping Mall. With combined rental income coming from both properties, he was able to easily secure more financing with the banks, for other projects given his reasonable collateral.[25]

By 2021, Hamis Kiggundu had diversified his investments into multiple sectors, including real estate, finance, Banking, I.T and social media platforms and large-scale industrialization, with the various ventures administered and managed through the Ham Group of Companies.[26][20]According to the Forbes report on Uganda by Penresa, he embarked on a US$156 million project in the central region where a pilot advanced Integrated Agro-Processing Industrial Plant (IAIP) was set up at Akright City to add value to Uganda's agro produce.[27][28]

Replica of the White House in Uganda

Kiggundu's Ugandan Replica of the White house

Kiggundu built a replica of the White House in Akright City, Entebbe, which serves as the headquarters for Ham Integrated Agro Processing Industries.[29] He stated in a 2023 interview with Wode Maya that the project aimed to encourage local ambition and highlight opportunities within Africa.[30]

Philanthropy

In 2017, Kiggundu, through the Kampala General Better Traders Association donated Shs.100 million (Ugx) to support the vendors displaced by the Nakivubo Park Yard market demolition. The funds aimed to help traders rebuild their businesses. He also offered a six-month rent-free grace period to vendors relocated to his Ham Shopping Ground, emphasizing his commitment to supporting small-scale traders, promoting wise investment, and fostering economic resilience within the community.[31][32]

In April 2020, Kiggundu donated food relief to Uganda's COVID-19 task force.[33] He also donated food supplies to over 100 Ugandan journalists through the Uganda Journalists Association,[34] but was also criticized for providing cash handouts to journalists.[35]

In July 2021, Kiggundu donated to the Uganda Government a total of USh 530 million to help in the purchase COVID-19 vaccine doses for Ugandans and additionally called upon other able Ugandans and corporate entities to join him in saving lives as a way of giving back to the Ugandan Community.[36][37][38]

In January 2024, Hamis contributed to urban environmental enhancement by donating 100,000 Royal palm trees to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).[39] To ensure successful planting, a team of his staff was deployed to assist KCCA in planting these trees along the streets of Kampala. This initiative was part of a broader greening campaign, underscoring Kiggundu's commitment to fostering a cleaner, greener, and more aesthetically pleasing cityscape.[40][41]

Awards and Recognition

In 2018 Kiggundu was given an award as an acknowledgement for his book, Success and Failure Based on Reason and Reality. It was nominated the best book of the year in the category of Business Motivation at an event held by the Book Forum of Uganda in Kampala.[42]

In 2023, Hamis Kiggundu was awarded the African Renaissance & Iconic Development Entrepreneur Award by the Pan-African Pyramid Global Awards for his significant contributions to Africa's economic development and his influential entrepreneurial efforts in Africa.[43]

In February 2024, Hamis Kiggundu received the Special Presidential Recognition Award from the Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs. This award, presented by the Office of the President, honored his dedicated service and significant contributions to the social and economic development of Kampala, particularly benefiting disadvantaged communities.[44]

In June 2024, Hamis received a Professional Doctorate in Global Leadership and Management from the European International University. This recognition honored his dedication, hard work, and significant contributions to social, economic, and corporate sectors, as well as his efforts in expanding his organization internationally.[45][46]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tycoon Ham drags DTB to court over sh150b". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Okutumbula Ebyobulimi: Ham Kiggundu ayanjudde enteekateeka". NTV Uganda. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  3. ^ "15 richest people in Uganda". Daily News on African Billionaires and UHNWIs. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  4. ^ Oko, Nelson (6 April 2024). "Dr. Hamis Kiggundu". Bizmart. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Tycoon Ham drags DTB to court over sh100b". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 21 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Times, Uganda (11 March 2020). "Ham Enterprises drags DTB to court over 100Bn UGX Fraud". The Uganda Times – Uganda News, Uganda Updates, Breaking News, World News, Business, Travel, About Uganda | Home. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Ham wins DTB in Shs120bn fraud case, Bank ordered to refund businessman". Watchdog Uganda. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Why Hamis Kiggundu won multi-billion court case against DTB". Nile Post. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  9. ^ URN. "Court orders DTB to refund immediately Shs 120bn to Ham". The Observer – Uganda. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. ^ "BoU calls for calm after Ham wins loan case against DTB". Monitor. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  11. ^ Kazibwe, Kenneth. "Principal Judge stops payment of shs120bn to Ham by DTB". Nilepost News. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  12. ^ Buule, Kizito Moses (15 November 2023). "REVEALED: Why Ham and DTB ended eight-year legal battle". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  13. ^ admin, N. P. "OPINION: Ham vs DTB and why the public should embrace alternative dispute resolution". Nilepost News. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  14. ^ Uganda, TheSpy (15 November 2023). "Reason Based On Reality Wins! City Tycoon Hamis Kiggundu, DTB Agree To Settle Eight-Year Legal Battle Out Of Court - TheSpy". Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  15. ^ Writer, Staff (1 April 2015). "M7 Directs Ham Enterprises To Re-Develop Nakivubo Stadium". ONLINE. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  16. ^ Uganda, Watchdog (4 December 2023). "Hamis Kiggundu's new Nakivubo Stadium highlights his grit, ingenuity and patriotism". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  17. ^ Reporter, NewVision (26 April 2024). "Museveni says Ham 'had clear idea' on Nakivubo Stadium revamp". New Vision. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  18. ^ PPU (25 April 2024). "President Museveni Commissions Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium - State House Uganda". Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Siblings who own a piece of Kampala City". Monitor. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Meet Hamis Kiggundu, the 37-year-old entrepreneur who built a property empire in Uganda". Daily News on African Billionaires and UHNWIs. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  21. ^ Post, The Uganda (21 May 2019). "Islam Is Peaceful, Beautiful, Pure and Absolute. The highest achievement of a Lifetime". The Uganda Post. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  22. ^ Bizmart (29 March 2023). "Meet the youngest and first African billionaire to build a national stadium using own funds". Bizmart | Business in Motion. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Hamis Kiggundu, 37-year-old African Building White House in Uganda". 21 February 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  24. ^ BigEyeUg3 (10 June 2015). "Here is how Ham of Ham towers made his money and became a billionaire". BigEye.UG. Retrieved 6 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Meet Hamis Kiggundu, the 37-year-old entrepreneur who built a property empire in Uganda". Daily News on African Billionaires and UHNWIs. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  26. ^ Dollar, Michael Kanaabi. "Tycoon Kiggundu dives into social media business with Hamz app". Nilepost News. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  27. ^ Forbes Africa (10 March 2021). "Ham Enterprises Limited: Hamis Kiggundu" (PDF). Forbes Africa Magazine. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Finance minister commends Kiggundu for setting up food processing unit". New Vision. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  29. ^ Reporter, NELSON MANDELA | PML Daily (9 May 2022). "All you need to know about tycoon Ham's White House". PML Daily. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  30. ^ Osoro, William (6 April 2023). "Hamis Kiggundu: Billionaire Builds White House Replica in Uganda - Tuko.co.ke". www.tuko.co.ke. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Tycoon Ham Kiggundu Donates Shs. 100 M to Park Yard Vendors, Urges on Investment". Chimp Reports. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Former Park Yard vendors given sh100m". New Vision. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Covid-19: Businessman, Hamis Kiggundu, gives Shs100 million to help needy". Nile Post. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  34. ^ "UJA to Support Journalists with Foodstuff". ChimpReports. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  35. ^ URN. "Journalists scramble for Hamis Kiggundu's cash". The Observer – Uganda. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Tycoon Hamis Kiggundu donates Shs 530 Million to procure Covid-19 Vaccine doses". New Vision. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Ham Kiggundu donates UGX 530m for COVID-19 fight – NTV UGANDA". NTV UG. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  38. ^ Kazibwe, Kenneth (3 July 2021). "How Nabbanja saved the day as shs530m donated by Ham to Covid task force survived being stolen". Nile Post. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  39. ^ Admin, KCCA web (3 January 2024). "BUSINESSMAN KIGGUNDU SUPPORTS KAMPALA GREENING CAMPAIGN WITH 100,000 TREES- KCCA | For a better City". KAMPALA CAPITAL CITY AUTHORITY | For a better City. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  40. ^ Corporation, Uganda Broadcasting (4 January 2024). "Businessman Kigundu's Generous Donation of 100,000 Trees Enriches Kampala's Greening Initiative | Uganda Broadcasting Corporation". Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  41. ^ "Hamis Kiggundu Expresses Displeasure Over Felling of Donated City Trees". New Vision. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  42. ^ Lukwago. "Hamis Kiggundu's Book Wins Business Book Of The Year!". Newslex Point. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  43. ^ kobusiinge (5 September 2023). "Details! Why Hamis Kiggundu Was Recognized! During PAP Global Awards 2023". THE PAN-AFRICAN PYRAMID. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  44. ^ Nyongesa. "Hamis Kiggundu Receives Prestigious Presidential Honor for His Impactful Community Service". Nyongesa Sande. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  45. ^ Katungulu. "EIU honors Hamis Kiggundu with special professional doctorate". Nile Post. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  46. ^ Ssejjoba. "Businessman Hamis Kiggundu Awarded Professional Doctorate". NewVision. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
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