Located in the heart of Kampala City, Fairway Hotel and Spa has been a prominent establishment for over 40 years. Fairway Hotel and Spa stands as a testament to the rich history and bright future of Kampala City. Established over 40 years ago, we have continued to define warm African hospitality through our comfortable and affordable accommodation, banqueting and leisure services with upscale amenities.
Despite its age, the hotel has been consistently renovated to meet modern standards. The staff is known for their exceptional service and willingness to assist guests. The hotel provides a secure and tranquil environment, making it an ideal location for high-level meetings or a relaxing stay. Guests have praised the delicious food and overall experience at this beautiful hotel with a rich history.
Origins and Establishment
Fairway Hotel is a family-owned hotel constructed in 1969 to host Pope John I’s delegation, during his inaugural Papal visit to Africa. The Vatican’s grand plans for Pope Paul VI’s visit to Kampala had hit a snag. In a city with few hotel rooms and little Church property, where, courtiers wondered, would the pontiff rest his head?
It was 1969, and the Ugandan capital had surprisingly few hotel rooms. There was the Sheraton on Nakasero Hill and the Masindi on the city's outskirts, but those were hardly fit for a man used to sleeping in the grand Apostolic Palace.
That’s when they called Sherali Bandali Jaffer. Born in Uganda, his father had come from India to East Africa by dhow in 1890 at the age of 15, trekking for six months across the plains and savannahs of Kenya before crossing the Nile on a canoe to reach what was then the Kingdom of Buganda.
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Decades later, and his father long passed, the popular local businessman lived in a quaint, white-walled family home tucked into a forest clearing beneath Nakasero Hill. Could he, the Ugandan government asked, throw open his doors for the Pope?
Jaffer was only too happy to oblige and quickly set about converting his cottage into a hotel fit for the pontiff and his entourage. Originally a residential home, the building has served many purposes throughout the years, always retaining its detailed beauty and elegance, matched with modern comforts.
The Hotel has a unique history and an ideal, serene location in spacious grounds on Nakasero, one of Kampala’s seven hills, a short walk to the business and entertainment district.
The Legacy of Sherali Bandali Jaffer
Mr. Jaffer is now the owner of the Fairway Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Mr. Jaffer is now the owner of the Fairway Hotel in Kampala, Uganda. Even some of his six children don’t understand him. From behind his neat desk, Mr Sherali Bandali Jaffer, 81, labours to explain why he is in Uganda.
In an interview for a special report published in The Observer on August 4, 2005, Jaffer told Richard M Kavuma of his wish to die in Uganda. On December 27, 2014, Fairway hotel owner Sherali Bandali Jaffer died in Canada, aged 90.
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In fact, Amin’s madness appears to have become a blessing in disguise for many. Whatever the case, the Asians quickly and amazingly took over trade in Uganda. One explanation that has been given was that Asians benefited from the racist colonial structure that rated Africans behind Asians and Europeans.
When the refugees started arriving in London, Jaffer tried to assist them, visiting the camps and offering encouragement. He rented a house in Ilford, Essex. His own family was more relaxed, although each person had been allowed to carry only $50. “We felt so bad. We counted this as our own country. The suffering has not stopped Ugandan Asians from prospering.
Modern Amenities and Services
We believe in our people first, who above all, care about you. One can find this ethos ingrained in every team member coming together and reflected in each aspect of your Hotel experience. Three generations of management have transformed the hotel while maintaining its family values of Quality, Excellence, and Honesty.
Here's a breakdown of some amenities:
- African restaurant
- Banqueting hall
- Chinese restaurant
- Continental restaurant
- Gym
- Indian restaurant
- Spa
- Swimming pool
- Wedding venue
Our Tree-top restaurant raises you up in the trees, with a beautiful view of the hotel, the Kololo hills and the Golf course area. Asian Fusion Restaurant is a treasure trove of unique Indian and Chinese foods that is designs to not only excite your eyes but your taste buds too. The Ice Lounge bar is an upscale bar, serving an assortment of cocktails, wine and beer in a refined-yet-relaxed atmosphere.
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Our Banqueting and Guest Relations team will ensure that any events organize is successful. Have your Dream Wedding at Fairway Hotel, unmistakably the most popular Poolside Wedding spot in Kampala. Beautiful Gardens, Great Food and Drinks and Yes, an Ample Parking Space for your Guests.
Why you should go:
- Experience the rich history of the Fairway Hotel while enjoying modern amenities.
- Enjoy delicious food at the Asian Fusion restaurant designed on Feng Shui principles.
- Hold high-level meetings in a secure and easily accessible location surrounded by a calm environment.
Reviews and Reputation
The Fairway Hotel in Kampala is praised for its long history of quality services, convenient location, and regular renovations to meet modern standards. Guests appreciate the quick and helpful staff, excellent security measures, delicious food, and exceptional service. It is described as a great place for high-level meetings with a calm and natural environment.
Fairway hotel is a classy hotel in Kampala. The staff and services of the hotel are nice too. The price per night of the hotel are in 3 digits USD and therefore I feel that the rooms can be made more comfortable by providing more proactive services specially the housekeeping. The bathrooms can also be made much better by ensuring that the water from walk in shower area doesn't spill towards the main washroom area (problem with the alignment of floor). The in house breakfast is one of the best I've had in many hotels. The swim pool is functional and nice. There are many nice spots around the hotel to explore. The In house Asian restaurant has a good selection of Asian cuisine.
I never stayed in hotel before with such a professional and friendly staff. The small Park is nice and green. The rooms spacious, clean and comfortable. The food is fresh and tasty.
Highlighted Reviews:
This Hotel is the perfect place to escape the rush of Kampala. The rooms are beautiful, very clean and well equipped. The staff is extraordinary friendly, polite and helpful. At our Check in we were even upgraded for free to an executive room. As well a later Check out was not a problem at all. The pool area is very nice and perfect to relax. Everything is clean and beautifully designed. The Asian restaurant has a special atmosphere and very good food. We can recommend this hotel to hundred percent and would come back anytime again!
This is a well-known hotel in Kampala. The building itself was originally a mansion and was later converted into a hotel, established in 1969, giving it a unique character. I stayed here for 3 nights in a Deluxe Room, and it was a wonderful experience. The room was spacious and super clean, with a comfortable bed. All the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming! The pool was also large, and the breakfast was plentiful. I also had an essential oil massage at the spa, which was extremely relaxing! Next time I have the chance to visit Kampala, I will definitely choose to stay here again.
When traveling to Kampala select this hotel to experience some fun crowd, good atmosphere, good massage and the nature that is one with the property. Excellent food by the pool. This great hotel is excellent for both business as well as private stays.
The Rise of Boutique Hotels in Kampala
Shnaks Takes Hotel No. 5 | Ugandan Boutique Hotel
The Fairway Hotel still stands to this day in the same place, with a new generation of Jaffers continuing to welcome guests at the front door. It has survived decades of tumult and political upheaval, including when Idi Amin expelled the Asian community in the early 1970s and commandeered the property as an army base.
After the dictator was ousted from power in 1979, the Jaffers quickly returned from exile in Canada and reclaimed their family home - opening it as a five-star hotel once again to great acclaim.
The Fairway’s triumphant return should have marked the start of a new era in hospitality for Kampala. Doing away with carbon copy corporate rooms and focusing instead on warm, familiar service with a greater sense of place, it was a logical paving of the way for a wave of new boutique hotels.
Yet the market remained stagnant, dominated by chain hotels catering for business travellers from Asia and other parts of Africa looking to tap into Uganda’s fast-growing industries. For years, few investors were willing to shoulder the risk of trying something new. “There was a huge demand,” says the company’s co-founder James Lightfoot. “Many of our customers in Kampala were well-travelled, saw what was available elsewhere in the world, but when they came home, they didn't have it.”
According to Lightfoot, the hotel held more than a thousand interviews to find the right staff - people who were “enthusiastic” but could “get to know guests individually, rather than on a traditional customer level”.
“One of the things we strive to do is to frame the country and what it can do for itself,” Lightfoot says. “Our guests like a little bit of the extraordinary, want to feel a little bit individual, and want to be intrigued.” The group plans to open further hotels across Africa, bringing its culturally infused rooms and service to a greater selection of capital cities amid a post-Covid boom in visitor arrivals - 5.2 million tourists came to East Africa in 2023, up 49.4 per cent from 2021.
In the five years since the opening of Latitude 0°, and building on the early success of the Fairway, several more boutique-themed properties have popped up - contemporary Le Petit Village near the US embassy and the wood-clad Humura Resort are particular favourites.
Now, Odrek Rwabwogo, a Ugandan dairy farmer who is the President’s son-in-law and special adviser, hopes to see greater growth in the segment amid a tourism industry target of $1 billion in revenue in the next five years.
"We are focusing on increasing arrivals by building new airports, expanding our accommodation options, and improving the quality of our food,” he says. “We’re hoping to not only draw more visitors but also to stimulate local economies by encouraging more investment in our hospitality infrastructure - even if we increase arrivals by 300 from one country, those are people who will eat our eggs, stay in our hotels and use our services.”
The government is now developing thousands of sites offering tourists the best “hidden gems” during their visits - from glimpses of ancient historical artefacts to safari encounters with the Big Five animals in the national parks. “Uganda remains a beautiful place to go to,” Rwabwogo adds.
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