Kadaga Speaks Out as Minister Kaboyo, Madhvani Ripon Falls Hotel Ownership Saga Deepens

Jinja, Uganda – Former Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has broken her silence on the raging battle between Minister Alice Kaboyo and the Madhvani Group over ownership and redevelopment of the historic Ripon Falls Hotel in Jinja City.

Kadaga, now First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize that the landmark property had long been classified as a heritage site protected by the Ministry of Tourism with the full support of Jinja City Council.

“But surely,  this property was classified as heritage site protected by the Ministry of Tourism, with the full support of Jinja City Council,” she said.

Her remarks come amid an intensifying row that has derailed a decade-long dream to revive the once-iconic lakeside hotel into a modern five-star establishment.

The Madhvani Group, one of Uganda’s oldest conglomerates, reportedly secured a 99-year lease in May 2022 after a court ruling dismissed claims by the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB). The group unveiled ambitious plans to inject millions of dollars into redeveloping the crumbling hotel.

But those plans have since run into turbulence. Alice Kaboyo, Minister of State for Luwero Triangle, has laid claim to the same property through her company Cable International, accusing Madhvani of fraudulently acquiring the lease.

Kaboyo, critics argue, is leveraging her State House connections to frustrate Madhvani’s investment. This is the same minister who in 2012 pleaded guilty in the GAVI corruption scandal, paid a fine of UGX 20 million, and admitted to abuse of office charges.

Madhvani Cries Foul

The conglomerate’s Company Secretary, S.K. Iyengar, laments what he calls “blatant misuse of State House influence to frustrate genuine investors.”

“…someone is using her State House connection to literally frustrate investments. We have invested heavily in this project, but our money is locked into the facility, and we cannot move forward,” Iyengar said.

He also questioned why a sitting minister should undermine the President’s repeated assurances to investors.

Kaboyo’s Camp Fires Back

Kaboyo’s representative Simon Anywar, a former tenant and steward of the property, dismisses the accusations as baseless.

“Hon. Kaboyo is the rightful owner, having been allocated the property by the DAPCB. Madhvani acquired the building fraudulently, and they have even resorted to vandalizing the premises at night,” Anywar claimed.

He insists Kaboyo’s team is already courting European investors to redevelop the site, vowing that “there is nothing the Madhvani Group can do to stop them.”

City Council Turns the Heat On

Jinja City authorities are now tightening the screws. Town Clerk Moses Otimong recently issued a final notice to the Madhvani Group to renovate the dilapidated structure by October 20, 2025, or face legal action.

Council Speaker Bernard Mbayo warned that continued wrangling is denying the city much-needed revenue and jobs.

“Jinja is losing a transformative investment that could rejuvenate tourism and commerce in the city,” Mbayo said.

Reports indicate that senior police commanders, including RPC SSP Charles Nsaba, DPC SP David Kamugira, and FFU Zonal Commander SP Julius Turyabona, have been drawn into the saga, allegedly acting on “orders from above.”

This has fueled speculation that State organs are being deployed in what should have been a straightforward commercial dispute.

Legal Labyrinth

The wrangle has spawned multiple suits and injunctions. In October 2022, the High Court issued a temporary injunction restraining Madhvani from taking possession of the property until determination of a main suit.

But legal experts say the injunction lapsed once the lease was transferred to Madhvani, invoking the principle of res judicata — which bars endless reopening of settled cases.

“The DAPCB is out of time to appeal. The case is closed,” Iyengar argued.

Museveni Steps In

Sources reveal the matter escalated to President Yoweri Museveni’s desk. After listening to both sides, he reportedly urged a round-table discussion.

But the meeting turned tense when Kaboyo allegedly accused Madhvani director Mayur of collaborating with the family of the late Brig. Ali Fadhul, one of Idi Amin’s allies during the 1972 Asian expulsion.

The anti-Asian jab reportedly infuriated Mayur, who declined Kaboyo’s alleged demand for “goodwill money” to abandon the deal.

Observers argue the saga reflects Uganda’s chronic property wrangles involving politically connected elites.

“These disputes often drag in the police, military, and courts to serve individual interests,” noted a governance analyst.

Investor confidence is at stake. “This case will determine whether Uganda is serious about protecting investment or whether power and connections override the law,” an economic commentator said.

Founded in 1914 by Muljibhai Madhvani, the conglomerate is a cornerstone of Uganda’s economy. Its flagship Kakira Sugar Works employs thousands. The group also runs Mweya Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, and several agro-processing and manufacturing enterprises across East Africa.

For Jinja, a redeveloped Ripon Falls Hotel could be a tourism magnet. But for now, the building remains a decaying monument to Uganda’s unresolved battles over property, power, and corruption.

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