Mbarara переходит в новую фазу экономического роста: инвесторам открыты возможности в недвижимости и инфраструктуре

Mbarara is entering a new phase of economic and urban growth, with opportunities emerging across real estate, infrastructure, industrial development, hospitality and related sectors, according to findings presented at the REDi Mbarara 2026 - Ankole Real Estate & Infrastructure Conference. The conference, convened by Knight Frank Uganda with NCBA Bank Uganda as Platinum Sponsor, brought together government officials, investors, developers, financial institutions and business leaders at Igongo Country Hotel & Cultural Centre to explore what is required to unlock Mbarara's next chapter of growth. Held under the theme "Ankole Region at the Threshold of Growth," the conference marked the second edition of Knight Frank Uganda's Real Estate Development & Investment (REDi) Summit series, following the inaugural Acholi Real Estate & Infrastructure Conference in Gulu in May 2026. The REDi platform seeks to take investment conversations beyond Kampala and into Uganda's emerging cities by combining market intelligence with discussions around infrastructure, policy, finance and investment. Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn Mbarara no longer a frontier market One of the key highlights of the conference was the launch of the Mbarara City Property Market Report 2026, presented by Knight Frank Uganda Research Analyst Hillary Mbaihayo. The report assessed Mbarara's residential, retail, office, industrial, hospitality and student accommodation markets and described the city as having reached an important "formalisation inflection point." Rather than viewing Mbarara as a speculative frontier market, the report positions it as an established income-generating market whose growing demand now requires higher-quality and larger-scale real estate stock. "Mbarara is not a frontier bet. It is an under-analysed income market," the report states. It adds that the key investment question is no longer whether the city will grow, but who will own and shape the property stock created by that growth. Population and infrastructure create new demand Mbarara had a population of 264,425 in the 2024 census, making it the largest city in Western Uganda and the sixth largest among the country's 11 cities. Its population grew by 32.8% over the preceding decade, exceeding the national average. The city's daytime population is estimated at approximately 324,974, creating additional demand for retail, food services, transport and other commercial activities. The city's demographic profile also points to significant future demand. Children and young people account for approximately 71% of the population, creating immediate demand for student accommodation while also establishing a future market for first-time homebuyers. Infrastructure improvements are also beginning to open new investment opportunities. Among developments highlighted in the report are the arrival of River Kagera water, completion of the 14.5-kilometre Mbarara Northern Bypass, the World Bank's $540 million Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development Programme, which includes Mbarara, and a presidential directive relating to transport infrastructure at Nyakisharara. Industrial and logistics opportunities lead The report identifies industrial and logistics development as Mbarara's strongest immediate investment opportunity. The opportunity is partly attributed to the removal of previous water constraints and the absence of a serviced industrial park within the city. Other sectors identified as having high conviction for immediate investment include mid-market apartments, student accommodation and graded and upscale hotels. Neighbourhood retail in emerging growth areas and premium office space around Boma and the edge of the central business district were identified as opportunities that could benefit from a more phased investment approach. The report, however, takes a more cautious position on CBD arcade retail and luxury residential development because of concerns around absorption, pressure on floor rents and the relatively limited depth of the high-income market. Trade remains central to Mbarara's economy Mbarara's economy continues to be strongly driven by trade, which accounts for 65.1% of registered businesses in the city. This commercial base is supported by the region's dairy and agro-processing industries as well as a tertiary education population of more than 20,000 students. The combination of agriculture, trade, education and regional connectivity provides a foundation for further investment in logistics, accommodation, retail, industrial processing and related services. The conference therefore examined not only property development but also the broader economic ecosystem required to sustain urban growth. From investment conversations to commitments The conference was organised around six decision stages: Vision, Competitiveness, Growth Corridor, Asset Demand, Industrialisation and Commitment. Proceedings opened with remarks from Judy Rugasira Kyanda, FRICS, Managing Director of Knight Frank Uganda, followed by the launch of the market report, a Host City Address from the Deputy Mayor of Mbarara City and a keynote address by Joseph Enyimu, Commissioner for Economic Development Policy & Research at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. NCBA Bank Uganda, the Platinum Sponsor, was represented by Martin Mwanje, Head of Strategy & Sustainability, who delivered the Platinum Partner Address. Discussions examined urban planning, land use, infrastructure and investment incentives; opportunities along the south-western growth corridor; housing, student accommodation and healthcare; and the potential of dairy, tea and grain value chains, cold-chain infrastructure and agro-industrial finance. The conference concluded with a REDi Investment Commitments Plenary, bringing together representatives from government, Mbarara City Authority, developers, investors, financiers and Knight Frank Uganda. Each stakeholder group made a concrete, time-bound commitment towards advancing the region's investment and development agenda. Knight Frank Uganda committed to publishing a Mbarara Investment Opportunities Communiqué within 30 days, capturing opportunities and commitments arising from the conference. A 90-day accountability check-in will also be incorporated into the REDi programme calendar. Formal investment signals emerging The conference comes as Mbarara begins to attract stronger signs of formal institutional investment. One example highlighted during the event is Mbarara Mall, a 7,500-square-metre retail and office development along the Mbarara Bypass, featuring 200 parking bays across two lettable floors. Knight Frank Uganda holds the leasing mandate for the development. The project was presented as an indicator of a market gradually moving from predominantly individual ownership and mixed-use arcade development towards more formal and professionally managed property investment. Building on Gulu success The Mbarara conference builds on momentum from the inaugural REDi conference in Gulu, which attracted 225 attendees against 170 invited guests and generated an estimated $30 million-$50 million in potential deal pipelines. Knight Frank Uganda plans to continue taking the REDi platform to other emerging urban centres, including Arua, as it seeks to identify and showcase investment opportunities across Uganda's secondary cities. The objective is to bring better data, stronger connections and more informed investment conversations closer to the locations where new economic opportunities are emerging. REDi Mbarara 2026 was supported by NCBA Bank Uganda as Platinum Sponsor and Knight Frank Uganda as organiser and research partner, alongside the Uganda Investment Authority, Roofings Group, Uganda Baati, Association of Real Estate Agents Uganda, Cornerstone Asset Managers, Inspire Africa, Bank of Africa, Stanbic Bank, Housing Finance Bank and Pepsi. Inspire Africa is hosting an optional Day Two programme featuring breakfast and a visit to Ntungamo's coffee park. As Mbarara's population, infrastructure and commercial activity continue to expand, the findings from REDi Mbarara 2026 suggest that the city's next growth phase will depend increasingly on whether investment, infrastructure and urban planning can keep pace with demand. For investors, the message from the conference was clear: Mbarara's opportunity is no longer simply about betting on future growth, but participating in an economy that is already generating demand and increasingly ready for more formal investment.