Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige
Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige,, commonly known as BMK, was a Ugandan businessman, entrepreneur, and hotel owner. According to a 2012 published report, he was one of the wealthiest people in Uganda.
Background
Bulayimu Muwanga kivumbi a 14 year old school drop out strated to work in hhis father's restaurant in Masaka before starting his trading related works. He opened up some trading outlets in Kampala, Nairobi, Bangkok and Thailand between 1973 and 1976.Hailing from Matanga in Buddu County- Masaka District, in 1986 he started a general trade and manufacturing company. He was known for his investments in real estate, construction equipments, motorcycle distributorships and foreign exchange bureaus across East and Central Africa.
BMK is the brain behind bodaboda rides in Uganda - a transport mechanism that was used mostly at the border of Uganda and Kenya. He later started exporting them direct from Japan thus the boda boda culture was started.
In 1997, BMK started with the 40-room motel Hotel Africana, on Kololo Hill, located in Kampala's central business district. Over the next decade, the hotel grew into a four-star establishment.
Business interests
BMK was the chairman and managing director of the BMK Group of companies, whose member businesses include:1. Hotel Africana Kampala, 2-4 Wampewo Avenue, Kololo Hill, Kampala, Uganda
2. Hotel Africana Moroto, Moroto City, Uganda
3. Hotel Africana Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia
4. BMK Motorcycles Limited, Nateete, Kampala, Uganda
5. BMK Motorcycles Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
6. BMK Motorcycles Limited, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
7. BMK Motorcycles Limited, Kigali, Rwanda
8. BMK Motorcycles Limited, Lusaka, Zambia
9. Hotel Africana Forex Bureau 1, 2-4 Wampewo Avenue, Kampala, Uganda
10. Hotel Africana Forex Bureau 2, 16-18 William Street, Kampala, Uganda
11. BMK Construction Leasing Company, Kigali, Rwanda
12. BMK Oil Equipment Company, Kampala, Uganda
Other responsibilities
BMK served in the following public positions:1. Chairman of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association
2. Board member of the Ugandan North American Association
3. Chairman Executive Board for Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation