Hamis Kiggundu aka Ham’s name is popular in Uganda especially among young and wealthy business men in Kampala.
As he marks 40 years anniversary this year, Ham has managed to register milestone achievements in life and diffiriated himself fr8m several young men still struggling to achieve in a life.
He owns properties in Kampala including shopping arcades, Ham International UK Ltd in the UK, Ham International Ltd in the US and Skylight Investments in South Africa.
Kiggundu was born in 1984 in the Kalungu Masaka District in the Central Region of Uganda to Haruna Segawa and Nakayiza Jalia family.
Ham founder of Ham Group of Companies and author of Success and Failure Based on Reason and Reality and Reason as the World Masterpiece book is one of the richest people in Uganda with a net value of US$870 million employing about 7,000 people as reported by Forbes (March 2021 Forbes).
How he made it
“While in my first year of university studies, my parents gave me some small reasonable capital to start a business. I started small by trading in commodities… but now I have grown and have upgraded to real estate,” he said.
He then started buying and selling land and properties In 2009 after incorporating Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd he advanced to construct and owning commercial properties. In 2010 Kiggundu built Ham towers, acommercial tower opposite Makerere University main gate.
In 2015, he received a green light from President Yoweri Museveni to redevelop Nakivubo Stadium land now transformed into an ultra modern world class sports facility.
At 40 years, Ham owns swanky home located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kawuku, Bunga,
It was designed by American architects and property experts value it at Shs12.3 billion. It has 25 bedrooms including a 27ft61 master suite with bath tubs.
Ham’s house has a private swimming pool, gaming room with a pool table, football and table tennis table. There is also a private home cinema.
Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs
Ham advises youth to focus on hard work, because there is a big difference between money and wealth.
“People have been asking me, Ham you are a young man, how have you been able to accumulate this wealth over a short period of time. The only advice I have for Ugandans is that they should start looking at things from a realistic perspective. They should not operate on presumptions. You should be able to think and assess matters before you from a realistic perspective.” Ham stressed.
“Most Ugandans disregard the little money they have, they are looking for Shs100 million, Shs200 million, that’s why they are on streets as idlers, but I would advise Ugandans, please start respecting that little amount of money you have and look at it as capital. Any money can be used as capital provided you have proper reasoning and the right mindset.”he added.
Kiggundu has been doing business for 15 years.
“A rich person usually has large incomes, assets, large bank accounts but with a given level of uncertainty on sustainability of the riches. But wealthy people do not have this level of risk and money usually works for them whereas rich people work for money,” he said
