Guoji Group Company (U) Limited Guoji Dream Town
It was an absolute pleasure to host students from Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Headed by their Team Leader Mr. Kitulazi Godfrey for a Graduate Tour Program at the Mirembe Villas Kigo site, an experience designed to bridge academic theory with practical, real-world insight into Uganda’s real estate sector.
As the Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager at Mirembe Villas Kigo, I had the opportunity to work closely with our project team to deliver an immersive learning experience that highlighted key aspects of the property development lifecycle, specifically focusing on project overview and design, property management, and construction operations.
Our project team included, the Assistants to the MD Ms. Phoebe Chen, and Mr. Derrick Musasizi, and the Assistant Administrator, Mr. Lincoln Kayongo. Thank you for your immense support.
The tour began with a detailed presentation on the overview of Mirembe Villas, headed by our Senior property consultant Mr. Charles Okongo, offering students a look at how the Mirembe villas residential project was designed off the masterplan, conceptualized and brought to life. From developing partnerships with the Buganda Kingdom, designing different house types to market positioning and financing models, students gained a real-time understanding of what it takes to plan and launch a successful residential gated community.
Furthermore, the students were guided into the viewing of the different house types from the bungalows, to the villas and finally the Apartments and they appreciated the general look of the different house types.
We then transitioned into a discussion on property management, which was headed by Property Managers Mr. Hebert Kakeeko and Mr. Emmanuel Kagabo, where they explored the operational dynamics of managing high-value residential estates. Topics included client engagement, Estate maintenance, service delivery for example; garbage collection, security etc, and Resident satisfaction through good customer care and effective feedback which are all essential skills for future professionals in real estate and business development.
The final segment focused on the construction process, Headed by our Chief Architect Mr.Trevor Kirunda and I, where students toured ongoing works, in the Mirembe rise Kigo where they viewed on going bungalow and apartment construction and infrastructural works and observed firsthand the critical role of the site engineering team, how construction inventory plus machinery is managed and other aspects to deliver a high end gated community.
As an alumna and proud representative of the real estate industry, I was inspired by the curiosity, engagement, and professionalism shown by the MUBS students throughout the tour. This initiative not only aligns with our commitment to fostering academic-industry collaboration, but also highlights the importance of experiential learning in preparing students for Uganda’s dynamic real estate market.
To the MUBS students, keep engaging, exploring, and dreaming big. The future of our country lies in your hands, and I hope this experience at Mirembe Villas serves as a stepping stone toward your professional journeys.