Pearl Marina Estates, sited on the Garuga Peninsula, Lake Victoria in Entebbe, is an ambitious mixed-use development which developer, Centum Real Estate, says represents “a monumental leap forward for Uganda’s real estate sector.”

The project, covering nearly 400 acres, is being created with more than 3 km of lakefront views and is located 22 km from Entebbe International Airport and 32 km from Kampala. 

The sleek masterplan shows a wide variety of residential types, a marina, and ample peripheral service buildings, all curving around the peninsula. 

When finished, the Marina will encompass a variety of housing options from around $34,000 dollars for a studio  through three-bedroom bungalows at $280,000 to $330,000 for four-bedroom villas with a maid’s room. Everything is to be integrated into recreational, social and retail facilities. 

Residents will have access to such facilities as, landscaped gardens, swimming pools, clubhouse, a beach, the lakeside boardwalk and beach club within the Pearl Marina Estate.

“Our vision is to craft a sustainable city that allures both residents and businesses,” says Raphael Nyamai, the General Manager of Centum Real Estate. 

The company is a subsidiary of East Africa’s largest publicly listed investment company and the region’s biggest developer of housing and commercial projects.

Phase 1 of Pearl Marina was completed this year (2023), bringing 400 housing units and vital infrastructure components onstream on an investment of $50 million.

Centum is making plans for everything Pearl Marina residents need for contemporary living without leaving the shorefront community. 

The vision will be continued in Phase 2, for which it is seeking strategic investment in services. It emphasises Uganda’s steady economic growth and opportunity for investors wanting to benefit from government investment in the oil and gas industry. 

“We welcome investors captivated by residential properties, ranging from cosy one-bedroom units to spacious villas,” says Nyamai. “Additionally, we invite investments for office spaces, shopping centres, hotels, resorts, and logistics and warehousing zones. For those keen on crafting their dream homes, we offer residential plots within the master plan’s guidelines.”

Centum reserved more than 100 acres for an investment park to include light industry, dry warehousing, cold storage, a logistics hub as well as a business park. 

Between 3-5 acres are set aside for a phased shopping centre for essential services and to provide employment. 

In the longer term, Centum also has space for a 250-bed hospital and is in discussion with an international hospital operator which may want to build services to accommodate medical tourism such as neurology, renal and cardiovascular sciences. 

Meanwhile, a further 3-5 acres are reserved for a five-star hotel and school. The nearest comparable private teaching institution is some 20km away. 

Nyamai states, “The Pearl Marina Project signifies a monumental leap forward for Uganda’s real estate sector. It embraces a comprehensive approach to urban development, harmoniously blending residential and commercial zones within the masterplan.”

The impact of this project on the surrounding community has already been profound. Since its inception, the Pearl Marina Project has propelled a surge in property values, transforming the Garuga area into one of the most coveted residential suburbs in the bustling Kampala Metropolitan region.

“Pearl Marina has also emerged as a major employment hub, drawing over 90% of construction workers from the local neighbourhood,” Nyamai says. “At the peak of Phase One construction, more than 1,200 workers were directly or indirectly involved, engaged through contractors and subcontractors.”

Phase Two will have an even greater impact on local employment opportunities, the developer says.

In summary, according to Nyamai, Pearl Marina Estates attempts to transcend the conventional realm of real estate projects. 

“Pearl Marina is not just a real estate project; it’s a visionary lifestyle concept, a unique development in Uganda, promising to redefine urban living, foster sustainable growth, and enrich the lives of both residents and the wider community.”