Yasser K. Ahmed, the man behind some of Uganda’s most popular household brands, has bought Lugogo Mall — one of Kampala’s biggest shopping centres.
The mall, home to outlets like Carrefour and China Town, has now been rebranded as YK Lugogo Mall, after the new owner.
Ahmed is the co-founder and chairman of Harriss International, the company behind Riham soda, Rock Boom energy drink, Krystal bottled water and Oner juice. He’s also the driving force behind Biplous, a large local furniture manufacturer.
He holds the post of Honorary Consul of Lebanon in Uganda.
This isn’t just another commercial purchase. The mall, previously home to Shoprite and Game — both of which have since exited the Ugandan market — now represents a new chapter for the Lebanese-born businessman who has lived and invested in Uganda for years.
In 2005, he co-founded Harriss International in Tula, Kawempe, with partners Chadi K. Ahmad and Mr. Izzat. It’s grown into one of Uganda’s largest fast-moving consumer goods companies.
In a 2019 interview with Africa Outlook Magazine, Ahmed spoke about how it all started:
“Coming from a biscuit background in Tanzania, I came to Uganda with a dream of promoting the brand name Riham that has been owned by my brother under Riham Industries since 1995.”
The story of Harriss International took a new turn in 2020 when Oppenheimer Partners — a global investment firm with South African roots — acquired a controlling stake. The Oppenheimer family, known for their wealth and long-standing ties to the mining industry, saw potential in the business and backed it.
Now, with the purchase of Lugogo Mall, Ahmed’s business footprint grows even larger.
