Mbarara Moves Into Its Next Growth Chapter As Knight Frank and NCBA Convene Redi Mbarara 2026

Mbarara is poised for a new era of economic and urban expansion, with significant opportunities emerging across various sectors including real estate, infrastructure, and industrial development. This outlook was presented at the REDi Mbarara 2026 - Ankole Real Estate & Infrastructure Conference, which convened government officials, investors, and business leaders to explore pathways for unlocking the city's growth potential.

The conference, convened by Knight Frank Uganda with NCBA Bank Uganda as a sponsor, also saw the launch of the Mbarara City Property Market Report 2026. This report assesses Mbarara's residential, retail, office, industrial, hospitality, and student accommodation markets. It concludes that the city has reached a crucial "formalisation inflection point," moving beyond a speculative frontier market to become an established income-generating market. The report emphasizes that the key question for investors is no longer if Mbarara will grow, but who will shape the property landscape of that growth.

Mbarara's growth is underpinned by a rapidly expanding population and improving infrastructure. The city's population reached 264,425 in 2024, growing by 32.8% over the previous decade, exceeding the national average. Its young demographic, with 71% of the population being children and young people, signals future demand for housing and student accommodation. Infrastructure developments, such as the arrival of River Kagera water and the completion of the Mbarara Northern Bypass, are further opening avenues for investment.

“

Mbarara is not a frontier bet. It is an under-analysed income market.