What began as his great-grandfather’s home in the 1920s is now one of Kampala’s most iconic hotels. At Fairway, Azhar Jaffer combines family legacy, loyalty, and a love for Uganda’s culture to create hospitality with a heart.
Azhar Jaffer does not introduce himself with titles. He begins with temperament, describing himself as friendly, kind, open-minded, and creative. It is an unassuming start for a man at the centre of Uganda’s hospitality conversation; a hotelier, a board member of the Uganda Tourism Association (UTA), and custodian of one of Kampala’s most storied hotels.
‘I wear many hats,’ he laughs. ‘I am a husband. I am a leader. I sit on various boards. I always try to give back.’ To Jaffer, leadership is about creating a wider circle of influence.
‘It is not just about making money; it is also about giving back to society and transferring skills. If you know something, it is essential to share it.’ This instinct resonates throughout Fairway Hotel, where a sense of history lingers.
From family home to iconic hotel
The structure dates back to the 1920s, once serving as his great-grandfather’s home. As the family grew, the house expanded. In 1969, Jaffer’s grandfather, Sherali Bandali Jaffer, converted it into a hotel to host Uganda’s first papal visit. Cardinals and clergy filled the rooms, and when the Pope departed, the name remained.
His Highness the Aga Khan’s brother, Prince Amyn Muhammed Aga Khan, suggested the name Fairway Hotel, inspired by the golf course across the road. Today, the property spans four acres, with 100 rooms, nine conference halls, and two restaurants. It is eco-designed, with gardens inside and around the edges, and cats wander freely through the grounds.
‘We say we are your home away from home,’ Jaffer explains, ‘and that is what we genuinely aim to create.’
Loyalty and leadership at the core
Some staff members have been with the hotel for more than two decades. They watched Jaffer grow up, and he has seen them raise their families. This loyalty is no accident.
‘An organisation has a heart. When you provide job security, give people a voice, and involve them in decision-making, they feel at home,’ he asserts. He emphasises that three groups must be served equally for a business to thrive: the paying guest, the supplier, and the staff. ‘If you fail at one, you cannot grow.’
In a neighbourhood crowded with new hotels, this philosophy is tested daily. Talent is often poached, and promises elsewhere can lure away staff. ‘Developing a resource takes time. When someone comes and poaches an individual you have nurtured from trainee to leader, it is like stealing an asset,’ Jaffer observes.
Stability over spectacle
He trusts stability over spectacle. Many newcomers promise high salaries but fail to pay them. Fairway, on the other hand, always pays on time. “People would rather stay somewhere stable than jump into the unknown.”
The competition sharpens the focus on experience. ‘People do not come just for a bed and food; they come for fast internet, good service, safety, and comfort, essentially, a feeling of being at home.’
Fairway’s motto, Defining Uganda’s Hospitality, is not just bravado; online reviews rank it among the country’s most trusted accommodations. ‘Just like I have staff who have been here for 20 years, I have customers who have chosen to stay with us for just as long,’ says Jaffer.
Influence beyond the hotel
Outside the hotel, Jaffer’s influence extends into policy-making. As a UTA board representative, he advocates for a sector that is among the country’s largest employers and taxpayers. ‘Without hotels, you cannot have tourism,’ he emphasises. UTA negotiates policies, shapes marketing strategies, and aligns various interests from tour guides to women in tourism.
His vision is straightforward: attract more visitors who leave with stories worth sharing. ‘It showcases our culture. When visitors interact with Ugandans, it exposes both sides. That exchange is important.’ While welcoming mega-events and sports tourism, he stresses diversification. ‘We should not just promote gorillas and wildlife; Uganda has mountains, biking trails, and active tourism opportunities that matter.’
Connecting guests to the country
Jaffer is candid about gaps in cities. Kampala needs more curated cultural experiences, places that people will remember and photograph. Until that happens, hotels must act as connectors, encouraging extended stays in Entebbe, Jinja, and upcountry parks.
‘Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) are significant, but conferences need additional activities. People should come for four days and add two nights to explore Fort Portal and the rest of the country,’ he explains.
In addition to Fairway, he oversees Coco Beach in Entebbe and Sambiya River Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.
Leadership, virtues, and resilience
Running multiple ventures does not feel like a burden. ‘If you enjoy what you do, it does not feel like work,’ he says. Challenges persist; talent shortages, need for exposure, but he remains optimistic about a new generation returning with global experience.
When discussing leadership, Jaffer lists virtues rather than tactics: integrity, honesty, people-first thinking, flexibility, collaboration, and humility. During Covid-19, these values were tested. Fairway survived because decisions were made collectively. ‘It was not just me in an office making orders; we sat down together.’ He prefers being a leader over a boss. ‘When you lead, people want to follow you. When you are a boss, they feel obligated to.’ While authority is sometimes necessary, flexibility goes further.
Beyond work
Many guests are unaware he owns the hotel. “That is sometimes a good thing,” he smiles. Outside work, he seeks privacy in quiet corners of Entebbe, on beaches, or with a book.
Rest also means spending time with the community; dining at friends’ homes or Kampala’s restaurants. He believes culinary arts deserve greater national investment. ‘Chefs are well compensated, and their skills are transferable anywhere.’
On policy matters, he is honest. Collaboration has improved, but taxes remain high. ‘Hotels endure too many taxes and licenses. Simplifying this system would promote growth, especially for local investors.’
Sustainability is where his commitment deepens. Solar panels provide hot water at Fairway, while a full solar plant powers his lodge in Murchison. Food waste is minimised; unused food is donated or shared.
‘The Uganda I remember had clean air. Now there is smog.’ Through initiatives such as Keep Uganda Green and school partnerships, he promotes environmental education but calls for national action.
Family, mentors, legacy
Family comes first: a grandfather who exemplified integrity, a grandmother dedicated to social work, a kind father, and a mother who emphasised education.
Jaffer has three degrees and plans to pursue more. Beyond family, he values the guidance of aunties, uncles, and staff who leave to start businesses. ‘That is amazing. It is wonderful to see them leave to create something better.’
Ultimately, Jaffer’s story is about more than buildings; it is about belonging, valuing people as partners and preserving history because it is something we all share.