Grand Imperial Hotel

Hotels
6.2 (14 reviews)
Plot 6 Nile Avenue , Kampala , ug

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Kind staff
Nice spacious rooms
Cons:
Swimming pool not operational
Needs maintenance

Categories

Cleanliness
4.6
The place could do with some maintenance.
Service
7.57
Kind staff.
Location
8.6
Great location.
Room Quality
7.56
Nice spacious rooms.
Amenities
4.59
The swimming pool is not operational.
Value for Money
5.55
Average for the amenities offered.
Food and Beverage
5.6
Not mentioned, assumed average for this hotel tier.
Overall Experience
5.57
Combined sentiments from other categories.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 20:03

Property Description

Historic Charm in Central Location
Located in colonial Kampala's Central Business District, Grand Imperial Hotel offers a blend of history and modern amenities. Each air-conditioned room features an electronic safe, TV, and private bathroom. Enjoy dining at Didi's Dining Room or savor a buffet at Coffee Terrace overlooking Kampala's hills. Unwind at the Copper Bar or take a dip in the outdoor pool. With shops on-site and car rental assistance available, convenience is key. Explore nearby landmarks like the Independence Monument and Uganda Golf Club. For a memorable stay in Kampala, book your room at Grand Imperial Hotel today.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: EBB

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children from 2 years old to 11 years old stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    People 12 years old and over stay for US$30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

6.2
Based on 14 reviews
Cleanliness: 4.6
Service: 7.57
Location: 8.6
Room Quality: 7.56
Amenities: 4.59
Value for Money: 5.55
Food and Beverage: 5.6
Overall Experience: 5.57
O
ogechi extended_group ke
8
2025-11-19 via Nuitee
S
Sjon solo_traveller nl
8
Great if you want to be downtown
Pros:

Great locatie, nice spacious rooms, kind staff.

Cons:

The swimming pool is not operational and the place could do with some maintenance

2025-11-14 via Nuitee
N
Nino Manuel solo_traveller es
10
2025-10-26 via Nuitee
A
Andrew
2
Pros:

Room lock was broken, towels are stained and torn, only hot water worked on the bathroom sink. If you’re visiting from outside Uganda, I’d only recommend it for convenience at a low price. Otherwise there are better options. The service is good. I made my complaints to the receptionist and they fixed what they could.

2025-01-18 via Nuitee
T
Thomas
8
Pros:

The location of this hotel is great to walk around downtown Kampala. A little dated but the staff are always great and very helpful and friendly!

2024-11-25 via Nuitee
B
BENNY
6
Pros:

Property is big but not renovated.

Rooms have old A.C., old tubs, old beds, old mattress.

2023-02-27 via Nuitee
V
Verified traveler
6
Antique in the centre.
Pros:

Hotel is big but old style, best is location. Rooms and surroundings from other times for those that like antique.

2020-12-24 via Nuitee
P
Per
4
A rat in the restaurant
Pros:

Average hotel. Typically Africa. Medium clean. Half of everything out of order. Old hotel. Noisy. In town. Much pollution.

2018-07-26 via Nuitee
V
Verified traveler
8
Stay at Grand Imperial, Kampala
Pros:

It was alright. The hygiene of the bath room was ok and the replacement of soap etc could be better

2018-03-31 via Nuitee
S
Steve
2
Friendly staff who tried to correct faults I made
Pros:

Booked this hotel for its gym facility.
When I asked for the gym they just said not available! When I told them I booked the hotel as it advertised a gym they just said sorry and shrugged their shoulders.

2017-11-07 via Nuitee
S
Samir
8
good hotel
Pros:

good hotel

2017-10-13 via Nuitee
T
Tom
8
Great Friendly Staff and Wonderful Location
Pros:

The staff were attentive and friendly for my short stay. The location was perfect in downtown Kampala. The breakfast was good and standard and the rooms large and comfortable. I didn't notice much noise from outside and the bathroom water was hot and the water pressure was great.

2017-10-06 via Nuitee
J
Jennifer
10
Pros:

The staff at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala are both professional, kind, and helpful, whether work for housekeeping, in the dining room, reception, or management. I was able to get some R & R after roughing it in the interior, at a very reasonable price, with good food, a comfortable room, space to read and write, and special touches when I asked, like a water kettle for instant coffee in the room.

2017-06-24 via Nuitee
H
Hassan
6
The hotel is situated centrally in Kampala
Pros:

Staff are dedicated, prompt in their response and friendly in spite of the difficult working conditions. They make one feel welcome. The menu, especially breakfast needs refreshing and the chef should be more creative. During my 10-day stay we were repeatedly served beans, shallow or deep-fried dry chicken, porridge, potatoes and what would pass for an omelette/scrambled egg. Twice or thrice we were severed "katogo" = boiled matooke with tomatoes/peanut sauce. The toaster broke down on a number of occasions. In my opinion management should do some homework in order to bring the hotel´s menu to an acceptable international standard.
Because of its position and being housed in an old building from the 1920s (?) the hotel should benefit from a total renovation with better sound isolation/proofing as well as making it accessible and friendly for the functionally disabled customers. I had to change rooms due to a leakage through the electric wiring system in the bathroom and I was informed that something similar had occurred in another room two days earlier. Hence the urgent need for renovation. Warm water trickles through the taps and it takes ages to have a decent "shower". Make sure you take or buy your own electric adapter as they are scarce although a front desk manager secured one for me on request and she was kind enough to provide me with a miniature mini-bar. Wi-fi is extremely slow and unsecured! Parking space is limited. AC is perfect and a welcome relief.

2017-03-11 via Nuitee