For years, it thrived in the shadows of warnings, police summons, and public whispers. Now, authorities say its time is up.
The government, through the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, has resolved to shut down New Best Hotel in Busega, a facility long accused of fueling commercial sex activity in Kampala.
The decision follows what officials describe as persistent violations, including the alleged involvement of minors and organized sex trade operations.
Located along the busy Busega–Nateete road in Rubaga Division, the hotel has become synonymous with Kampala’s underground nightlife economy.
By nightfall, it reportedly transforms into a sprawling hub of activity, drawing in large crowds, sometimes up to 2,000 people, across its ordinary, VIP, and VVIP sections.
A Nightlife Hub or a Crime Scene?
According to officials, the establishment has gone beyond being just a nightlife venue. It is accused of engineering an environment that actively promotes transactional sex, with events and themed nights designed to attract clientele seeking such services.
One such event, commonly referred to as “wheelbarrow night,” has repeatedly drawn scrutiny for allegedly encouraging explicit behavior and attracting vulnerable young people, including those below the age of 18.
Authorities claim the hotel has, over time, developed “innovative” ways of sustaining the trade, effectively turning the premises into a marketplace for sex work within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Government Cracks Down
The move to close the hotel comes shortly after the government intensified its campaign against pornography and moral violations, including the recent blocking of hundreds of explicit websites across Uganda.
At a press briefing, Annette Kezaabu, Chairperson of the Committee on Ethics and Integrity, said the hotel had repeatedly ignored warnings and failed to reform.
“We have invited him on several occasions,” she said, referring to the proprietor. “At one point, he even cried and promised to stop. But instead, the activities escalated.”
Kezaabu revealed that the Directorate had temporarily slowed enforcement due to regulatory constraints, but operations have since resumed with renewed urgency.
“This is just the beginning,” she added. “New Best Hotel is not alone. There are many other hubs of pornography operating openly—even in private homes. We are conducting inspections and will act accordingly.”
The Man Behind the Business
The hotel is owned by businessman Wilberforce Sseryazi, who has previously been summoned by police over similar allegations dating back to 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Despite multiple engagements with law enforcement, officials say there has been little to no compliance.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Sseryazi were unsuccessful by press time.
Legal and Social Implications
Uganda maintains strict laws against the sexual exploitation of minors and the promotion of pornography. Authorities argue that establishments found complicit in such activities risk closure, prosecution, and asset forfeiture.
Child protection advocates warn that venues like New Best Hotel not only exploit vulnerable populations but also contribute to broader social challenges, including human trafficking, substance abuse, and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Kezaabu also called upon journalists and the wider public to amplify the issue, emphasizing the role of media in shaping accountability.
“If you give this the attention it deserves, many things will change,” she urged. “We have the reports. We know where these activities are happening. Now we must act.”
While no exact date has been announced, officials confirm that the closure process is imminent. Enforcement agencies are expected to move in, potentially sealing off the premises and launching further investigations into the network behind the operations.
For many residents of Rubaga Division, the anticipated shutdown signals a turning point—one that could redefine the boundaries between entertainment, legality, and morality in Uganda’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.
