Masindi Hotel is Ugandas' oldest hotel having been built in 1923 by The East Africa Railways and Harbours Company. Masindi was the gateway to the hinterland of Africa where goods and produce from the Northern Congo and Southern Sudan found their way to European markets. Cargo was shipped across Lake Albert, trucked from Butiaba up to Masindi Customs Sheds. From Masindi, goods were trucked on to Masindi Port on Lake Kyoga where it was shipped down to Soroti and then by railway to Mombasa.
Coach at Masindi Hotel circa 1956 Masindi Port in colonial times
The
hotel has been host to several famous visitors. Ernest Hemmingway's
made a legendary trip to the district, where he was involved in two
plane crashes in the space of a week. The first at Murchison Falls and
the second at Butiaba airstrip. Hemmingway stayed at Masindi Hotel
whilst recovering. Humphrey Bogart and Catherine Hepburn stayed at
Masindi Hotel during the filming of "African Queen" at Masindi Port.
Pictured is of Ernest Hemmingway on Safari, and later recovering in from his the second plane crash.
Masindi
Hotel was taken over by the Government after independence, and remained
a part of the Uganda Hotel chain for nearly 30 years. In the year 2000
Masindi Hotel was privatised and has undergone major renovations in the
hands of the current owners who have re created much of its former
charm.
