Uganda’s property pioneer

Moses Lutalo a chartered property surveyor with RICS is the Managing Director of BROLL Uganda Limited. Broll Uganda is part of BROLL Property Group Pty. He shares his journey from university student to industry leader, building one of Uganda’s top real estate services firm. Lutalo discusses the importance of local knowledge, nurturing Ugandan talent, and implementing international standards while adapting to the local market. He highlights the company’s growth, commitment to professionalism, and vision for the future, aiming to open the property sector to new generations and leave a lasting impact.
 
Q: Moses, could you tell us about your background and how you entered the property industry?
I am the Managing Director of BROLL Uganda Limited, part of the BROLL Property Group Pty —a proudly South African business with a presence in 14 African countries. My journey in the industry began 19 years ago while I was still at university. I studied urban planning at Makerere University, the largest public university in Uganda and one of the most prominent in East Africa. During my studies, I accepted a job at a construction company, working evenings. After graduating, I transitioned into property and facilities management and haven’t looked back since.
 
Over the years, I have worked as  a property and facilities manager starting out at knight Frank, a real estate analyst with National Social Security Fund pension fund, as a country property manager for UAP Old Mutual Properties, and for Knight Frank as the Portfolio Manager commercial and residential properties for three years. Eventually, I was head hunted by BROLL Property Group to  establish and set up their operations in Uganda. I have developed the business to offer full services for the past eight years, aligning our objectives with the broader vision of the BROLL Property Group across Africa.
 
Q: How does your operation in Uganda align with BROLL’s South African, family-owned philosophy? To whom do you report?
Our headquarters is based in Sandton, South Africa, and is overseen by Group CEO Malcolm Horne. Furthermore, Inge Wessels  is the Head of Africa (excluding South Africa), and all country MDs, including myself, report to her. This organisational structure promotes alignment with the group’s values and standards.
 
One reason I was attracted to BROLL is its company culture. I vividly remember my first meeting with Malcolm; we were touring a commercial property when he picked up some litter and disposed of it in a bin. His humility, coming from the top of the organisation, assured me I was in the right place. The support from our team has been crucial to our growth—we’ve progressed from a small group of employees in 2017, when I was employee 001, to over 80 today, providing a comprehensive range of property services ranging from property management, Retail Management, facilities management, Broking, Corporate Real Estate Services, Valuation and advisory services.
 
Q: How important is local knowledge to your business, especially when implementing international standards?
Local knowledge is essential. Our business is based on relationships and trust, and much of our work comes through referrals. My experience working with various organisations, such as pension funds, Government parastatals, Multi nationals  and property management firms, has enabled me to build a strong local and international network. I am also actively involved with local professional association bodies and frequently deliver presentations and lectures. This networking enhances our brand’s profile and ensures that people know who to turn to for reliable services.
 
We have been intentional about growing the business incrementally beginning with occupier services, then expanding into property management, facilities management, valuations, and most recently, retail management. Our market is smaller than that of South Africa, so we have been cautious not to overextend ourselves.
 
Q: What about your team? Are you developing local talent or bringing in expertise from outside?
Importantly, all our staff are Ugandan—no expatriates are on our team. We have a dynamic, youthful workforce that is dedicated to nurturing and empowering one another. Around 70% of our employees joined us from different companies, and we’ve experienced almost no staff turnover since our inception. While we adopt best practices from South Africa and occasionally consult external experts for specific projects, our core team remains entirely local.
 
We also maintain strong connections with local universities. Until around 2008, Uganda lacked a dedicated real estate degree programme; however, we now have graduates with specialised training in land economics, property management, and related fields. We actively recruit from these programmes and support our staff in pursuing professional qualifications, such as becoming chartered surveyors.
 
Q: Are you involved in promoting the property sector as a career path at the secondary school level?
This is an area in which we are starting to improve. When I was at school, I didn’t know about careers in property—I wanted to be an architect but ended up in urban planning. Now, we are collaborating with universities and beginning to reach out to secondary schools to provide career guidance. Although it is still early days, we recognise the importance of exposing young people to the opportunities available in our industry.
 
Q: How do you see the future of the property sector in Uganda?
The future is bright. We are dominating the market and we have over the years won awards for best real estate company, and although competition has increased, I believe there is room for many players. Our focus is on professionalism and collaboration—there is no need for hostility. We want to leave the industry in a better state than we found it, creating opportunities for the next generation. When I started, property managers were sometimes seen as “debt collectors,” but today, the industry is respected, and there are numerous career paths available.
 
Q: Any final thoughts?
Consistency, humility, and empowering our teams have been key to our success. We’re intentional about supporting the industry’s growth and ensuring that property professionals in Uganda have the necessary skills and opportunities.