As part of World Environment Day, Akhilesh Malik, General Manager of Speke Resort and Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo, has explained how Uganda’s largest and one of its most luxurious hospitality destinations has put sustainability at the heart of every guest experience.
Speke Resort and Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo sits on the shores of Lake Victoria and offers premium accommodation including Presidential Suites, Presidential Cottages, Executive Rooms and Superior Rooms. Each room features spacious interiors and views of the lake or the resort’s tropical gardens.
For the past two decades, the resort has invested heavily in sustainability.
“We value our natural resources and always consider sustainability at every touch point in our operations,” Malik said.
Sourcing food locally and organically
Speke Resort is considered a pioneer in sustainable tourism. “A great deal of consideration goes into our procurement procedures,” Malik explained.
All food is sourced from local suppliers. Menus are designed around ingredients that are readily available in Uganda, avoiding imports. That cuts down carbon emissions from transport.
“Fruits and vegetables are purely organic and grown without pesticides or fertilisers,” he added.
Using local materials for refurbishments
Sustainability also guides how the resort maintains its nearly 500 guest rooms.
“We recently carried out major refurbishments with special consideration for locally sourced materials wherever possible,” Malik said.
“This reduces demand for imports and has a direct positive impact on cutting carbon emissions.” Even movement around the property is cleaner. “The use of battery-powered golf carts within our emission-free zones helps us reduce carbon emissions within the resort,” he noted.
Saving water and energy
Water conservation measures include automated irrigation systems with sensors that switch off during the rainy season, water-efficient taps, and dishwashers and laundry machines that use less water.
For energy, the resort relies on solar-powered lights in all outdoor areas and solar-powered water heaters in every guest room. LED bulbs and strips are used throughout, and guest rooms have energy-saving key cards that cut power when you leave.
“All waterfalls in the gardens run on automated timers, and standby generator sets are synchronised across the resort to avoid waste,” Malik said.
“Speke Resort Munyonyo remains committed to sustainable tourism,” Malik said. “Despite the huge initial investment, these measures have proven beneficial for the environment and align with our commitment and motto of sustainable tourism.”
