How Happy Mmila Built Ivyrose Luxury Apartments Into a Multi-Million Airbnb Business in Uganda

In this episode of CEO Insights Uganda, we talk to Happy Pascal Mmila, CEO of Ivyrose Luxury Apartments in Kololo. With 9 Airbnb apartments in the prestigious Kololo neighborhood, Happy has built an empire in Kampala’s most luxurious and competitive short-term rental markets. In this episode, Happy shares exactly how she started from 0 to 9 Airbnbs, how much money she makes, the key decisions that fueled her growth, and the lessons learned along the way. As a professional Airbnb coach and Superhost, Happy has helped countless hosts improve their listings, boost bookings, and navigate the challenges of short-term rental management. She knows what works because she’s done it herself, scaling from a humble start to a high-performing portfolio in record time. Whether you’re already hosting on Airbnb, planning to start, or simply curious about how the short-term rental business works in Uganda, this conversation is packed with insider tips, growth strategies, and inspiration for you. Happy also opens up about her next big moves — from expanding her Ivy Rose Luxury Apartments brand to building new training programs that empower other aspiring hosts. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn an Airbnb side hustle into a serious income stream, you won’t want to miss this episode. You can reach Happy directly via +256757533151. *Are you a Business Owner, Corporate Leader, or someone with a story others need to hear? We would love to feature you on our show! Contact us today via WhatsApp at +1 469 278 1138 or call +256 704 233 306.* *Episode Chapters* 00:00 Intro 04:30 How she went from 0 to 9 Airbnb apartments in Kololo 16:20 Why have an Airbnb in Kololo 18:35 How much money can someone earn from Airbnb in Kololo 28:00 What sets Ivyrose Luxury Apartments apart from other Airbnbs in Kololo 34:39 How easy it is to get an apartment to use for Airbnb in Kololo 43:10 Biggest mistakes that Airbnb hosts in Kampala make 58:52 On concerns of whether your Airbnb Manager can leave you to start their own business 1:09:02 On whether the customer care strategies she uses in Kololo can work in other areas of the country as well 1:13:00 How her Airbnb Masterclass works 1:29:30 On the impact of Brokers in the Airbnb industry 1:34:30 On the issue of privacy vs. hosts installing cameras in Airbnb apartments 1:43:43 On whether regular homeowners resist the establishment of Airbnbs in their neighborhoods? 1:52:05 On the tendency of hosts leaving bad reviews to sabotage competitors in the Airbnb industry 2:09:30 On empowering her friends 2:13:25 What she would do differently if she were to start all over again 2:15:25 Hacks that she uses to ensure her listings are high on the Airbnb app 2:25:50 Airbnb vs Rentals, which is better? 2:47:20 On staffing 3:10:15 Legacy she wants to leave behind *Enjoyed the show? Leave us a quick Google Review by clicking this link: https://g.page/r/CafSlD2tp1QZEAI/review.* CEO Insights Uganda with Herbert Rwabugahya is Uganda's number one business podcast. As the most watched and fastest growing Ugandan podcast, it continues to dominate the charts across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every major streaming platform. Consistently ranked as the best podcast in Uganda, CEO Insights Uganda brings the country’s vibrant business and leadership landscape to life through powerful storytelling, raw success stories, and real-life insights that inspire action. At its core, CEO Insights Uganda is not just a podcast—it is the voice of Uganda’s transformation. Each week, host Herbert Rwabugahya engages in compelling, unfiltered conversations with Uganda’s most influential CEOs, startup founders, policymakers, investors, creatives, and visionaries. These are not scripted interviews; they are immersive dialogues that peel back the curtain on the innovations, failures, comebacks, leadership decisions, and strategic pivots that are shaping Uganda’s future. From Kampala to Gulu, from the diaspora to the boardroom, CEO Insights Uganda stands unmatched as Uganda’s number one business podcast for meaningful, relevant, and motivational content. Whether you’re searching for a “Uganda podcast,” “top Ugandan podcast on YouTube,” “Kampala business podcasts,” “East African entrepreneurship podcast,” or “CEO interviews Uganda,” this is the show that consistently delivers. If you’ve ever looked up content like the Lynn Ngugi Show, The Diary of a CEO podcast, The Ugandan Boy Talk Show, or wanted to know how to start a business in Uganda, you’ve now found your ultimate destination. CEO Insights Uganda is where Uganda’s best ideas meet Uganda’s brightest minds, creating a platform that educates, challenges, and empowers its listeners in every episode.