You own property in Uganda. You do not live here.
We manage property for Ugandans in the UK, the US, the Gulf and elsewhere. Rent collected, tenants handled, repairs done, and a written account every month so you are not relying on anyone remembering to tell you.
What usually goes wrong
We are not going to pretend these are rare. They are the three reasons people come to us.
You cannot see what is happening
You are told the property is fine. You have no way to check, and the person telling you has every reason to keep saying it.
The rent arrives late, or not at all
Money comes through in pieces, with no statement, and by the time you ask hard questions several months have gone.
Family and friends are doing you a favour
Which means you cannot chase them, cannot hold them to anything, and cannot complain when it slips. The relationship makes it worse, not better.
How it works when you are not here
- 1Send us the detailsLocation, type, and any documents you hold. A WhatsApp message is enough, and you never need to fly in to start.
- 2We inspect and reportWe visit the property and send you photographs and an honest assessment of its condition and realistic rent.
- 3We let it and manage itMarketing, viewings, tenant screening, the agreement, then rent collection and repairs.
- 4You get paid and toldRent to your account, and a written statement with photographs every month.
What you actually get
A written statement every month
What rent came in, what was spent, on what, and what is left. Sent whether or not there is anything to report.
Photographs as evidence
Inspections and repairs documented with pictures, so condition is something you can see rather than something you are told about.
A rent ledger you can audit
Every payment recorded against the date it arrived, so arrears show up immediately rather than at the end of a year.
One person who answers
WhatsApp, in your timezone as far as we can manage it. You should never have to wonder who to ask.
What it costs
Management fees depend on the property, the rent and how much handling it needs, so we quote per property rather than publishing one rate that would be wrong for most owners. You will have the figure in writing before anything begins, and we do not take a commission from repairs on top of it.
Rent and fees for diaspora owners are usually handled in USD. Where a tenant pays in shillings we show you both figures and the rate used, so nothing is hidden in the conversion.
Questions people ask from abroad
Can you manage my property if I have never met you?
Yes, and most of our diaspora clients started exactly that way. You are right to be cautious. Almost every Ugandan abroad has a story about a broker, family member or manager who took a deposit or a rent statement and quietly disappeared.
Three things are worth checking before you commit anything with any Ugandan property firm, us included. One: is there a legal entity registered in Uganda with named directors? We are Main Stop Services Limited, and our company registration is public. Two: is client money kept separate from operating money? We hold rent collections and any deposits paid through us in an accountable channel with monthly statements, not in a personal account that mixes with ours. Three: can you speak to two or three existing diaspora clients before you sign? We connect you to references in your continent or closest to your timezone before we take a management instruction.
We would suggest beginning with an inspection and a written report before you commit to anything longer term. It costs a small fee, you get a photographed and honest assessment of what the property is worth in rent or sale, and you judge us on that concrete piece of work before deciding whether to give us the management. If we get that first job wrong, you have lost a small amount and learned quickly. If we get it right, you have the start of a working relationship.
How does the rent reach me?
To your nominated account, on an agreed schedule, with a statement showing what was collected and what was deducted. We agree the currency and the method before we start.
Can I buy property in Uganda from abroad?
Yes. The search, the agreement and the transfer can all be handled with your advocate while you are outside the country. For land in particular, insist on an independent title search before any money moves.
How do I know the photographs are recent and real?
They are taken at inspection and sent with that month statement. If you ever want a specific room or angle checked, ask and we will go and photograph it.
What if I already have someone managing it?
That is common, and often the reason people call. We can carry out an independent inspection and tell you what we find, whether or not you move the management to us.
Do you work with owners who only visit once a year?
Most of our management clients are in exactly that position. The monthly statement exists so that a once a year visit holds no surprises.
Start with one honest inspection
Send us the location of the property. We will visit it, photograph it, and tell you plainly what we find and what it should be earning.