The Pineapple Guest House Team
Gordon and Margaret Bell
We are dressed in traditional, formal Ugandan attire for the graduation party for Norah, Dennis, and Beatrice, three of Allen’s children.Gordon is wearing a kanzu and jacket and Margaret is dressed in a busuti.
We arrived in Africa in 1971 on a two-year contract and never left! Our first posting was to Kenya, where Corrie, our first daughter was born followed by a year in Tanzania, the birthplace of Iona, our second daughter. As a family we moved to Nigeria, followed by a posting back to Kenya before finally settling in Uganda in 1987. Throughout our time in Africa, we enjoyed welcoming family and friends to our various homes and hosting events for the Kampala Hash House Harriers running group and many Caledonian Society social dancing evenings. We love travelling and have visited many places in Africa, the Far East, and South America staying in many interesting types of accommodation. As owners of Pineapple Guest House, we have brought together all our travelling experiences to create a warm, welcoming, homely, friendly atmosphere for all our guests.
Allen Nagadya - Manager
Allen Nagadya was our housekeeper for twenty years and we always felt very fortunate to have such a pleasant and capable person looking after us and our home. We called it Kasisira, which means thatched house in Luganda. There is a watercolour painting of our former home hanging in the Pineapple sitting room. Many members of our family and friends know that Allen has the gift of welcoming and caring for people, making sure they are comfortable and well-fed. As the manager of Pineapple Guest House, Allen continues to develop her natural talent for hospitality. With calm, cheerful efficiency, she supervises all aspects of running the guest house and gardens, skilfully incorporating our fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs into her cooking. Allen says the best thing about being at Pineapple is being able to use and develop all her skills every day, especially designing menus and cooking meals for guests to enjoy.
Norah Nassozi - Deputy Manager
Norah Nassozi is our deputy manager and Allen’s elder daughter. As a graduate of Nkumba University, Entebbe, in Hotel and Tourism Management, Norah has been well-trained in looking after guests and ably assists Allen with the smooth running of Pineapple. As a secondary schoolgirl, Norah was selected as a member of a troupe of dancers, singers, and drummers to tour and perform in England so she has an appreciation of intercontinental travel and life in Britain as well as being an amazing dancer! Norah has a diploma in beauty therapy and is ready to give massage and beauty treatments to our guests. She enjoys all aspects of art and craft and says that being at Pineapple develops her creative side. while interacting with a wide variety of people has developed her self-confidence.
Derrick Ssemambo, night manager and driver.
Derrick Ssemambo is our night manager and driver and Allen’s second son. He is the face of Pineapple at Entebbe airport and his friendly manner helps to put guests at ease after their journey. If it is a night flight, he will register guests, show them to their rooms, ensure they are comfortable for the night, and often prepare their breakfast in the morning.
Depending on his work schedule, Derrick may be available to take guests to town or places of interest. Derrick taught computer studies at several international schools before joining us at Pineapple, so he is able to assist Norah with managing bookings, procurement, and guest relations.
Sharon Nantumbwe, Housekeeper
Sharon is our housekeeper and has been part of the Pineapple team for three years. Sharon is a daughter-in-law to Allen as she is married to Dennis, Allen’s firstborn son. She is a friendly, capable person with a great smile and seemingly inexhaustible energy. Dennis is an artist and he painted the mural in the beauty therapy room and designed and painted all our sign boards including the Welcome sign for the airport.
Sharon enjoys being at Pineapple as she is learning many new things and meeting new people from many countries. She feels happy when she knows the guests are relaxed and comfortable.
The subject she loved best at school was East African history. Now Allen is teaching her how to cook and she is developing her computer skills
Frank Galiwango, Housekeeper.
Frank joined the Pineapple team in 2022 to help with the laundry and then, in the kitchen showed aptitude and eagerness in helping to prepare meals. He moved out of the kitchen to learn how to prepare the bedrooms and is now a competent housekeeper. When Joseph the gardener was on leave, Frank took over, managing and enjoying that area too. A Frank of all trades!
Frank fits in well with our cheerful, friendly, helpful staff and has become part of our extended family. He says he likes being at Pineapple because he enjoys all his work, especially cooking in the kitchen and meeting the guests. He is adding to his skills by learning how to carry out maintenance and minor repairs to our equipment.
Paul Mukoome, Gardener
Paul has been with us for twelve years, since our time at Kasisira, our former home outside Kampala. As the new owners were not interested in the garden, we moved many plants to a nursery plot where Paul looked after them till we moved to Pineapple in 2016, and began renovating the houses and designing the garden.
Paul is a skilful gardener and looks after all the plants with great care. He also looks after the chickens and keeps the pool clean and fresh.
He likes working at Pineapple because he can support his family and he appreciates the cooperative atmosphere and teamwork among his colleagues. The thing he likes most is when guests are interested in the garden and ask him questions about the plants or the chickens.
Joseph Kamiza, Gardener
Joseph Kamiza has been part of the Pineapple team for five years. He joined us originally as a watchman for a security company and we appreciated his cheerful, reliable, and willing attitude so invited him to join our team as a watchman.
We now employ a security company at night, so Joseph stayed on with us a gardener.
Now Joseph helps Paul look after the garden, the pool, and the chickens. As he had a driving permit, he assists Derrick with driving duties. All our staff members at Pineapple are flexible, able to multitask, and encouraged to keep developing and learning new skills!
Flavia Namatovu, Housekeeper/Gardener
Flavia is our newest Pineapple team member. She completed a hairdressing course after O levels where her best subjects were English and Luganda.
Flavia enjoys the caring environment, learning new things and working everywhere in the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the garden. She says she enjoys all her jobs wherever they are! Flavia enjoys talking to the guests and feels happy when meeting new people.
