The launch of CJ’s Restaurant in Nairobi in 2018 marked a turning point for Kenya’s food service industry. Quickly becoming a household name, CJ’s traces its roots to Uganda, where businessman Ahmed Omar Mandela, also known as Hajji Omar Mandela, built a thriving empire across multiple industries.
Although Mandela had a degree in economics and worked as a banker, he eventually found success in the food business, showing that career paths can take unexpected turns.
Born in 1958 in Kampala, Uganda, Hajji Omar Mandela attended Makerere University, where he graduated with a degree in economics. He then pursued a career in his field and spent several years working as a banker after graduating. However, he had a strong inclination to entrepreneurship, leading him to leave the banking job.
In 1983, he took a bold step and established the Mandela Group of Companies, starting with a hardware store, which later expanded into tyre trading, car oils, and fuel stations. It was during this time that he discovered an untapped opportunity—providing food for his fuel station customers.
This marked his entry into the food service industry, prompting him to also establish a milling company to supply raw materials for the most popular cuisines at his restaurants.
This would then set the stage for a business empire that would later change the restaurant landscape in East Africa.
Omar launched Café Javas (CJs) under the Mandela Group of Companies, with an aim of improving hotel and restaurant operations in Uganda. The flagship restaurant was strategically located next to a City Oil petrol station, to provide a high-quality yet affordable dining experience to motorists, corporate workers, and middle-class customers frequenting the station.
The idea worked well, leading to the steady growth of Café Javas across Uganda. Today, it has nine branches—eight in Kampala and one in Entebbe. The restaurant became popular for its large portions, delicious food, and great service, drawing in both locals and visitors.
Following the success in Uganda, Mandela decided to expand his venture across borders with Kenya as his first destination.
However, breaking into the Kenyan market came with challenges as shortly after announcing plans to open in Nairobi, a court injunction blocked their entry.
The legal dispute was filed by Kenyan restaurant Java House, arguing that the name Café Javas would violate its trademark. As a result, Mandela had to rebrand the restaurant to CJ’s Restaurant before officially launching its first branch in Nairobi in April 2018.
Located at Koinange Street in Nairobi’s CBD, the urban eatery introduced a fresh, high-quality, and affordable dining experience that reshaped the Kenyan restaurant industry. The restaurant quickly gained popularity, becoming a go-to spot for professionals, families, and food enthusiasts.
Now with five locations, including the CBD branch, CJ’s offers an extensive menu of over 300 carefully curated dishes. Its other branches are located in Kilimani, The Waterfront Mall in Karen, Village Market, and Imaara Mall.
Beyond hospitality, Omar Mandela has built a business empire spanning multiple industries:
•Mandela Millers – A milling company supplying wheat and maize products for his restaurants.
•City Tyres – Uganda’s largest tyre manufacturing company.
•City Oil – A fuel and lubricants company with eight ultra-modern filling stations in Kampala.
•Mandela Auto Spares – The leading distributor of authentic automobile spare parts in Uganda.
•City World – A distributor of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sourced from top global brands.
With over 5,000 employees across different businesses, the Mandela Group of Companies is one of Uganda’s largest private sector employers and a key player in the region’s economy.
Aside from business, Omar Mandela is also a respected sports figure. In November 2021, he was elected President of Sports Club Villa (SC Villa), one of Uganda’s most successful football clubs.
The entrepreneur’s shift from banking to business is a testament to the power of limitless ambition. From owing a hardware to fuel station cafés and eventually the mega CJ’s restaurant chain, his keen eye for market gaps has transformed the food service industry in Kenya and beyond.
