Shakila Rahim Lamar Net Worth

Shakila Rahim Lamar

Shakila Rahim Lamar is a distinguished business executive, investor, and entrepreneurial leader from Uganda, widely recognized for transforming the East African agribusiness and logistics sectors. As the founder and CEO of Lamar Holdings Group, she has built a multi-sector enterprise that spans sustainable agriculture, warehousing, and transport logistics, creating thousands of jobs for Ugandans. Her innovative approach to integrating smallholder farmers into formal supply chains has earned her numerous accolades, including the Uganda National Entrepreneurship Award for Agribusiness (2021). Lamar’s work exemplifies how strategic leadership can drive economic growth in emerging markets, making her a pivotal figure in Uganda’s Business & Economics landscape.

Early Life & Education

Born in 1983 in Kampala, Uganda, Shakila Rahim Lamar grew up in a family that valued commerce and education. Her father, a small-scale trader, and her mother, a schoolteacher, instilled in her a strong work ethic and a belief in the power of learning. Lamar attended Kampala International School for her primary and secondary education, where she excelled in mathematics and business studies.

She then pursued a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance at Makerere University, graduating with honors in 2005. During her university years, she interned with the Uganda Investment Authority, where she first encountered the challenges facing local entrepreneurs. This experience sparked her interest in creating scalable business models that could address systemic inefficiencies in Uganda’s agricultural markets.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Lamar earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cape Town in 2008, specializing in strategic management and supply chain optimization. Her academic research focused on “Women-led SMEs in East Africa: Barriers and Opportunities,” a topic that would later inform her philanthropic work. A formative moment came during a field study in rural Gulu, where she witnessed post-harvest losses of up to 40% due to lack of storage infrastructure. This experience solidified her commitment to building logistics solutions for smallholder farmers.

Career & Major Achievements

Early Career (2008–2012)

Upon returning to Uganda, Shakila Rahim Lamar joined Equity Bank Uganda as a relationship manager for agribusiness clients. In two years, she grew the bank’s agricultural loan portfolio by 150%, earning a promotion to head of the SME lending division. However, she felt constrained by the banking environment and aspired to create direct impact.

Founding Lamar Holdings Group (2012)

In 2012, Lamar pooled her savings and a small business loan to launch Lamar Holdings Group, initially a single warehouse in Mukono District. The company provided storage and market access for maize, beans, and coffee farmers. Within three years, she expanded to five warehouses, serving over 2,000 farmers. A breakthrough came in 2015 when she secured a partnership with the World Food Programme to supply fortified maize flour for school feeding programs. This contract required stringent quality control, prompting Lamar to invest in solar-powered drying systems and a mobile app for real-time inventory tracking.

Scaling and Diversification (2016–2020)

By 2018, Shakila Rahim Lamar had diversified into logistics, launching Lamar Transport Services with a fleet of 30 trucks. The company specialized in cold-chain transport for perishable goods, helping Ugandan fish and flower exporters reduce spoilage. In 2019, she established the Lamar Agribusiness Training Institute, which has trained over 1,500 smallholder farmers in sustainable farming practices and financial literacy.

Her most significant achievement came in 2020 when she brokered a landmark deal with Jumia Uganda to integrate local farmers into the e-commerce platform. This initiative enabled farmers to sell directly to urban consumers, increasing their incomes by an average of 35%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamar pivoted her warehouses to serve as distribution hubs for emergency food relief, reaching 50,000 households.

Recent Ventures (2021–Present)

In 2021, Lamar launched Lamar GreenTech, a subsidiary focused on renewable energy solutions for rural enterprises. The company installs solar irrigation systems and biogas digesters, reducing reliance on diesel. She also co-founded the Uganda Women in Business Network, which has mentored over 200 female entrepreneurs. In 2023, she was appointed to the board of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she advocates for data-driven trade policies.

Lamar’s impact on Uganda’s Business & Economics ecosystem is measurable: her enterprises have created 1,200 direct jobs and supported 8,000 indirect livelihoods. She has been featured in Forbes Africa as one of “30 Women to Watch in Business” and received the African Business Leadership Award (2022).

Personal Life & Legacy

Shakila Rahim Lamar is married to David Lamar, a civil engineer, and they have two children. She is an active member of the Uganda Muslim Women’s Association and serves on the board of Save the Children Uganda. Her philanthropic work focuses on education and women’s economic empowerment. Through the Lamar Foundation, she has funded scholarships for 100 girls from rural districts to attend secondary school.

Lamar’s legacy is defined by her ability to bridge the gap between traditional agriculture and modern commerce. She is a vocal advocate for inclusive supply chains and has spoken at the World Economic Forum on Africa about the role of women in agribusiness. In 2024, the Ugandan government recognized her with the Order of the Pearl of Africa, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. Her story is often cited as a model for entrepreneurship in East Africa, showing that local enterprises can compete globally while uplifting communities.

Net Worth & Business

As of 2025, Shakila Rahim Lamar’s net worth is estimated at USD 12 million, primarily derived from her ownership of Lamar Holdings Group and its subsidiaries. The Group’s annual revenue exceeds USD 8 million, with a 15% profit margin reinvested into expansion. Her business holdings include the main warehouse network, the transport fleet, the training institute, and Lamar GreenTech. Lamar also holds a minority stake in M-KOPA Uganda, a pay-as-you-go solar company. She is a disciplined investor, preferring organic growth over debt, and maintains a portfolio of government bonds and real estate in Kampala. Her financial success is a testament to her strategic vision and deep understanding of Uganda’s market dynamics.