Uganda, May 2 -- On a quiet street in Kira, Wakiso District, a furnished apartment sits behind a high wall, complete with security guards, Wi-Fi and a caretaker on call.

Inside, it looks no different from a hotel suite, with clean sheets, a stocked kitchen, and a welcome note for guests. But unlike a hotel, this business operates largely outside formal regulation.

"You just wake up in the morning, and you decide to open up an Airbnb," says Ms Jaliah Nabbowa, a homestay operator who manages multiple units in Kira and Kyanja.

"There are no papers to sign. It's really easy to start. Anyone can start without doing too much." Her experience reflects a rapidly expanding sector that is reshaping Uganda's accommodation industry, homestays and ...