He was the chief executive officer, founder and proprietor of the Mukwano Group of Companies, a diverse conglomerate, with interests in banking, real estate, plastics, agro-processing, logistics, transportation and the manufacture of fast-moving consumer goods among others.
Ali Mohamed Karmali had emigrated to East Africa in 1904, worked for some time in Mbarara and later settled in Bukandula.
In Bukandula, he created a lucrative business, buying cotton and coffee from local farmers, while selling them household items and farm implements.
The family moved to Fort Portal, Kabarole District, where the young Karmali acquired a second hand truck and began transporting produce to Kampala.
[5] In 2011, Amirali Karmali was awarded the Order of the Nile (Class One) Medal, in recognition of his distinct performance in production and enterprise development.