Photo Credit: AMISOM Public Information

Food here is influenced by Indian, Arab, English and Asian cuisine, with the local specialty being stew. Staple food varies in each region but generally consists of a grain, meat and sauce. Luwombo is a traditional Ugandan dish that is a stew made from beef, chicken, mushrooms or fish that is steamed in banana leaves. Those more daring can try delicacies such as nsenene (grasshopper) or nswaa (white ant). There is no shortage of drinking options here, from their own local fermented beer and banana wine to imported beers, which are widely available. Tea can be found and is served spiced (masala chai) like in India, or English-style.

Bars and Pubbing in Uganda

Buganda music is the most influential among all of Uganda’s traditional tribe music, with percussion being the instrument of choice. Catch a performance of traditional music and dance at Kampala’s Ndere Centre (2872 – 9867 Kisaasi-Kira Road, Kampala) on a Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. To listen to less traditional live music Musicians Club 1989 (National Theatre, Said Barre Road, Kampala) has a jam night the first and last Monday night of every month. No pub is more popular in Kampala than Al’s Bar (Gaba Road, Karunga, Kampala), where expats and locals drink and play pool into the early hours of the morning. Being able to get a game of pool in is easier at Capital Pub (Muyenga Road, Kampala), which is similar to Al’s but with more pool tables.

Club Silk (First Street, Kampala) provides a more upscale atmosphere with DJs and bottle service and is where Uganda’s A-listers like to drink and dance until 5:00 a.m. Ange Noir (77A First, Kampala) is similar and also one of the clubs to be seen in within the city. The newer T1 Club (Second Street) is a classier club where the rich and famous like to play. The club features a makeup room, three bars and six plasma screens that screen the latest sporting events. It has a different theme each night, such as campus Mondays and international night fever on Saturdays.

The bar scene outside of Kampala is not nearly as lively, but there are some good options around. Jinja is where Nile Beer is produced, which is possibly the best beer in East Africa. Enjoy a bottle at Rumours (Cliff Road, Jinja) while watching the sunset over the Nile. Many hotels on the beachfront on Buggala Island have bars that serve cocktails and both international and local beers. Mirembe Resort Beach (Lutoboka Bay, Buggala Island) has a beautiful open thatched restaurant and bar overlooking Lake Victoria, Ssese Habitat Resort (Buggala Island, Ssese) is similar, serving beer, wine and spirits. Perhaps the most lively place on the island is Ssese Islands Beach Hotel (Plot 2/4 Lutoboka Road, Ssese Island), whose bar has pool tables, darts and satellite television for watching live sports.

Dining and Cuisine in Uganda

One of the best rated restaurants in Kampala is The Lawns Restaurant & Lounge Bar (Plot 34, Impala Avenue, Kololo, Kampala), which has the most extensive game menu in the country as well as a number of delicious African fusion dishes. The Pearl of Africa (Kampala Serena Hotel, Kintu Road, Kampala) is the most expensive restaurant in the city, serving up both international and national delicacies with an upscale flair.

As the name suggests, Fang Fang Chinese (Colville Street) offers very good Chinese food at reasonable prices and is usually packed each evening, while Mamba Point (22 Akii Bua Road-Nakasero, Kampala) has the best pizza and pasta in the city, which happens to be homemade, and even the dessert menu is mouthwatering to look at.

The lakeside city of Entebbe in Uganda has a great selection of restaurants, many overlooking Lake Victoria, such as Phaze 3 (Circular Road, Entebbe) that serves fantastic Indian and English cuisine and Goretties Pizza (DR A Lubego Road, Anderita Beach, Entebbe), where visitors can enjoy pizza while watching the sunset over the lake. The city of Jinja also has some great restaurant options, including the Source Cafe (20 Main Street, Jinja) and Two Friends (6 Jackson Crescent).

Click here for Shopping and Leisure in Uganda