- Fuegos
If you follow me on Instagram then you already know I love spending Thursday evening at Fuegos Cocktails & Restaurant in my neighbourhood of Muyenga. Every Thursday the same band plays from 8 to 11pm. I don’t actually know their name, but the core group is comprised of the usual – bass guitar, lead guitar, drums, keyboard and lead vocalist as well as saxophone, trombone and trumpet/xylophone players. The main vocalist has such a voice – I swear she is NEVER off key. She also has no problem sharing her stage, so every week there are other vocalists joining her. The food is pretty decent too. The pizza, hummus and Ethiopian are all worth trying.
*I know the video quality is not great in this clip, but her voice is and I love her cover of this Ammara Brown song Akiliz
- Pineapple
I heard about the pineapple before I even got here, yet still did not try it until my family visited and bought a few. It seriously is the best pineapple I have ever tasted. So if you come to Uganda – try the pineapple! It will not disappoint.
- Uber/SafeBoda/Taxify
Horrendous traffic aside, getting around Kampala is easy. If, like me, you want to avoid paying the muzungu price to the bodaboda drivers that are constantly driving by, there are apps available that preset the price. Uber and Taxify provide cars, which is when traffic is a factor because cars cannot maneuver around the jams like the bodas can.
If you are willing to take a bodaboda (motorbike) then those two apps can also connect you. I usually use SafeBoda because I can load mobile money on my account, eliminating the need to pull out cash.
- Sunrise
Also obvious from my Instagram, I love the sunrise view from my apartment. The sun usually appears between the window of 6:45 to 7:15, so I am actually up! Getting ready for work during the week, and usually awake on the weekend as well. While I can’t actually see Lake Victoria from my balcony, up one story on the roof you can. The sunrises over the lake and it is glorious.
- Entebbe/Lake Victoria
Yes, you can see Lake Victoria when in Kampala, but it is a much greener and more peaceful experience in Entebbe. Depending on traffic getting out of Kampala (always), it is about a 45 minute drive to Entebbe. There you will find a slower pace, fresher air, and some great restaurants, hotels and beaches. The zoo and the breathtaking Botanical Gardens are also located in Entebbe. *I posted about the Gardens on March 13.
- Rolex
No, not a fancy watch – in Uganda, the Rolex is a new take on breakfast to go. Similar in shape to a breakfast burrito, it is something to try when you are here. It is an omelet rolled up in a chapati (Chapati, also known as roti, safati, shabaati, phulka and roshi, is an unleavened flatbread originating from the Indian subcontinent)
I enjoy the rolex in its classic form, but especially love the crepe rolex at Holy Crepe. It is a little lighter because the chapati is replaced by a crepe.
- Tusker Malt
I am an ale drinker but, for the most part, east Africa is land of the lager. I was happy to discover Tusker Malt. Tusker is Kenyan by origin but easy to find around Kampala.
- Morning tea at work (more food)
Every morning, sometime between 9 and 10 am, we are blessed with some kind of snack for tea. Chapati, samosas, kebab, mandazi, chaps. I tried offals once too (pictured), but it was a failed attempt. This plate shows what I left – I had some of the potato and managed a mouthful or two of both the tripe and tubular intestiny thing.
- Independence monument
A beautiful, massive and imposing sculpture located in along Speke Road in Kampala, the Independence Monument has stood since 1962. Depicting a woman unwrapping her child and raising it to touch the sky, the towering sculpture signifies a new born country let free from the bondages of colonization.
I was moved by the sculpture and it’s story, and the lovely square where it stands is enjoyed by locals as a place to sit and relax.
- Buganda Road Market
There are several markets around the city of Kampala and this is the only one I have been to, so this is not a commentary on any other markets. I went to this market with Steve on my Free Walking Tour of Kampala and I loved it, so I took my family when they came. There is a great assortment of goods, clothing and touristy items. The prices are reasonable and negotiable and the vendors are not overly aggressive. At least not compared to the markets in Phnom Pehn. There is a restaurant on the second story of one section of the market where we enjoyed some very affordable food. Mum and my aunt had omelettes and I enjoyed some posho and greens, but I don’t remember what my sister had.
- The Equator
I did a post about my trip to the equator but want to mention it here as well. There really isn’t much to see there other than the equator, but it is truly a privilege to experience the flower test and to stand on the division between the northern and southern hemispheres.
- Uganda Waragi Gin
It is common, if not the rule, that the better the booze the more expensive it is. Well, in my opinion and that of my family, Uganda Waragi Gin is an exception. It is cheap – possibly the cheapest gin on the shelf, but I like it better than the mid-priced one I was buying before. I can’t recommend the coconut flavoured one, but the regular Waragi makes a great gin and tonic. Add the juice from two or three passionfruit for an added treat.
Of course this list is limited to my experiences, and it is mainly Kampala based. I still plan to post more about my family’s visit, including our weekend in Jinja where we visited the Source of the Nile river and took a horseback ride along the river. I’m not done sharing about this vibrant and developing country.
A Travelling Accountant 