Expatriates Forums in Uganda

FOOD & DINING IN UGANDA / UGANDA DINING GUIDE

Uganda Info — Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:28 am

Author: Uganda Info

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:28 am

FOOD & DINING IN UGANDA

GENERAL

Uganda offers you a wide choice of dishes ranging from Italian Pizza to traditional african specialities. Each region has its own local cuisine. The most common traditional foods are green bananas (Matooke), sweet potatoes, cassava and yams, normally served with beef or chicken stew, groundnut (peanut) sauce, beans or peas. You should also try the various snacks like: Chapati, Samosas (meat or vegetable pie) and Mandazi (similar to Donuts)

Kampala has plenty of good restaurants - Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Burgers, Pizza, etc. The BBQ's at the Sheraton and Fairway Hotels are great, too. Near Akamba buslines and the crafts market (which is a must visit) there are a couple of good Indian places. In Mbarara (on the way to QENP or Kabale) the Coffee Shop is a suprisingly good place. Just as you enter Masaka (on the road to Mbarara), there is a little food stand next to the gas station - it has great food, especially their fries.

Kabale has the semi-famous Hot Loaf Bakery, which is a good place for pasteries and mini-pizzas.

PLACES TO DINE

2 Friends Restaurant Bar & Catering
Plot 6 Jackson Crescent,
Jinja,
Uganda
Phone: +256 77 2984821

China Garden Restaurant
Plot 24 Kampala Road,
Entebbe,
Uganda
Phone: +256 41 2322266

Kati Kati Africa Restaurant
Plot No 16-18,
Lugogo Bypass,
Kampala,
Uganda
Phone: +256 41 2236008
Fax: +256 41 2235989
Email: inquiries@katikatiafrica.com
Website: www.katikatiafrica.com

Nawab Indian Restaurant
Roof Top,
Garden City,
Kampala,
Uganda
Phone: +256 31 2263222 / 41 2252205
Email: kampala@nawabrestaurants.com
Website: www.nawabrestaurants.com

NIGHTLIFE IN UGANDA / UGANDA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Uganda Info — Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:46 am

Author: Uganda Info

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:46 am

NIGHTLIFE IN UGANDA

There are several bars and night clubs in Kampala. A good place is Club Obligato. This place is by the road side and in the open. There is blaring live-music and weekly live talk show where people gather to give their views on national issues like politics and the economy. The show is aptly named "Mambo Bado" and takes place every Saturday and is aired on local radio stations. Most of the open road side bars and evening joints serve the delicacy charcoal grilled goat meat (muchomo). Of course, one would not like to miss out on the really sweet rabbit meat!

Jokers Sports Bar on Buganda Road is a nice place on Friday evenings with young energetic people. You can challenge others to a game of pool or dance to the latest tunes on the dance floor. You can also catch champions league and premier league action on giant screens.

Chill out at the happening Steak Out Bar. Grab Nyama Choma bites on Fridays and dance to the hottest UTAKE (Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya) hits on Saturday nights. If the place gets too crowded, you can always move on to the Iron Bar, which is the new extension of Steak Out.

Anyone who has been to Kampala must have been to Al's Bar. It is one of the wildest bars in Kampala. It is really a nightclub/bar which is open from about 10pm to about 8am. Great music (rock, pop etc), beer is reasonable, good food until late and wild, wild people! If you are somewhat on the 'white side' and unattached, you will have half of Kampala's girls hanging off you! The clientele is both locals and foreigners. Ask a taxi driver to take you to a place called Half London and you'll be there! This place is a riot, don't miss it!

In the old industrial area are Club Silk and Ange Noir which are, relatively close to each other. If you get tired of one, all you have to do is just take a stroll to the other. Out of town is the a place called, Pulsations. Great atmosphere, with both locals and mzungus. Sport-mad bar staff will show all major sporting events if they can get it. Beer is quite cheap. On top of that, it has fantastic sausages and good biltong too.

SHOPPING IN UGANDA / UGANDA SHOPPING GUIDE

Uganda Info — Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:26 am

Author: Uganda Info

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:26 am

SHOPPING IN UGANDA

Shopping in Uganda can be a confusing, even unnerving, experience for someone new to the task. You expect some of the products on display to vary from those at home, and to find vegetables and fruits that you can't name, but the way you shop will probably be a new experience too.

Shops in much of Africa come in two basic varieties. Firstly there are those which you are probably familiar; medium and large department stores and supermarkets that have clearly marked, non-negotiable prices on the goods they sell. Large settlements like Kampala have this type of shop where negotiating a price is neither required nor expected.

Secondly, and far more common, are the smaller rural stalls and family shops where nothing has a name or price marked on it and you are expected to negotiate a price, or 'haggle' until you and the shop keeper arrive at a price that suits you both. It's a little like a cross between a good humoured argument and an acting class.

Purchases include bangles, necklaces and bracelets, woodcarvings, basketry, tea, coffee and ceramics.

Shopping hours

Mon-Sat 0800-1700 some shops may close earlier on Saturdays.

Banking hours

Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1400, Sat 0900-1200. Forex bureaux are open until 1700 and able to do electronic transfers to and from overseas.

Currency

Uganda Shilling (UGX). Notes are in denominations of UGX10,000, 5000 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of UGX500, 200, 100 and 50.

Currency exchange

Foreign currency may be exchanged at the Central Bank, commercial banks and foreign exchange bureaux.

Credit & debit cards

American Express, Diners, MasterCard and Visa are accepted but not widely used. Some large hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and shops in urban areas accept credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

Traveller's cheques are not widely accepted outside Kampala. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. It is advised that travellers bring sufficient US dollars in cash in case of emergencies.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Free import of foreign currency if declared on arrival. Export of foreign currency is unlimited, up to the amount declared on arrival. It is imperative to obtain a currency declaration form on arrival in Uganda. Unspent shillings can be reconverted to foreign currency.