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Food & drink in Uganda
A country formed of magnificent landscapes, misty mountains and impenetrable jungles, but what about the food? Ugandan food is a unique blend of Arab, Asian, English and Indian cuisines with many of their meals centering around meat. Barbeques are a favourite way locals enjoy dinner, especially when it includes goat, pork or chicken cooked over an open fire. Ugandan food is full of deliciously starchy stews with prominent use of potatoes, cornmeal, plantains, peanuts and greens. Here are a few things to look out for when you’re tasting your way around Uganda.
What is Uganda's national dish?
Matoke
Matoke is one of the most popular dishes in the country and considered to be the national dish of Uganda. Plantain is wrapped in banana leaves, steamed and then mashed. Occasionally, it is then fried with onions, tomatoes and spices before being served. It is a popular accompaniment to meats alongside ground peanut sauce and vegetables.
Top tip!
Most Ugandans eat with their hands, so make sure you wash them before and after your meal.
Vegetarian food in Uganda
Eating meat regularly can become a high cost for many Ugandans, so you’ll find that many locals eat a vegetarian diet. That said, most meals at restaurants usually include meat or fish. If you can find a vegetarian meal, be aware that the same surfaces, pots and sauces will usually be used for vegetarian and meat dishes. If in doubt, use Happy Cow - it’s an excellent resource for finding vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Some veggie-friendly dishes to try in Uganda are amashaza mu gitoke, maziwa, ugali and g-nut sauce.
Drinks in Uganda
Chai
Chai is a popular drink at any time of the day Uganda. It’s made by mixing milk, tea, sugar and ginger and served warm.
Waragi
Waragi is essentially Ugandan Gin. It is drunk neat, mixed into cocktails or diluted with water.
Fresh Juice
Uganda has an incredible selection of locally-grown fruit - ideally served blended into a refreshing juice.
Lager
Each region in Uganda have their own local beer - the most popular ones are Bell lager and Nile lager.
Where's good to eat in Kampala?
On a Budget
- Vitamin Cafe
(Jinja Road | Centenary Park, Kampala, Uganda) - Dukem
(Ggaba Road, Kampala, Uganda) - Bight of Benin Restaurant
(Plot 20, Kyadondo Road, Nakasero, Kampala, Uganda)
Won’t Break the Bank
- Asian Fusion
(Plot 1-2 Kafu Road, Kampala 4595, Uganda) - Khana Khazana Restaurant
(20 Acacia Avenue | Kololo, Kampala 21528, Uganda) - Amagara Cafe Bistro
(Colville Street, Kampala, Uganda)
Treat Yourself!
- Spectrum
(Colville Street | Plot 10 Opposite Christ The King Church. Kampala 5130, Uganda) - Seven Seas at Sheraton Kampala
(Ternan Avenue, Kampala 7041, Uganda) - Le Chateau Brasserie Belge
(Ggaba Road | Quality Hill Boutique Mall, Kampala 12721, Uganda)
*Please note that these recommendations are a current guide only.
What food should I try in Uganda?
Rolex
One of the most popular meals in Uganda is a rolex - it’s so popular that it even has its own festival! Essentially a rolex is an egg omelette with chopped onions and vegetables, then rolled up in chapati.
View tours to Uganda
Chapati
Brought over from India, chapati is flat-bread fried in oil. It’s the staple bread in Uganda and a common addition to beans, soups and stews. They are also used to wrap vegetables, meat and eggs.
Muchomo
Muchomo is essentially a roasted feast consisting of anything from chicken to pork. It is one of the most popular dinner choices in Uganda and can be found almost everywhere from street food stalls to high-end restaurants.
Luwombo
A traditional Buganda dish, Luwombo is a stew made from chicken, beef or fish steamed in banana leaves and mixed with potatoes, carrots and mushrooms, peanut sauce and added spices.
Sim-sim
Sim-sim literally translates to sesame. Seeds are usually roasted and blended into a paste and served as a side or mixed into greens. They’re also made into biscuits which resemble peanut brittle.
Mandazi
Mandazi are triangle-shaped doughnuts dusted with cinnamon and sugar. The best ones are crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy in the center. Mandazi are of the most popular sweet snacks in Uganda.
Nsene/Grasshoppers
During the rainy season, a popular street-food snack in Uganda is deep-fried grasshoppers. Their wings and legs are removed first, then fried in natural oils, onions and seasoning. They can be found on street-stalls or in pubs.
Katogo
Katogo is a traditional Ugandan breakfast that is not for the faint-hearted. It contains a hefty pile of fried plantains topped with beef, beans and vegetables and served with a cup of soup. Delicious!
TV Chicken
A popular meal with students, TV chicken is chicken cooked in a rotisserie oven and found at roadside restaurants and stalls. The succulent chicken is served alongside salad, plantain and french fries.
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