Cuisine
Like elsewhere in Africa – Ugandan cuisine is regional in nature – with differences as varied as the land itself. Typical cuisine consists of an interesting mix of traditional and modern Ugandan cooking styles with English, Arab, and Asian influences – with foods and drinks such as English tea and Asian Chapati making regular appearances at the food table.
Meat stews are popular in Uganda and most often served with rice, chapati, ugali (a typical African Maize porridge) and Ugandan matoke, which is a cooked and mashed mix of plantain/banana. groundnuts are popular too, as is sesame – made into sweets and pastes and seasonal delicaciessuch as grasshopper (Nsenene) and even white ant (Nswaa).
Etiquette
Taxis (look for “special hire”) and boda bodas don’t usually expect tips, but make sure you get a quote for the full price of your trip up front to avoid any unexpected price hikes. Waiting staff in restaurants throughout Uganda do on the other hand expect a tip – and a 10% tip or more is quite normal where there are no service charges and where the service was good. Drivers, guides and hotel staff are best to tip at the end of your stay/ride/tour and generally a few £/$ (in Ugandan shillings) per person/bag per day is quite reasonable.
Most Ugandans dress casually so do the same. Dress respectably when visiting places of worship and try to aim for middle of the road relaxed clothes for everyday wear. Don’t show too much skin and avoid wearing anything that calls attention to your body – whether revealing clothes or particularly eye-catching jewellery.
