BluBlush City GuideKampala, Uganda
Find your kind of Kampala.
Tonight's pick
An evening at Ndere
Dances from across Uganda, poetry and dinner in an open air amphitheatre, a short ride from the apartment.
Café Javas
Uganda's own café chain, from Kira Road to Lugogo.
A Ugandan café chain with branches on Kira Road, at Lugogo and Oasis Mall, on Kampala Boulevard and beyond. The menu is online, and so is ordering.
Photo: Z thomas, CC BY 4.0
Endiro Coffee
Ugandan arabica, with a cause behind every cup.
Cafés at Tank Hill Park in Muyenga, on Cooper Road in Kisementi and on Speke Road in town. Their Ugandan coffee includes a washed arabica from Bududa, on the slopes of Mount Elgon, and the company works to end child vulnerability through coffee. (Pictured: a cup of Ugandan coffee, not at Endiro.)
Explore the menu (opens endirocoffee.com in a new tab)Find a café (opens endirocoffee.com in a new tab)Photo: Jameswasswa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yujo Izakaya
A Japanese kitchen and cocktail bar, teppanyaki included.
An izakaya on Kyadondo Road: Japanese plates, a teppanyaki menu and a cocktail list. Eat in, or order it home through Glovo. (Pictured: sushi, to set the mood; see the menu for what Yujo serves.)
Photo: Bodhi Peace, CC BY-SA 4.0
A city served on a plate
Rolex, matooke and luwombo: where to start with local food.
Start at a roadside rolex stand, then work up to matooke and luwombo. Our short guide to the food you will meet everywhere.
Photo: Ssemmanda Will, CC BY-SA 4.0
Delivered to the door
When the best plan is the sofa: Kampala restaurants, delivered.
Glovo delivers from restaurants across Kampala, Yujo Izakaya among them. Choose on their site or app, and check that your address is covered. (Pictured: a boda boda in Kabalagala.)
Photo: BabyJat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Only in Kampala
Ngamba Island
A boat across Lake Victoria to a chimpanzee sanctuary.
The Chimpanzee Trust's sanctuary sits on an island about 23 km from Entebbe: around 45 minutes by speedboat. A caregiver explains the sanctuary's work, and you watch a feeding from the visitors' platform.
Book a visit (opens booking.chimpanzeetrust.org in a new tab)Plan the trip (opens chimpanzeetrust.org in a new tab)Photo: Pavlo Baranov, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sherehe Show at Ndere
Wednesday nights: dances from across Uganda, poetry and dinner.
The Ndere Troupe performs the dances of Uganda's peoples in an open air amphitheatre on Kira Road, Ntinda, close to the apartment. Wednesday is the Sherehe Show; Sunday is Katika, a family show with a Ugandan barbecue buffet.
Photo: Kateregga1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kasubi and the royal hills
Tombs, palaces and cathedrals: the places the city grew from.
Kasubi, the Bulange and the Royal Mile, the cathedrals on Namirembe and Lubaga, the Uganda Museum: where Kampala's history still stands.
Photo: Andrew Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0
Nyege Nyege 2026
Four days of music on the Nile, a few hours' drive east.
The festival returns from 19 to 22 November 2026, on the Nile near Jinja. Tickets, line up and travel are on the official site.
Photo: Elizabeth Farida, CC BY-SA 4.0
What Kampala sounds like
Before the bands, the drums: a short note on Kiganda music.
In Kiganda music the drums lead, played together in sets of many sizes. A short note on what you will hear at introductions, weddings and clan gatherings.
Photo: Samson Ssemakadde, CC0
The Kampala Chronicle
Seven hills, a kingdom, a city: Kampala's story, briefly.
Our short city journal: how Kampala grew from its hills, the kingdom behind it, and the places where its history still stands.
Photo: Matson Collection, Library of Congress, Public domain
Afriart Gallery
Contemporary art from Uganda and across Africa, since 2002.
A contemporary gallery in Kampala since 2002, representing artists from across Africa. Open Monday to Saturday; the current exhibition is on its site.
Photo: Cinnamon aag23, CC BY-SA 4.0
Jazz & Live MusicExplore all Music listings (opens in a new tab)
Jazz rooms in Kampala come and go. These are the places that publish what is on right now.
Sherehe Show at Ndere
Wednesday nights: dances from across Uganda, poetry and dinner.
The Ndere Troupe performs the dances of Uganda's peoples in an open air amphitheatre on Kira Road, Ntinda, close to the apartment. Wednesday is the Sherehe Show; Sunday is Katika, a family show with a Ugandan barbecue buffet.
Photo: Kateregga1, CC BY-SA 4.0
This week's gigs
Concerts and band nights across the city, listed by Evento.
Evento lists music and concerts across Kampala, from band nights to big shows, with dates, venues and tickets from the organisers. (Pictured: Lin Rountree at the Nile Gold Jazz and Soul Safari, Kampala, 2016.)
Photo: Lin Rountree, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nyege Nyege 2026
Four days of music on the Nile, a few hours' drive east.
The festival returns from 19 to 22 November 2026, on the Nile near Jinja. Tickets, line up and travel are on the official site.
Photo: Elizabeth Farida, CC BY-SA 4.0
What Kampala sounds like
Before the bands, the drums: a short note on Kiganda music.
In Kiganda music the drums lead, played together in sets of many sizes. A short note on what you will hear at introductions, weddings and clan gatherings.
Photo: Samson Ssemakadde, CC0
Tickets for Kampala
Concerts, shows and parties with tickets on Quicket.
Quicket sells tickets for events in and around Kampala, from concerts to conferences. The listing is theirs; check details with each organiser. (Pictured: a music festival in Kampala, 2016.)
Photo: Aubry Arihona, CC BY-SA 4.0
This weekend in Kampala
Everything listed for the coming weekend, in one place.
Evento's weekend view gathers what is on across the city for Friday to Sunday: music, parties, comedy and more.
Photo: Alvinategyeka, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ndere Friday
On Fridays the Ndere Centre turns into a party night.
Friday evenings at the Ndere Centre on Kira Road are a party night with music and food, a short ride from the apartment.
Photo: Kateregga1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stand up tonight
Kampala laughs loudly. Find the comedy nights here.
Comedy shows and entertainment nights across Kampala, listed with dates and venues by Evento. (Pictured: Fun Factory on stage in Kampala.)
Photo: Edgar R. Batte, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cocktails at Yujo
A cocktail bar with a Japanese kitchen behind it.
Yujo Izakaya's bar keeps a full cocktail and drinks list; the kitchen serves Japanese plates and teppanyaki alongside. (Pictured: a cocktail, to set the mood.)
Photo: Douglas Perkins, CC BY 4.0
Ngamba Island
A boat across Lake Victoria to a chimpanzee sanctuary.
The Chimpanzee Trust's sanctuary sits on an island about 23 km from Entebbe: around 45 minutes by speedboat. A caregiver explains the sanctuary's work, and you watch a feeding from the visitors' platform.
Book a visit (opens booking.chimpanzeetrust.org in a new tab)Plan the trip (opens chimpanzeetrust.org in a new tab)Photo: Pavlo Baranov, CC BY-SA 4.0
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre
Uganda's animals, close up, on the shore at Entebbe.
The national wildlife conservation and education centre in Entebbe, home to animals from across the country. Easy to pair with a day by the lake.
Photo: Elisha Muwanguzi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Learn the dances
Saturday dance and music classes with the Ndere Troupe.
On Saturdays the Ndere Centre opens its stage for dance and music classes. Book ahead through Ndere. (Pictured: the Ndere Troupe on the Ndere Centre stage.)
Photo: Kateregga1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Markets and trade
Owino and Nakasero: how to take on Kampala's markets.
Secondhand clothes, fabric and spices at Owino; produce under Nakasero's 1927 gate. A few notes before you go.
Photo: Alvinategyeka, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kasubi and the royal hills
Tombs, palaces and cathedrals: the places the city grew from.
Kasubi, the Bulange and the Royal Mile, the cathedrals on Namirembe and Lubaga, the Uganda Museum: where Kampala's history still stands.
Photo: Andrew Moore, CC BY-SA 2.0
Afriart Gallery
Contemporary art from Uganda and across Africa, since 2002.
A contemporary gallery in Kampala since 2002, representing artists from across Africa. Open Monday to Saturday; the current exhibition is on its site.
Photo: Cinnamon aag23, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sanaa Gateja: They too Are the Earth
Now showing: the beaded worlds of Sanaa Gateja.
Afriart Gallery shows Sanaa Gateja from 19 September to 21 November 2026. (Pictured: his earlier show at the gallery, Radical Care, 2022.)
Photo: Cinnamon aag23, CC BY-SA 4.0
32° East
An art centre for Ugandan artists, with a library and workshops.
Residencies, studios, a contemporary art library and workshops in Kabalagala. Drop in sessions and events are listed on their site. (Pictured: Emmie Nume in a Kampala studio during a residency at Afriart, 2021.)
Photo: Cinnamon aag23, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bayimba
The Bayimba Centre for Visual and Performing Arts.
The organisation behind the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts. Their site carries programmes and dates. (Pictured: Tshila performing at the Bayimba Festival in Kampala.)
Photo: Tshila, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Kampala Chronicle
Seven hills, a kingdom, a city: Kampala's story, briefly.
Our short city journal: how Kampala grew from its hills, the kingdom behind it, and the places where its history still stands.
Photo: Matson Collection, Library of Congress, Public domain
What's On
The city, in motion
Concerts, exhibitions, festivals and other reasons to get out there. These listings are published by each platform and its organisers, not by BluBlush: check the details with them before you go.
Kampala, between the places
Seven hills, then many more
Kampala began on a handful of hills: royal Mengo, the cathedrals on Namirembe and Lubaga, Kibuli's mosque, the fort on Old Kampala. It reads best one hill at a time.
The ChronicleAgree the price first
Boda bodas are the quickest way through traffic. Book one on SafeBoda or Bolt, wear the helmet, and settle the fare before you climb on.
Oli otya?
How are you? in Luganda. The answer is bulungi, fine. Two words, and the conversation changes.
Rolled eggs, said quickly
That is the rolex: an omelette with tomato, onion and cabbage, rolled in a fresh chapati at a roadside stand. Breakfast, lunch, or the ride home.
Come home to quiet.
After the music, the market or the lake, BluBlush in Ntinda Kiwatule is a private apartment to come back to.