2 September, 2021
An amazing trip is incomplete without good food, hence travel is an adventurous way of learning about different cultures and people, one reason why dining out is common among tourists. Food is as diverse as every society in the world seeing that we have special foods amongst distinctive cultures. Furthermore, it ranks alongside climate, accommodation and scenery in importance to tourism. The relation of food to ceremonies and events also gives tourists an opportunity to learn the social significance of certain foods to the respective communities.
Are you curious about Ugandan food? In this Uganda Food Guide, you will learn about the different local cuisines.
Chicken Luwombo is a Ugandan delicacy and a favorite for many locals. Should you ever wish to eat like a local on your next visit to this beautiful country, then Chicken Luwombo is highly recommended. Most locals eat this unique meal on exceptional days like weddings or Christmas, but you could enjoy this delicious dish any day, every day while in Uganda.
Luwombo is essentially sauce cooked in banana leaves, which are carefully smoked over low heat to make them aromatic and soft enough to contain the food. It is in reality a method of preparing stews by steaming. While the chicken luwombo is a signature dish, there are other types of Luwombo, including; beef luwombo, ground nuts paste luwombo, beef in ground nuts paste luwombo and dry fish in ground nuts paste luwombo.
Fondly referred to as “kalo” or “akaro”, Millet bread is a staple food in Northern, Eastern and Western Uganda. To prepare, millet flour is mixed with cassava flour in varying proportions and mingled using boiling water. The proportions in which the flours are mixed will determine the distinction in taste, aroma and appearance of this dish. In some cultures like the Tooro kingdom in western Uganda, the dish is a must during traditional ceremonies such as child naming, visitations and marriage. Millet bread can be eaten with a variety of sauces including groundnut source, beans, meat, vegetable sauce and mushroom sauce.
Malakwang is a Northern Uganda delicacy, initially prepared as a reserve for times of crisis like droughts and food shortage. Today, Malakwang is a famous dish readily available in local restaurants and hotels anytime. The dish made from leafy vegetables and ground nuts can be eaten with other foods such as millet bread and sweet potatoes.
The Bagisu in Eastern Uganda have a special dish known as Malewa, a vegetable soup made from tender mountain bamboo shoots. The Bamasaba, as they are called, would hike to the forests of Mount Elgon during the bamboo shoot growing season, to harvest and dry the shoots. Malewa can be steamed, fried, mixed with groundnut paste or fish or eaten as a vegetable.
Known as Ugali in Kenya, Pap in South Africa and Kawunga or Posho in Uganda, this dish is one of those meals that make your food stick to your ribs and will keep your stomach full for a long time. Posho is simply fine, white maize flour that is thoroughly mixed with boiling water until it stiffens into smooth dough. The Ugandan way to enjoy your food is to eat posho with any soup and beans. It supplements your meal and leaves you full.
Originating from a Swahili word to mean; “roasted meat”, Muchomo is another delicacy in Uganda that includes a variety of meats, ranging from chicken to pork, goat, and sometimes beef.
You will find these meat portions barbecued on a stick and served at roadside stalls, markets, and restaurants, often accompanied by roasted sweet plantains (known as gonja).
You know you can’t leave Uganda without trying out its national dish; Matooke, a banana variety that is considered more of a plantain. Ugandans love to take the green, unripe ones and steam them while unpeeled.
Nevertheless, every so often the plantains are peeled and then steamed. The plantains are then mashed and eaten. Occasionally, matooke is fried with tomatoes and onions or boiled in a sauce, a mixture known as Katogo.
There you have it, the top 7 traditional foods for you to explore while in Uganda. Simply Contact us, TRAFEKA will help find you one or two of these dishes so you can have a taste.
