Prime
A typical Ugandan menu guaranteed to satisfy you
Hajjati the Chef holds a plate of her serving. Photo by Rachel Mabala.
What you need to know:
Many birds, one stone: The food and juice will bring you back to Mama Africa where interestingly, despite being located in the city centre, has a lot of parking space.
Robert Sebatta and Yusuf Lule are cut buddies who attended school together and while the former has pretty much lived and worked in Uganda, the latter has lived in London for several years. Late last year, he decided that it was time to come home for good.
The duo came up with the idea of starting up an eating establishment with emphasis on local food as well as offering a bounty of grilled and roasted meats. Finding suitable premises was never easy and rents in the city centre are prohibitive. Fortunately, one of their former classmates owned the building where they are located and they made him an offer thus enabling them to start the business. It has taken a while for their plans to materialise since the previous tenant who also had a restaurant had let the place go to rack and ruin. What should have been an easy exercise that should not have taken more than a month dragged on for several months until late July when they finally opened up and so far so good.
Despite a modest budget and without going overboard, they have succeeded in coming up with a much more accommodating ambience and one can only wonder why previous management never saw it fit to spruce up the joint.
The menu so far is simple with items such as smoked semutundu in luwombo as well as chicken, smoked boiled beef stew, first class lovingly steamed matooke. They offer steamed rice as well as Pilao and they are both of a commendable standard. Vegetables in season are a must and be sure to ask for other accompaniments such as steamed pumpkin or stewed sweet potatoes.
Holding the fort in the kitchen is an experienced Hajjat whom I have personally known for well over 20 years and have also mentored her in culinary matters and I must admit that she has proven to be a worthwhile acolyte who knows her way around the kitchen. Given her dedication and vast experience (she is pretty much an all rounder), Sebatta and Lule can sleep easy knowing that what comes out of the kitchen is credible and of a worthy standard.
Barely two months open and they are holding their own. Granted that the place is somewhat off the beaten track still, so long as the food is good diners will not hesitate to make the trek.
As for the other plan of providing the grilled and roasted meats, this is on course and we are assured that within the next few weeks this will be available. Right now the emphasis is on tapping into the lunch crowd in the area who feel comfortable paying a tenner plus for a meal without flinching. Given the high standard that they have set for themselves and with the lady in the kitchen doing her job, Mama Africa has a bright future.
The service is friendly and the place is neat and well kept and they so far have the presence of the much loved proverbial telley.
At a glance
Name: Mama Africa
The space: Semi alfresco and pleasant
The crowd: Well heeled locals who hanker for good local food
The bar: Soda, water and juice
The type of food: Basically local food that is not boiled though well prepared and presented.
The check: Lunch for two with a soda expect to pay Shs 25,000
Parking: Limited but secure
What we liked: The food is very well prepared and the portions are generous
If you go: Monday to Friday
Ratings: Worth a visit
RATINGS: Not to be missed, worth a visit, OK/so so, don’t waste your time.
These ratings are purely the reviewer’s personal reaction to food, ambience and service with price being factored into consideration. The menu listings and prices are subject to change without notice.
