Prime
Makindye Country Club: Perfect for family dining
The expansive interior of the restaurant allows freedom of movement. Photo by Rachel Mabala.
What you need to know:
A spacious eating place where children are happy and safe as parents meet friends during or after meals.
Makindye Country Club, formerly known as the American Recreational Association (ARA) or referred to as the American Club is now under new management. My introduction to the club was during the early ‘80s when Uganda was a backwater country without any social amenities to speak of and wisely the Americans saw the need to have a retreat where their staff could make the most of their short R & R stints in the country in a suitable environment where they would be made to feel 100 per cent comfortable and secure.
The ARA was the perfect place with all manner of comfort available including a well-stocked bar, clay tennis courts, squash courts, a play area for kids and a swimming pool, a sizeable kitchen that could produce various foods like burgers, hot dogs and chips. Above all is a commissary where they could get a wide array of goods such as sausages, bacon, wines, canned beer (Coors and Budweiser to name a few).
Out of this world
The 80s were turbulent times in Uganda. Besides Uganda being considered a hard ship post, serving Foreign Service Officers I am reliably informed, were given hazardous duty pay. Strange as it may seem to those who were born during those heady times, there was nothing whatsoever remotely similar to the cafes and bars that abound in and around Kampala nowadays days. In many ways, the ARA remained a prized and rare jewel in a desolate and socially backward city.
As good fortune would have it, I made some very useful contacts with the American Embassy staff. This went to the point where my ex-wife and I set up shop in 12 Malcolm X road. There, we were the soul ticketing agents for all American personnel for a number of years. Through our American contacts it was not uncommon for them to invite us to the ARA and suffice it to say, that I am no stranger to the place.
Open to all
Fast forward to June of this year and the place is now a private entity and no longer an exclusive members’ club for the Americans, their families, and friends. Today Makindye Country Club is a limited liability company that is run by Cathy Cliff and her family. It is open to both Ugandans and foreigners alike. We recently spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon having lunch and generally lazing around the place and for those who are looking for an affordable country club for the family look no further than the MCC.
Membership
The MCC membership dues are eminently pocket-friendly and there is little doubt that many of my fellow well-heeled Ugandan brethren will for the first time be able to enjoy the full benefits of a private club with all its numerous amenities at very affordable and reasonable fees.
Workable menu
The menu is small and practical, in a word, workable. Breakfast ranges from a tenner to the gargantuan ‘weekend breakfast’ that comprises two eggs any style, bacon, sausages, baked beans and a grilled tomato and all this is served with tea/coffee and a glass of juice. The damage?
Shs25,000. We loved the open favourites and these at Shs12,000 are a bargain filling and healthy and they are worth every penny.
A meal for two with drinks can easily range anywhere from Shs30,000 to double that amount depending on your menu selection. The service staff has been around a long time and they are polished and courteous. The atmosphere at the MCC is relaxed, informal and the place is never crowded.
If you go:
Name: Makindye Country Club
Location: Plot 59, Makindye Hill
The space: Three acres of finely-landscaped grounds with different sections including the poolside, clay tennis courts, a vast children’s play area among others. Club house allows you to take in an uncluttered view of Muyenga.
The crowd: Expats and Ugandans who appreciate the advantages and merit of being members of an affordable country club
The bar: A wide assortment of drinks including wines, spirits and beer
The menu: Breakfast between Shs 10,000 to Shs 25,000
The open favourites are nicely priced and just what the doctor ordered when there is a need to watch one’s diet. The Type of food: Good realistic and affordable eclectic fare
The check: A meal for two with some drinks would be around the Shs50,000 mark
Parking: Available and well-guarded
What we liked: The setting is incredibly breath-taking and idyllic.Their accommodation ranging from $60(Shs) for a standard room to $125 for a deluxe en suite room double occupancy is on the money and considering the area and environment is a winner.
If you go daily: Worth a visit
