Uganda is still the Pearl of Africa

The balding Ugandan immigration officer stationed at Entebbe airport had a question. “Why are you giving me your national identity card. Where is your passport?” he asked.

“I can use this document because I am an east African,” I responded. “Says who?”

“The presidentws of Uganda and Kenya.” Our chit chat went on for awhile as he processed my entry into Uganda, indeed confirming that a national ID is good enough because of the pact between Kenya and Uganda.

“Are you a Karamojong?” he asked.

“There are no Karamojong in Kenya.”

“Look at this one. Who told you?” he asked with a half smile.

There was something about him that reminded me of the TV comedienne Kansiime.

His choice of words made him sound rude, but his accent showed a softer side of him, and he wished me a happy stay as he started to serve other visitors.

The distance to the capital from the airport is 33 kilometres.

The way to Kampala is lined with all manner of departmental stores, and people walking in and out of them so casually that we could not even tell it was 10pm.

I was booked at the Mosa Courts Apartments. The night was uneventful, but in the morning, I had to take a dip in the swimming pool to cool off.

It was hotter than I had anticipated.

For the locals, the heat was normal. The other members of the Kenyan delegation attending the Africa Travel Association Summit were also feeling the heat, literally.

After the swim, it was time to breakfast, which proved that when it comes to culinary affairs, Ugandans sure knew their craft.

But the best of Ugandan food was served at the Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, the venue of the summit.

If the food was sumptuous, the scenery was breathtaking — and we had missed all that because we drove from the airport when it was already dark.

Who knew that banana plantations could make a place look so lush, so green and so beautiful that we could not even realise how noisy the motorcycles were, or how heavy the traffic was.

Bananas are at the heart of Uganda, and rule all aspects of Ugandans lives, I concluded.

The starter, the main course and the dessert during our lunch had some bananas, and whichever way it was prepared, or presented, it was delicious.

Our nights in Uganda were busy.

We interacted with the locals either over drinks in the hotel, or on the dance floors of the various clubs which we patronised.

The Ugandan night scene is a mixture of fashion and authentic fun. The clubs play 90 per cent of Ugandan music.

The ladies are dressed for the party, and look neat in their body-hugging dresses. The men looked sharp too even though we rarely saw anyone in a suit and a tie.

Proper clubbing starts after midnight, or rather, that is the time they get to entertainment spots.

The sights and sounds of Uganda are attractive and melodious, and we could have found excuses to make us stay longer, but we had to get back home.