Mbarara hangouts that are pulling Kampala revellers

De Boss
These are the people who debuted the use of a ‘de’ on their name even without any French significance and since then, a big portion of the mushrooming guesthouses, lodges and hangout spots have adopted it.

With convenient parking space and room for hosting events like birthday parties and corporate meetings, De Boss has renowned sound systems under the management of Nico Sounds.

The food, the drinks and, security and other associated features are definitely worth stopping by for.

So the next time you want to party in Mbarara, you know where to hangout at.

Club Vegas
Fresh in town, Vegas was born out of the eviction of Club Gabiro from the Golf Course affiliation on grounds of rent. It is located on the top of Golf Course Supermarket opposite the High Court, Mbarara. Complemented by a restaurant, fast foods and international dishes can be enjoyed at Café Ark.

New things always come handy with new accessories right? Vegas has utter fresh innovations such as the beer hour where buying a litre of beer gets you half a litre free.

Renowned DJs like King and Riddim Selecta keep the groovers on their feet till dawn.

De Posh
Affiliated to the popular Kabalagala, Kampala- Suburb nightspot, De Posh is a new joint in the neighbourhood located in the outskirts of Mbarara Town.

Buried within trees and sprayed with a red theme colour, De Posh has become an addictive place for soccer, celebrity and good time lovers.

With a distinctive comfort for both ordinary and VIP, De Posh boasts of features such as fire places, beautiful stages, fountains, giant screens and tight security.

In case you are having trouble locating the place, just go straight to the recently commissioned Ankole Mall located at Rwebikona as you branch off to Kakyeka Stadium.

The rest of the days can be as ordinary as it sounds but you do not want to miss their Thursdays when lots of celebrities are hosted including, yes indeed, the Afrigo Band.

The Heat
Like any other hangout, there are all tribes of drinks and all types of snacks on offer; beers, spirits, wines, chips, chicken, pork and goat’s meat. But the sweet taste at this place is not only confined to the food. Actually what is outstanding here is the open space set-up of the area and the night themes.

Located on the rooftop of the Mbarara City Mall building following relocation from its previous home on Buremba, Kakoba road, The Heat has redefined the landscape of partying in Mbarara, with uptown DJs known to create an electric mood.

The Heat has some unique theme nights such movie nights with free popcorn and UTAKE (Uganda Tanzanian and Kenyan Music) nights.

Sport is also prioritised and this makes The Heat the favourite hangout for university students, corporates and party animals from Kampala.

Agip Motel
Agip Motel, with its great location, diverse facilities, quality service and professionalism is the number one stop for anyone going through or stopping in Mbarara.

Guests can enjoy the cool morning or evening breeze as they watch the birds in the small bamboo forest. For the more adventurous bird watching groups, this stopover is ideal for viewing the Ugandan species.

Agip is a favourite spot for hosting music shows and events and has held this position for a long time. It also has a restaurant well known for its international cuisine. You can enjoy the daily breakfast, and buffets often served on the weekends, or sample from a variety of meal choices.

Club Gabiro
Affiliated with Gabiro in Kampala and also relocated from the Golf Course building, this spot is now housed near Bank of Baroda building in the proximity of the Mbarara-Masaka roundabout opposite Total Petrol Station.

Stocked with a variety of beer and whiskey brands, Gabiro is popular for fast foods and a multiplicity of items. It is the kind of place you get to and thank goodness for the broken road that probably led you straight here majorly due to the first class treatment you’ll be accorded from the staff and management.

Vision Empire & Another Life Discotheque
For a first-time visitor, the place to be is Bananuka Drive. You can compare this drive to First Street Industrial area, where you find Kampala’s top two nightclubs, AngeNoir and Club Silk, as well as other nightspots such as Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel.

Bananuka Drive is located in the middle of town. With several guesthouses and hotels such as Pelican Hotel, Oxford Inn, Romax Hotel and Westland Guesthouse, this drive has Mbarara’s top two nightclubs, Vision Empire and Another Life discotheque.

Vision Empire, the oldest club in town dating back to the 1990s, is the most popular club. Housed in a storeyed building, the club is a true leisure facility with a massage parlour, sauna and steam bath, whose activities start early in the day for a weekend.

Later, the empire opens its doors to club goers with three wings; the majestic wing (Shs 10,000), the executive wing for the young corporates (Shs7,000) and the general wing (Shs 2,000). You don’t want to be in the general wing, though. It is usually crowded with high school students all sorts of people. The best wing for a visitor is the executive where you get to rub shoulders with young professionals and sometimes the odd celebrity.

Two steps away is Another Life discotheque. The discotheque started in December 1999 as a small tavern working off Vision Empire customers. But due to its popularity and high consumer demand, the pub in 2004 turned into a discotheque before introducing an executive annex in 2007.

Entry fee to the executive wing is Shs10,000 while the general wing is Shs3,000. The discotheque is also known for its theme nights such as pole dancing and the new entrant, Bikini night.

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