A night out in misty Kabale town

The moment we arrived at the Food Station in Kabaraga ,which is arguably the highest point overlooking Kabale Town, we opted to put our heads and hearts together for the nightlife in the valley. Prisca Baike, the queen of the van, had intense excitement. It wafood, s her maiden trip to Kabale and a work trip for the entire team of six.
The Food Station has delicious food, a bar and barbecue wing. The terrace offered a dreamy view and took us back in time. Hearing the sounds of passing trucks as we took in the nyama choma aroma was heavenly. The air at 5pm was like a refreshing sip of mineral water after hours in hell fire. As the passengers ‘refilled’ their empty bottles, Angel, the driver and I, felt the need to stretch our muscles and use the lavatory.

Tale of Kabale
The green scenery and breathtaking hills welcomed us to Kabale, a famous but virgin town. It is the heart of Kigezi sub-region, the land that binds the Bakiga who speak Rukiga. Kabale in Rukiga means a small stone. There are different folktales, but according to Festo Karwemera, author of Empandiika ya Runyankore-Rukiga, the name ‘Kabale’ was derived from a small stone. Eye witnesses revealed to him that there was a mysterious small, round and heavy stone. The stone was located at the current grounds of the Kabale District headquarters.
The popular legend is of curious young men who were out grazing and made a futile attempt to roll the stone. The object became a centre of attention for many folks in the village. Sorrow and misery befell the parents of the young men and whenever they inquired about the whereabouts of their sons, the feedback was, “bari aha kabale” (they are at the stone). Meanwhile, the Europeans who arrived in the region in the late 19th century could not pronounce aha kabale, but rather spoke Kabale with ease. It is believed that the colonialists stole the stone.
Kabale is inhabited mainly by the Bakiga (Highlanders), Bahororo and Bafumbira, people of character and vibe.
Finally, we were in a misty town searching for accommodation between Shs30,000 and Shs40,000. After weighing available options, we checked into Gorilla Hilltop Hotel. The facility has modest, but spacious rooms, decent breakfast and basic services. It is convenient for night thrill- seekers.
The best part of our night was exploring other bars. Prisca and O’Neal led the way as they looked forward to a charming night. Night life in Kabale has something for everyone.

At the lounge
It is one of the highly rated bars in Kabale. If you are a beer lover, you cannot party in the town without checking out Rays Lounge. The corporate, managers and students patronise the bar. Not so crowded, the night turned brighter when we bumped into Kabale University students shooting a club scene as part of their Mass communication film project. “Why are you filming us?” O’Neal demanded. The cast and production team ignored. A verbal exchange ensued and at some point, Prisca calmed down the situation. Later on, the students apologised and exchanged pleasantries. Upon hearing O’Neal’s experience in TV production, they sought his expertise and he assumed the role of director. Out of excitement, he got undivided attention leaving us with no alternative, but to excuse ourselves to the next hangout.

Misty feel
It is difficult to get into Mist bar should you not be deemed cool enough to go past the mean- looking bouncers. Once inside we had a busy night. The energy got kicked up at 11pm as music tempo changed. The dance floor was packed with crowds from all walks of life, tourists and locals of varying generations.
It also seemed a favourite for football fans, showing most games on giant screens. We partied until we almost dropped down. From the nightlife, Kabale is steadily joining the ranks of towns that never sleep.

The resort
Probably my favourite place to have pizza in Kabale. Although they have a huge selection of meat delicacies, this turned out to be one of the “go-to” places on a Saturday. A few minutes drive to Lake Bunyonyi, Birds nest has redefined romantic lounge night with intimate and cosy fires on the deck overlooking Uganda’s deepest lake. This coupled with exciting classy cocktails, wide range of beers, spirits and wine. The night we visited Bunyonyi brought enjoyment at this luxurious boutique hotel designed to render a special kind of feeling that Prisca only whispered after patronising the bar area.