Kabalega Restaurant & Terrace
Named for Omukama Chwa II Kabalega, the king of Bunyoro — a dining room that doubles as a gallery of the kingdom he ruled.
A Dining Room and a Gallery
The restaurant is named in honour of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega, the king who resisted British colonisation and whose kingdom, Bunyoro-Kitara, was once among the largest in the region.
Masindi Hotel opened in 1923, built by the railway as a stop on the road that ran west towards Lake Albert, the Congo and the Sudan. The dining room has been feeding travellers on that road ever since.
The walls carry antique art and artefacts from the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, so the room is as much a gallery as a restaurant. On occasion you may find yourself sharing it with His Majesty Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, a descendant of Kabalega and a patron of the hotel.
The kitchen cooks Continental, Indian, Chinese and East African dishes side by side — which is what a century of travellers from every direction leaves behind.
Last orders at 21:45. Early breakfast and packed breakfasts or lunches can be arranged with advance notice for park departures. Groups of eight or more are asked to reserve or order ahead. The à la carte menu is served when there is no buffet.
Where Hemingway Raised a Glass
In January 1954 Ernest Hemingway survived two plane crashes in two days near Murchison Falls and at Butiaba. The battered party was driven down the road to Masindi and spent the night here — and by one eyewitness account the hotel’s gin stock did not survive the evening. The bar that carries his name keeps that spirit of adventure alive.
Enjoy Hemingway-inspired cocktails, a selection of local and classic spirits, and refreshing cold beers. Settle in with a book from the bar's library, play a board game, or take on a friendly match at the pool table or table tennis.
What Is Your Empaako?
In Bunyoro, every person is given an extra name — a warm, affectionate Empaako that says you belong here. It is something like a nickname, but more formal, and it is used as a greeting and a mark of respect.
After your meal, ask your waiter for our Empaako ceremony and yours will be revealed. You might leave as an Amooti, an Abwooli, or the mighty Okaali — which is reserved for kings, and for exceptionally charming guests.
Part tradition, part fun, and entirely Banyoro.
How This Kitchen Runs
The hotel runs entirely off-grid on solar power, so energy-intensive work in the kitchen — the baking in particular — is scheduled for the hours of strongest sunlight.
We limit single-use plastic wherever we can. There are no plastic straws here, and drinks are served in glass bottles whenever they are available in glass.
Produce and supplies are bought locally wherever possible, from Masindi’s own farmers and artisans. It shortens the distance food travels and keeps the money in the district.
We are working towards Fair Trade Tourism certification, and we invest in conservation and cultural heritage in the neighbouring national park.
Come and Eat With Us
You do not need to be staying to eat here. Groups of eight or more, please give us notice so the kitchen can look after you properly.
reservations@masindihotel.com · +256 772 420 130
And the Hemingway BarBuffets for Groups
The kitchen also caters conferences, retreats and group stays: buffets in Ugandan and Kenyan, Continental, Chinese, Indian and barbecue styles, tea breaks between sessions, and packed lunches for anyone leaving early for the park.
Groups and conferences