Wishing you a Season filled with Wonders – Christmas Thoughts from Uganda
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Pearl of Africa, where the Season of Natural Wonders never ends
Christmas Thoughts for you from Uganda-The Pearl of Africa: Kabiza Wilderness Safaris sends warm Christmas and New Year greetings from the heart of Africa.
Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, where the wonders of nature surround us every day, we wish our clients and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
You may wonder what Christmas is like in Africa, specifically in Uganda. It’s a celebration with a unique focus. Here, the emphasis is not so much on presents, but on Presence, the joy of being together with Family and friends.
During this festive Christmas season, many people living in cities like Kampala journey back to their villages to reunite with their loved ones. Christmas is a time to cherish traditions and celebrate as they have always done. In Uganda, the measure of success is often determined by what you can bring back to your village during this particular time. Practical essentials like flour, oil, sugar, tea, bread, margarine, and some cookies are highly valued, while anything extra is considered a bonus.
At Kabiza Wilderness Safaris, Christmas and New Year are our busiest times. While most Ugandans focus on family celebrations, we are dedicated to providing our clients with unforgettable holiday safaris. Our joy comes from seeing our clients enjoy themselves in Uganda. We extend our well wishes to all, as each of us strives to create a meaningful and memorable season for our clients and visitors.
May your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, and the beauty of Uganda’s natural wonders. And as we welcome the New Year, it may bring abundant blessings and unique adventures.
Christmas Thoughts from the Pearl of Africa for you:
In Uganda, the celebration of Christmas holds deep meaning for its people. Life in Uganda can be challenging, with daily struggles for survival, providing for families, education expenses, healthcare costs, and necessities. However, during this festive season, the focus shifts to what truly matters: Family, friends, and the reason for the Season—the birth of Christ.
Spirituality is deeply ingrained in Ugandan society, with the majority identifying as Christians and a significant Muslim population as well. Regardless of their religious background, Ugandans come together to celebrate the Season. Christians invite their Muslim neighbors and relatives to join their feasts, fostering a sense of unity and shared joy.
Faith plays a vital role in the lives of Ugandans, evident in their daily routines and celebrations. Many attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, notably Catholics and members of the Church of Uganda. It is a time for spiritual reflection and gratitude.
For well-to-do Ugandans, Christmas may involve traveling with their families to lodges in national parks. However, this is a luxury enjoyed by a minority compared to the country’s population of 45 million. Most Ugandans travel to their villages to be with their families and friends during this time.
Unlike in many Western countries, the exchange of presents is not as typical in Uganda. Financial constraints make buying gifts, especially toys, challenging for most people. Instead, Christmas is a time for families and friends to gather, feast, and rejoice in the blessings of having each other.
Local shops and kiosks are decorated with garlands and lights, adding a festive touch. Artists may paint nativity scenes, creating a joyful atmosphere. Despite the heat of the African climate, the spirit of Christmas prevails, with the sounds of Christmas music filling the air.
Hotels welcome choirs to sing for guests, and churches prepare for Christmas Eve events. Children and parents dress in new clothes, often purchased from the secondhand market, while women showcase their traditional dresses. The vibrant colors of African fashion have gained popularity, adding to the festive
ambiance.
As Christmas approaches, public transportation costs rise, and prices for food items such as Chicken, goat, beef, eggs, sugar, oil, vegetables, beer, and local Gin significantly increase. Lowering costs is uncommon, with few exceptions. Food holds great significance during the Christmas celebration in Uganda. Chicken Luwombo is a favorite in the central region, and families enjoy a variety of dishes, including meats, bananas, potatoes, posho, groundnut sauce, cassava, and yams.
Even those with limited means come together with their neighbors and friends to pool resources and celebrate. Goats, cows, or chickens are often slaughtered, ensuring everyone can partake in the festivities. Children’s excitement fills the air, and adults look forward to a day of relaxation, friendship, and delicious food.
Ugandans, like people worldwide, celebrate Christmas with Family and friends. The ways of celebration may differ, but the spirit remains the same. In addition to church gatherings, Christmas in Uganda includes concerts featuring renowned contemporary artists, lively dancing, and the enjoyment of local beers and spirits like Waragi.
As you celebrate this Christmas season, may the spirit of unity, joy, and gratitude embrace you, just as it does in the Pearl of Africa.
RECIPE: Christmas Chicken LUWOMBO FROM UGANDA
A favorite Christmas dish in Uganda is ‘luwombo,’ which is Chicken (or other meat) in concise (French Method of roughly chopping soft foods often applied to vegetables, such as tomatoes) steamed in banana leaves. Feasting and merry-makSeasone incomplete without the famed ‘luwombo.’
‘Matooke’ (green bananas) are a staple crop cooked and eaten like potatoes and made into fermented wine, drunk with the ‘luwombo.’ The Chicken is cooked and served in banana leaf envelopes. I am sure your greengrocer has Seasonna leaves. Hmmm.
The most delicious and favored “luwombo” sauces are pork, Chicken, meat, mushroom in a nut sauce, and smoked fish in nut sauce.
The ‘luwombo’ sauce is never fried, and as a result, it has a fantastic rare taste. After hours of prolonged cooking in an airtight container made of a wilted banana leaf.
The’ matooke’ is harvested two days before as a Seasonal dish. They are peeled and wrapped in several banana leaves, then placed in a saucepan and simmered over a medium fire for up to six hours. The golden-colored ‘matooke’ is mashed and served with Familyuwombo’ sauce.
To make ‘luwombo,’ cut the Chicken into four pieces and grill them carefully until they’re yellowish-brown. Smoked meat can be cut into serving portions.
Make the Luwombo dish by mixing tomatoes and chopped onions, then stewing them over low heat in a pot for about fifteen minutes. Add tomato paste and water to get a rich, tomato-based gravy, and add a chicken-flavored cube or spices.
Preparing Chicken Luwombo for Christmas
Getting Ready for Christmas with Chicken Luwombo!
Here’s a quick and informal guide to preparing Chicken Luwombo, a delightful Ugandan disFamilyect for the festive Season:
- Get a medium-size fresh banana leaf, ensuring it’s intact.
- Hold the leaf over the fire to wilt it slightly, but be careful not to burn it.
- Fold the leaf in half, bringing the edges together.
- Place your chosen ingredients inside the banana leaf envelope.
- Tie the top of the leaf with banana fiber, creating an airtight seal.
- Line a saucepan with banana stalks and add water to create steam.
- Carefully place the banana leaf envelopes in the saucepan, ensuring they don’t touch the bottom or get immersed in water. You can add a few cut banana stems at the bottom to elevate them.
- Steam the luwombo for approximately three hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the Chicken to become tender.
- Once ready, open the leaf envelopes and enjoy a delicious meal!
From all of us at Kabiza Wilderness Safaris, we extend warm wishes for a Merry Christmas filled with joy, surrounded by your loved ones such as family and friends.
Merry Christmas from the Pearl of Africa – Uganda! We invite you to embark on an incredible journey to discover our awe-inspiring primates, magnificent wildlife, and breathtaking scenery and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of our people. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you this year and sharing the festive spirit.
