EnterUganda

. Kampala, Uganda.

By Timothy Bukumunhe

Let me start off by giving you an idea of the place. Club Hollywood is located in the heart of Rukingiri town. You can see from the outside that it will have none of the sparkle of Kampala's finest: Ange, Silk and Viper. It is just a big warehouse that has been converted into a nightclub.

And once you get inside, what is there to see?
Not much I am afraid. Entry fee to this establishment is a mere sh1,000. Once inside you may find nothing to write home about. Straight ahead, in front of the entrance as you walk in, is a wooden makeshift bar called Steve's Bar, and down the far end is the DJ's box. On the left-hand side as you walk in, is the darkest of all corners - The Lovers Corner. The Lovers Corner, and indeed the whole club, is full of wooden benches, which they probably borrowed from one of the local schools.

What do you mean when say 'makeshift bar'?
The bar was the surprise of Club Hollywood. It is just a wooden partition with hardly any drinks. They have no fridge and once the beer runs out, men are hastily dispatched down the road to conduct refills. The refills on the two nights I graced the place took place more than once. So if you do go there, you might end up having to drink Chairman's ESB as opposed to one of your weaker favourite brands.

You have not said anything about the toilets.
True. Because there were none. It would appear that the owners of Club Hollywood, in their rush to set up the premises, forgot to think about toilets. To relieve yourself, you have to trek about fifty meters up the road to the next establishment. When you got there, well, I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

You had hinted about some kafuufu .
Club Hollywood is one of the dustiest clubs I have ever been to. Once the crowd got going on the dance floor, the dust that sprung up made me imagine Chipper Adams having just driven his car through the place.

And how do the locals dance?
We were taken aback at some of the dances we saw. The way men dance with men, body to body, groin into groin and chest into chest, it was too much for some of us to handle. It was like being in a gay club. However, the music was good and got us all jumping around. No complaints there.

THE BAD POINTS: The dust could kill you, it was standing room only and then that trek to the loos!
THE GOOD POINTS: Different. The locals are well into their own thing.
THE CROWD: Apart from the locals, a host of MTN personnel, The Monitor's Elizabeth Kameo and Eddie Chicco, The New Vision's Harry Sagara and Natty Dread and WBS's Chris Eritu.
CLUB HOLLYWOOD, is located in the heart of Rukungiri town. Reservations to this establishment are not required.

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