Members of the South African delegation at the Afro-Arab Youth Congress have lauded Ugandans for their exceptional hospitality, humility, and friendliness, with many expressing a desire to consider Uganda a second home.
Benedict Mikateko, a South African youth leader and head of governance at the China-South Africa Youth Forum, spoke to Bbeg Media that Ugandans are “incredibly welcoming, friendly, and embody the spirit of ubuntu.”
Mikateko noted that he had been observing the warm treatment of visitors since his arrival, which has inspired him to plan more trips to Uganda, where he has already made friends and connected with locals.
He expressed a particular fondness for Ugandan cuisine, highlighting dishes like matooke (steamed bananas) and fresh fish from Lake Victoria. While he admitted that Ugandan meals differ from South African staples such as pap, sishanyama, samp, isigwaqani, and imbuzi, he found them delightful. Mikateko also praised Nile Special beer, describing it as exceptional, and commended the respectfulness of Ugandans, even towards strangers.
Khumo Mosupyoe from Gauteng, South Africa, described Uganda as a peaceful country with peace-loving people who are quick to forge friendships, even with newcomers. She appreciated Uganda’s climate, which offers a pleasant mix of cool and warm temperatures, along with rain and sunshine.
However, she expressed concern about mosquitoes, suggesting fumigation as a solution. Mosupyoe also highlighted the abundance of natural, unprocessed foods and fresh juices in Uganda, contrasting them with the more processed foods found elsewhere.
Phila Sambo, also from Gauteng, echoed these sentiments, describing Uganda’s hospitality as unparalleled, starting from the warm welcome at Entebbe International Airport to the friendliness of locals at Hotel Africana and beyond. She enjoyed local dishes such as sweet potatoes, mango pickle, and steamed fish, as well as Uganda’s Club beer. Sambo also praised the country’s balanced climate, with its mix of cool and warm weather.
The South African visitors extended an invitation to Ugandan and other African youths to visit South Africa and experience its diverse seasons—winter, summer, autumn, and spring—and its rich linguistic and cultural heritage, including languages such as isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, isiNdebele, Tshivenda, siSwati, Xitsonga, isiXhosa, and Sepedi.
They praised South Africa’s culinary diversity, featuring dishes like pap, samp, inyama, kota, and dombolo, as well as traditional drinks such as umqombothi, Black Label, sparkling wine, Château, Windhoek, Savanna, and Hennessy.
They also encouraged African youths to embrace South African traditional attire, including the Shweshwe worn by the Batswana, the Seana Marena of the Basotho, the Xibelani of the Tsonga, and the Umkhele of the Zulu, among others.
