Nakulabye also Naakulabye is a working-class neighborhood within the city of Kampala. It is centered on the confluence of the Kampala-Hoima Road Southbound, Kampala-Hoima Road Northbound, Makerere Hill Road and Balintuma Road.

It is bordered by Makerere Kikoni to the north, Makerere University Main Campus to the northeast and east, Old Kampala to the southeast, Namirembe Hill to the south, Lusaze to the west and Kasubi to the northwest.

Getting to Nakulabye from Kampala is easy and convenient. It is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), by road, north of Kampala’s central business district.

Why visit Nakulabye

Once you get to Nakulabye you will be met with numerous shops, bars and restaurants and a busy farmers market and that is where the fun starts.

Nakulabye if the many bars won’t already give you a hint is a fun neighbourhood which never sleeps. The area is renowned for its energetic and fun nightlife.

For a start to help you not get lost, Nakulabye is divided into nine villages which are sometimes referred to as zones. The nine are Suzanna, Elliot, Terrace, Masiro, Baliruo, Mujomba, Church, Seventh Day and Tree Shadow villages.

Forget the rest, just remember Suzanna and Elliot because they literally get their names from popular bars found in there. Told you it’s a fun neighborhood.

Nightlife in Nakulabye

It takes two to tango so don’t be wet blanket while in Nakulabye. Being a social place, hook up with one or two of the many escorts residing on Nabulabye found on Exotic Uganda and be prepared to party until dawn.

Ugandans are famous for their drinking abilities and are party animals. They are social and polite so finding a mate here won’t be like looking for a needle on a haystack. You can drop by any of the several bars found in the area and convert it into your hunting ground. A visitor to the area who wants to enjoy a cold beer preferably Nile Gold, one of Uganda’s smoothest beers, will be spoilt for choice, considering the number of bars in Nakulabye. And they are so close to each other that when you walk out of one, you are a few strides from another.

Being near Makerere University you can be sure to bump into some thick, pretty, ebony, and hell yeah sexy students will be dropping by the neighbourhood for drinks and fun so more options for you.

Aside from the bars, the nightlife is punctuated by a booming roadside vending business. Roadsides of Nakulabye are dotted with charcoal stoves from which street food like chips, chicken and chapatis are fried.

Daytime in Nakulabye

Daytime in Nakulabye is in contrast to its lively nightlife. The bar patrons are away and majority of the residents work in the central business district so the area becomes a little quieter. Activity shifts from the bars to the many shops, supermarkets, salons and the restaurants though it is not vigorous.

This is the perfect time to tour the area as you await the night. One place you can visit is Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi and get to hear how the place acquired its name. Most of the site is agricultural, farmed by traditional methods. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome.

During Kabaka Ssuna’s era, his palace sat at the top of the neighbouring Kasubi Hill. From the hill, he could easily see what was happening in the much lower lands of Nakulabye.

Whenever he noticed any commotion, he would order for the subjects of the turmoil to be presented before him. Once they were brought, he would open his statements with the line, “Nakulabye” meaning “I saw you” in Luganda and then tell what the culprit was doing. Eventually the area was called Nakulabye.

If history is not your thing and you’re craving to see some flesh then make a point to visit Tree Shadow, Church and Seventh Day villages which mostly house Makerere students since they are near the institution.

As you tour the area you will notice that near the main roads, there are decent buildings. including several high-rise student hostels. Kiyindi is a zone predominantly occupied by expatriates and probably where you should stay.

As one ventures deeper into the neighborhood, the environment degrades into one of Kampala’s biggest slums. Kiwunya and Kiyaaye are the two slum dwellings near Nakulabye and if you can avoid it. Crime is high in the area and tales of victims of metal bar hit men are common.

In short, Nakulabye is the perfect place if you are the type who doesn’t sleep much.