Where can I buy Ugandan beers and spirits in the UK?!
Hi, I travel frequently to Uganda for work, which has led to the suggestion that I hold a Ugandan themed party! Unfortunately I've just had my last trip over there for a while, and all I have in stock is a bottle of Waragi (Ugandan Gin)!.
Does anyone know any shops in the South of England, or any online shops where you can buy drinks from around the world!? So far I have only managed to find one site which stocks Bell lager, but is currently out of stock - anyone have any idea!?
Thanks,Www@FoodAQ@Com
Does anyone know any shops in the South of England, or any online shops where you can buy drinks from around the world!? So far I have only managed to find one site which stocks Bell lager, but is currently out of stock - anyone have any idea!?
Thanks,Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
I have a friend who is in the business of importing certain alcohols from abroad!.
When she is available, I will speak to her to see if she can shed any more light on this subject than what is below!.
[update]
Here's what she said:
"Actually, yes!. At the end of my road in London (conveniently) is Kampala Fresh Foods - it sells waragi, although at the ridiculous price of ￡1!.10 a sachet!. Not sure about Krest but it has lots of other nostalgia-rich produce!.
Address is West Green Road, Seven Sisters - if you get off the tube at Seven Sisters (Victoria Line) and then walk down West Green Road for about five minutes, it's on your left hand side!. They also speak Luganda, and LOVE it if you can chat with them!
There's also Waragi in London at a place called Owino Supermarket on London Road in Mitcham (okay so it's not technically central London)!. You can either get the tram to Mitcham Junction or a bus from Tooting!. They also sell other Ugandan delicacies such as fruity Mirinda, Club, Nile Special and Mchuzi Mix!.
Good luck!.
xxx"
So - there you have it!. A shop and a supermarket!.
------------------
If it's a Ugandan themed party, the spirits and beers need not be of Ugandan origin - Think a bit further outside of the box!.!.!.
eg!. Cocktails!.
-----------------
Considering you have to travel to Uganda for work, you must surely have some contacts there - why not ask them to purchase and send you the stuff over!?
You can Western Union / MoneyGram them the cash!.
There are many Ugandan and other Ethnic shops located around London!.
There is a market out of Brixton Tube station and towards Electric Avenue that has a stall that sells Waragi!.
I remember seeing it there this summer!.!.!.
She called it "U-Gi" or something similar!.
I don't drink, but it was an unusual alcohol!. It interested me!. I cannot remember the stall keeper's name, though I'm sure if you were to ask, you'd be pointed in the right direction!.
Your best bet, in this country (I'll get to importing in a moment) is to find a predominantly Ugandan ethnic area and scour their local markets and shops!.
On the note of imports, I found this - it may be an area worth researching if you are looking to set up a pipeline of Ugandan Alcohol into the UK as beyond personal connexions, there are few that deal with the alcohol types you describe that are reliable or have stock:
A Call to a police station where there is an enterprising individual would ensure that you received your product!.
-------------
Police, security guards top alcohol abusers - report
Monday, 6th October, 2008
By Ganzi Muhanguzi
THE POLICE and private security personnel are among the highest consumers of alcohol in the country, a report by a youth advocacy organisation has revealed!.
Uganda Youth Development Link in its report ‘The State of Alcohol Abuse in Uganda’ says up to 500 Police officers were last year reported to have serious alcohol problems!.
According to the report, released yesterday by Rogers Kasirye, the executive director, there is no focus on alcohol education and support among these institutions!.
In terms of geographical distribution, Karamoja and Isingiro top the districts with the highest alcohol abuse!.
“Karamoja recently banned alcohol because people were drinking themselves into poverty,” he said!.
The research also revealed that 22% of the patients admitted in psychiatric centres across the country are suffering from alcohol-related ailments!.
Unlike in Western countries, people in Uganda consume more alcohol as they grow older, the study found!.
“This trend is probably one of the major reasons we have such a low life expectancy,” Kasirye said!.
He added that the accessibility of alcohol to youth was very high, with most education institutions being surrounded by bars and night clubs!.
“We discovered that Makerere is surrounded by over 500 bars, with surrounding slums like Kikoni, Katanga and Kinvulu selling both local and conventional brands of alcohol!.”
He further pointed out that whereas neighbouring countries had banned the production of tot packs containing alcoholic drinks, in Ugandan it was still allowed!.
“Some of these packs are sold for as low as sh100, making alcohol very accessible to both underage people and unemployed youth,” Kasirye said, adding that they had appealed to government to ban the packs!.
He attacked the brewery industry and the media for aggressively advertising alcoholic products without attempting to show the other side of the story!.
“No one is emphasising the harmful effect alcohol has on the population!. We appeal to the media to be more balanced in their adverts!.”
The report, which recommended stronger action from the ministry of education, ministry of health and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, also called upon the Government to increase taxation on alcoholic products!.
“If the Government does not increase taxes on alcohol, it will become more accessible to Ugandans, thus worsening our already bad situation,” Kasirye advised!.
Uganda is currently ranked one of the top consumers of alcohol in the world, with a consumption rate of 19!.5 litres per person, according to a 2005 World Health Organisation report!.
----------------
Considering this report, it seems that most of the alcohol produced in Uganda is consumed in Uganda!.!.!.
It will probably be hard to get hold of it through import unless you have a personal contact, in situ, who is willing to help send the stuff over to you!.
Good luck finding some and I'll update this, at the top, after speaking with my friend!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
When she is available, I will speak to her to see if she can shed any more light on this subject than what is below!.
[update]
Here's what she said:
"Actually, yes!. At the end of my road in London (conveniently) is Kampala Fresh Foods - it sells waragi, although at the ridiculous price of ￡1!.10 a sachet!. Not sure about Krest but it has lots of other nostalgia-rich produce!.
Address is West Green Road, Seven Sisters - if you get off the tube at Seven Sisters (Victoria Line) and then walk down West Green Road for about five minutes, it's on your left hand side!. They also speak Luganda, and LOVE it if you can chat with them!
There's also Waragi in London at a place called Owino Supermarket on London Road in Mitcham (okay so it's not technically central London)!. You can either get the tram to Mitcham Junction or a bus from Tooting!. They also sell other Ugandan delicacies such as fruity Mirinda, Club, Nile Special and Mchuzi Mix!.
Good luck!.
xxx"
So - there you have it!. A shop and a supermarket!.
------------------
If it's a Ugandan themed party, the spirits and beers need not be of Ugandan origin - Think a bit further outside of the box!.!.!.
eg!. Cocktails!.
-----------------
Considering you have to travel to Uganda for work, you must surely have some contacts there - why not ask them to purchase and send you the stuff over!?
You can Western Union / MoneyGram them the cash!.
There are many Ugandan and other Ethnic shops located around London!.
There is a market out of Brixton Tube station and towards Electric Avenue that has a stall that sells Waragi!.
I remember seeing it there this summer!.!.!.
She called it "U-Gi" or something similar!.
I don't drink, but it was an unusual alcohol!. It interested me!. I cannot remember the stall keeper's name, though I'm sure if you were to ask, you'd be pointed in the right direction!.
Your best bet, in this country (I'll get to importing in a moment) is to find a predominantly Ugandan ethnic area and scour their local markets and shops!.
On the note of imports, I found this - it may be an area worth researching if you are looking to set up a pipeline of Ugandan Alcohol into the UK as beyond personal connexions, there are few that deal with the alcohol types you describe that are reliable or have stock:
A Call to a police station where there is an enterprising individual would ensure that you received your product!.
-------------
Police, security guards top alcohol abusers - report
Monday, 6th October, 2008
By Ganzi Muhanguzi
THE POLICE and private security personnel are among the highest consumers of alcohol in the country, a report by a youth advocacy organisation has revealed!.
Uganda Youth Development Link in its report ‘The State of Alcohol Abuse in Uganda’ says up to 500 Police officers were last year reported to have serious alcohol problems!.
According to the report, released yesterday by Rogers Kasirye, the executive director, there is no focus on alcohol education and support among these institutions!.
In terms of geographical distribution, Karamoja and Isingiro top the districts with the highest alcohol abuse!.
“Karamoja recently banned alcohol because people were drinking themselves into poverty,” he said!.
The research also revealed that 22% of the patients admitted in psychiatric centres across the country are suffering from alcohol-related ailments!.
Unlike in Western countries, people in Uganda consume more alcohol as they grow older, the study found!.
“This trend is probably one of the major reasons we have such a low life expectancy,” Kasirye said!.
He added that the accessibility of alcohol to youth was very high, with most education institutions being surrounded by bars and night clubs!.
“We discovered that Makerere is surrounded by over 500 bars, with surrounding slums like Kikoni, Katanga and Kinvulu selling both local and conventional brands of alcohol!.”
He further pointed out that whereas neighbouring countries had banned the production of tot packs containing alcoholic drinks, in Ugandan it was still allowed!.
“Some of these packs are sold for as low as sh100, making alcohol very accessible to both underage people and unemployed youth,” Kasirye said, adding that they had appealed to government to ban the packs!.
He attacked the brewery industry and the media for aggressively advertising alcoholic products without attempting to show the other side of the story!.
“No one is emphasising the harmful effect alcohol has on the population!. We appeal to the media to be more balanced in their adverts!.”
The report, which recommended stronger action from the ministry of education, ministry of health and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, also called upon the Government to increase taxation on alcoholic products!.
“If the Government does not increase taxes on alcohol, it will become more accessible to Ugandans, thus worsening our already bad situation,” Kasirye advised!.
Uganda is currently ranked one of the top consumers of alcohol in the world, with a consumption rate of 19!.5 litres per person, according to a 2005 World Health Organisation report!.
----------------
Considering this report, it seems that most of the alcohol produced in Uganda is consumed in Uganda!.!.!.
It will probably be hard to get hold of it through import unless you have a personal contact, in situ, who is willing to help send the stuff over to you!.
Good luck finding some and I'll update this, at the top, after speaking with my friend!.Www@FoodAQ@Com