Igongo Cultural Centre
Igongo Cultural Centre
4.5
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
78 reviews
Excellent
36
Very good
31
Average
9
Poor
1
Terrible
1
coupr30058
Gulfport, Mississippi47 contributions
Oct 2020 • Solo
The restaurant was horrible. I had to go to the front to ask for drinks after my soup was brought out. Then a young lady who was not my server comes and takes a chair from my table. Five minutes later come back and takes one of my personal napkins, grabs silverware from the table, wipes it off, then walks away with it. She never said a word to me as if the table was empty. Here's the part that hurt, after telling one of the waiters (he wore glasses) I stayed to see if she would apologize, nothing. I didn't finish my food and reported it to the front desk where I'm sure nothing was done. Only then did one of the waiters offered to bring here out to apologize. I declined. Btw...they asked me did I want to pay for my drinks after I got them...BEFORE I EVEN GOT MY MEAL. How low class. Sounds like a Walmart in a bad neighborhood, doesn't it? Eat somewhere that everyone is respected, not just some.
Written 29 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmine38Chichester UK
Chichester, UK1,983 contributions
Feb 2022
Ok for a quick stop. Museum was a bit pricey for what it is at $7. It has quite basic presentation and information on the development of the people and customs in the Ankole region, plus a rather random big display on milk. It takes no more than half hour to look around.
We didn't stay for lunch but the coffee lattes we ordered were nice. The craft shop was disappointing.
We didn't stay for lunch but the coffee lattes we ordered were nice. The craft shop was disappointing.
Written 20 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J0s_V_12
Lisbon, Portugal23 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
Located just a few miles outside Mbarara and halfway to Lake Mbuuro National Park, the Igongo Cultural Centre offers to its visitors a handful of possibilities.
Set in the grounds of what was once a palace of a legendary King in the 17th Century, the Centre comprises the Eriijukiro Museum, the Eitaramiro Cultural Village, the Kaahwa Kanzire Restaurant and the Nkwanzi Shop.
The Eriijukiro Museum is the main attraction of the Centre and, for an 20,000 UGX entry fee you can have a glimpse of the region's history.
The Eitaramiro Cultural Village showcases traditional huts of Southwestern Uganda.
The Kaahwa Kanzire Restaurant is for sure, the best restaurant in Mbarara and its vicinity. Not only the food quality and variety is good, but the quality of the service really makes a difference in comparison with other restaurants in Mbarara. If you are planning to eat in Mbarara, you should consider this restaurant as your best option, although it is a few miles outside the city centre.
The Nkwanzi Shop offers a limited variety of crafts and books, and you won't find bargains, but the crafts have good quality and the books are all about the region or Uganda.
In conclusion, a very pleasant place just outside Mbarara, to have a meal or to spend a relaxed afternoon anytime.
Set in the grounds of what was once a palace of a legendary King in the 17th Century, the Centre comprises the Eriijukiro Museum, the Eitaramiro Cultural Village, the Kaahwa Kanzire Restaurant and the Nkwanzi Shop.
The Eriijukiro Museum is the main attraction of the Centre and, for an 20,000 UGX entry fee you can have a glimpse of the region's history.
The Eitaramiro Cultural Village showcases traditional huts of Southwestern Uganda.
The Kaahwa Kanzire Restaurant is for sure, the best restaurant in Mbarara and its vicinity. Not only the food quality and variety is good, but the quality of the service really makes a difference in comparison with other restaurants in Mbarara. If you are planning to eat in Mbarara, you should consider this restaurant as your best option, although it is a few miles outside the city centre.
The Nkwanzi Shop offers a limited variety of crafts and books, and you won't find bargains, but the crafts have good quality and the books are all about the region or Uganda.
In conclusion, a very pleasant place just outside Mbarara, to have a meal or to spend a relaxed afternoon anytime.
Written 6 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher W
Newark-on-Trent, UK44 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
The Igongo Cultural Centre at Bihalrwe is billed as the best museum in Uganda and the venue also boasts an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch. We pass on the buffet but opt instead for a light snack of Ebinyoba, matoke, posho and potato.
Ebinyoba – a delicious peanut satay sauce.
Matoke – a dollop of steamed and mashed plantains.
Posho (South African pap) – a dollop of steamed and mashed cassava and flour mix.
Potato – roasted.
We are so fat. Again.
As we are waiting for our food to arrive a band is setting up in the park gardens. Hoping for some cool African jazz what we get is a few lively numbers (good) and then it soon segues into Whitney Houston, Danny Boy and Dolly Parton (strange) and then the inevitable Anglican hymns (boring). Fewer than 1% admit to being atheist or agnostic.
It is Sunday so everybody is out in their Sunday best. It is a family occasion to meet for lunch in the park. Everybody looks so smart, spick and span and well groomed. An explosion of colour. We have been on the road for four days and are grimy and scruffy in comparison.
The museum comprises five rooms tracing the history of Uganda from the Stone Age to the start of the 20th century. One room is given over to collaboration with the Swiss Milk Industry to try to establish cheese production in this area.
This area, the Ankole Region, has been a hotbed of political intrigue for many centuries. Kings and queens deposed, re-installed, deposed again, murders, tribal wars, cattle raids, famine and a solar eclipse in 1520.
Ebinyoba – a delicious peanut satay sauce.
Matoke – a dollop of steamed and mashed plantains.
Posho (South African pap) – a dollop of steamed and mashed cassava and flour mix.
Potato – roasted.
We are so fat. Again.
As we are waiting for our food to arrive a band is setting up in the park gardens. Hoping for some cool African jazz what we get is a few lively numbers (good) and then it soon segues into Whitney Houston, Danny Boy and Dolly Parton (strange) and then the inevitable Anglican hymns (boring). Fewer than 1% admit to being atheist or agnostic.
It is Sunday so everybody is out in their Sunday best. It is a family occasion to meet for lunch in the park. Everybody looks so smart, spick and span and well groomed. An explosion of colour. We have been on the road for four days and are grimy and scruffy in comparison.
The museum comprises five rooms tracing the history of Uganda from the Stone Age to the start of the 20th century. One room is given over to collaboration with the Swiss Milk Industry to try to establish cheese production in this area.
This area, the Ankole Region, has been a hotbed of political intrigue for many centuries. Kings and queens deposed, re-installed, deposed again, murders, tribal wars, cattle raids, famine and a solar eclipse in 1520.
Written 13 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenneth Tumusiime
Kampala, Uganda271 contributions
Set in a low land with a propensity to get extremely chilly in the evenings. However management aware of this ensured that there are mobile fire places littered in the compound. The setting, landscaping, flowers, and decor are first class.
The food, whether buffet or bbq is mouthwatering. Service is excellent.
Please check out the museum whilst there. Lots of Ankole history.
Simply put, when travelling to western Uganda and going through mbarara. It would be a crime or sin not to check out igongo.
The food, whether buffet or bbq is mouthwatering. Service is excellent.
Please check out the museum whilst there. Lots of Ankole history.
Simply put, when travelling to western Uganda and going through mbarara. It would be a crime or sin not to check out igongo.
Written 23 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agaba Nickson
1 contribution
Dec 2012
As atrue resident of biharwe where IGONGO CULTURAL CENTRE is situated it is for real the place is a must vist for travellers as it shows da true culture of the ankole people & afracan culture,it also acts as a welcoming image of da beautiful district of mbarara as you are travelling from da east direction which makes it a place of attraction & pleasant place in mbarara aplace you should consider as your best option.
Written 31 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Quicksilvr44
Cheyenne, WY65 contributions
Aug 2018 • Business
The Cultural Centre was great. We went here with a few extra hours of time. We got a personal tour and the entrance fee for mzungu's is 25K shilling ($6.50 USD). There are great exhibits and they take pride in their history. Be sure to ask about the experiential tours where you can make banana beer and taste it.
Written 7 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saddam K
Mbarara, Uganda19 contributions
Feb 2018
the museum of southern western Uganda, divided in sections that is purposeful for study by the students and also for adventure, its the leading cultural centre in Mbarara, professional guides awaits.
Written 16 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peggy L
Boston, MA133 contributions
Sept 2017 • Business
I've been here quite a few times for the food. Go to the restaurant at the top. For lunch you can sit on the nice breezy terrace to enjoy your meal. They have the broadest menu I've seen in Western Uganda, with a nice selection of Ugandan and Western food (both are good, though I do highly recommend their fried whole tilapia). The interior is very tastefully decorated, service is friendly, and they take credit cards. It is a 10 - 15 minute drive out of Mbarara town, but well worth the trip. They can also accommodate large groups with a set buffet meal. Though I don't usually love buffets, I was pretty impressed by the spread they put together (menu and prices can be negotiated), and everyone left full and happy.
Written 26 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tem4j
31 contributions
June 2017 • Friends
Came here for dinner and the food took close to 2.5 hours to come out. Even when it did come out, some of the orders were wrong so that was disappointing. The museum portion of the cultural center was enjoyable as the group go to learn more about the people and cultures of the area.
Written 12 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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