True to the old adage, old habits die hard, and Kampalans last night fished out their Sunday best to sample the nightlife in their neighbourhoods after two years.

Loud music assaulted patrons’ ears  in  pubs that officially flung their doors open . Taillights could be seen in road traffic jams snaking their way back home at a snail’s pace.

At Monalisa in Kyanja and Jaca along Bukoto/Kisasi Road patrons had to conform to social distancing rules. Most had to wear masks and at times have their temperatures read on entry.

"The trick now is to utilize outdoor space, we're in planning to use the car park space," Alex Njaulo tells New Vision. “Any outside space is going to be filled with heavy or fixed furniture to ensure social distancing, and people would need to rely on table service for drinks, with orders likely placed through an app.”

The General manager of Speke Resort Munyonyo Greg Petzer says they have new features that could involve one-way systems entry/exit points, temporary outdoor toilets, with stewards brought in to regulate both.

Down in Kabalagala suburbs, managers are identifying ways of making some profit in business.

“We are going to treat each night as an event, with a DJ or band and an admission fee,” says John Kariuki. "We intend to have the entertainment to warrant the admission charge.”

Realistically, that is the way you would have to do it to make business sense.

“And it is not just venues that rely on music that need more space. Pubs too are facing the possibility of being unable to open if the Ministry of Health Structural Operation Procedures (SOPs) are followed,” says Hope Kyeyune in Nakulabye. "We could normally fit about 50 people in here."

The popular option at many pubs is to put tables outside or in the parking lot.

And not all pubs, clubs and bars will even be lucky enough to make use of outside space.