Bwambale: The blind chef with great culinary vision

Chris Bwambale was born in Kasese district in 1989 to the late Sande James Mundele and Hellen Mbabazi, who is also deceased. Bwambale was born healthy like any other child, but at the age of 18 (2006), a bout of malaria damaged veins in his eyes, leaving him visually impaired.

Doctors told his parents the late diagnosis was responsible for the loss of vision.

“My parents tried as much as possible to save my sight, but the doctor told us that even if someone brought spectacles from heaven for me to see, my sight would never be restored because the veins had been damaged,” he says.

That marked the end of his formal education journey.

Becoming a chef

One day, while at home with his father, Bwambale heard about an association for visually impaired people in Uganda, called the Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB). He went there to inquire about opportunities. Upon arrival, Bwambale learned of an institute in Jinja that was looking for blind children to train in vocational and life skills.

His father encouraged him to enrol and he visited the institute in Jinja.

While there, Bwambale discovered a variety of courses offered, including furniture making, cookery and basket weaving.

“Since I was already passionate about cooking, I decided to take up cookery,” Bwambale said.

At home, his primary role was cooking. Even when visitors came, Bwambale was in charge of preparing meals. He saw joining the cookery course at the vocational school as a great opportunity to perfect and professionalise his skills.

Getting his first job

After two years of training, Bwambale returned home to look for a job, but it was tough. He turned to self-employment, purchasing silverfish (mukene) and transporting it to Kampala for sale.

“I also tried basket weaving, knitting and even singing gospel music — I recorded a song. I also tried rearing pigs and chickens. Over the course of three years, I bought a smartphone, which I still use. It was the phone that helped me get my chef job,” he says.

The job was posted on a WhatsApp group that Bwambale belonged to.

“I called the number and was called for an interview the following week and got the job. A white gentleman called and told me to report for work the very next day,” Bwambale recalls.

At his job, he was initially placed in food preparation/stewarding but was later promoted to chef, where he practiced and mastered his skills. His boss was supportive, always checking in to see if he faced any challenges with his colleagues or at work. He says the support gave him confidence and made him feel safe in his role.

Challenges he faces

Bwambale says at his former workplace, he struggled with poor attitude from some co-workers who undermined him, but with his focus, he was able to change their mindset.

“My main orders were fast foods, but even after proving myself, some people would gossip about me and despise what I had prepared. But that did not stop me from pursuing my dream,” Bwambale says.

The equipment used in the kitchen can also be a challenge for blind chefs. Bwambale says as a visually impaired person, he requires slightly larger items than usual.

“When frying an egg, the frying pan needs to be bigger, and the spatula should be wide enough so that when he flips the egg, it does not fall out.”

Tasting his meal

During my interaction with Bwambale, he prepared chicken, Irish potatoes and fried eggs.

Following his recipe, all the three items were placed on one plate, with the chicken and Irish potatoes made as katogo.

While he was cutting the ingredients, such as tomatoes, onions, green pepper and vegetables, it was hard to tell that Bwambale could not see. He sliced them just as a sighted person would, without any cuts. When I asked him how he mastered the kitchen, Bwambale said the first three days in a new place are enough for him to feel and master his surroundings.

Even while cooking, he lit the gas without burning himself. When determining if the cooking oil was ready, Bwambale said he feels the heat and smells the oil when it is ready. Regarding spices, he differentiates them by smell, even when shopping at the market. He can tell the colour of green peppers while purchasing them, even though he has a guide with him for support.

Bwambale is married with children. Currently, he is hoping for another chef job after his previous workplace closed due to COVID-19. Despite this setback, he is still holding onto his dream of starting his own restaurant. He hopes to get enough capital to open up his own restaurant.

What others say

Thomas Brown (former boss at Mojjo Restaurant in Muyenga, Kampala)

He worked with us at Urban Chevre in Muyenga from when we opened in March 2021 until we unfortunately closed in July 2024. He was the longest continually serving team member. Chris was reliable and hardworking. He was even the staff representative for about two years. He just got on with it and focused on his work.

Most of our clients wouldn’t even realise we had a blind chef, even though they saw him many times.

Lydia Bwambale (spouse)

Chris is self-driven and always strives for the best when it comes to cooking. I am always challenged when preparing meals for him because he expects nothing less than the best at all times. Through him, I have learned a lot in this field, and I always try my best to meet his expectations when preparing his meals.

I get inspired whenever I see him working hard and living his life to the fullest and independently, despite being an orphan. At times, we face challenges as a family, but he gives me hope through his advice and his gospel songs.

Chris has always been my best friend and will always be my best choice.

I can never forget how much Chris loves me. He travelled all the way from Uganda to Kenya, despite his blindness, just to introduce himself and give me my dream wedding.

At times, I even forget that he is blind because of how hardworking he is.