Kampala socialites paint Fort Portal red
The guest list at the after-party held at the sensuous Mountains of the Moon Hotel read like a roll-call of la crème de crème of Kampala’s top society; you had to be reminded you were in Fort Portal town.
By Sebidde Kiryowa
The guest list at the after-party held at the sensuous Mountains of the Moon Hotel read like a roll-call of la crème de crème of Kampala’s top society; you had to be reminded you were in Fort Portal town.
Right from plush cars — a good number of cars which bore customised registration — in the parking yard, you could tell that something extraordinary was happening at the hotel.
Yet this evening party was only the icing on the real reason these glitterati had trekked 290km to this picturesque western town: the introduction of Sam Atube, a young Kampala lawyer by Byaruhanga’s daughter, Fiona Melinda Karungi, a lawyer, to her parents.
The ceremony took place last Saturday at Byaruhanga’s home in Nyabukara in Fort Portal. William Byaruhanga is an influential, wealthy city lawyer and businessman who owns Mountains of the Moon Hotel.
This invite-only evening do was the real deal. Guests, most of whom were booked into the hotel, changed into casual wear and had a chance to unwind in the refreshingly serene environs of the hotel.
Perched atop Njara hill on a 14-acre piece of land, the hotel commands a spectacular view of not only Fort Portal town which it overlooks, but of the Rwenzori Mountains ranges in the distance.
With 40 self-contained rooms, the hotel boasts three fully facilitated restaurants, a 500-seater conference hall, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a health club with sauna and steam baths, among others.
And guests, who included Keith Muhakanizi, deputy secretary to the treasury and wife; former gender minister and businessman Sam Bitangaro and wife; Jim and Susan Muhwezi; Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga and wife; Patrick Bitature and wife; construction magnate Henry Lubwama and wife; Bob Kabonero and Tom Mugenga took full advantage of them.
Other notable guests included prominent lawyers Andrew Kasirye; Masembe Kanyerezi; Moses Adriko and Phillip Karugaba. Elvis Sekyanzi and buddy Stephen Kavuma were also in attendance as were a host of mid-range corporate employees.
Because of an evening downpour, the party never really kicked off until about 9:30pm. The bar which had every kind of spirit, beer and soft drink imaginable, was open and William Byaruhanga played the bartender for the evening.
After about an hour of food and drinks, it was time for entertainment. Singer Ragga Dee was at hand to take care of business.
He took to the dance floor and invited the crowd to join him. Ragga Dee performed in their midst and nobody seemed to care about the biting cold. Excited, they all took to the open arena and danced till their legs could not support them anymore.
The guest list at the after-party held at the sensuous Mountains of the Moon Hotel read like a roll-call of la crème de crème of Kampala’s top society; you had to be reminded you were in Fort Portal town.
Right from plush cars — a good number of cars which bore customised registration — in the parking yard, you could tell that something extraordinary was happening at the hotel.
Yet this evening party was only the icing on the real reason these glitterati had trekked 290km to this picturesque western town: the introduction of Sam Atube, a young Kampala lawyer by Byaruhanga’s daughter, Fiona Melinda Karungi, a lawyer, to her parents.
The ceremony took place last Saturday at Byaruhanga’s home in Nyabukara in Fort Portal. William Byaruhanga is an influential, wealthy city lawyer and businessman who owns Mountains of the Moon Hotel.
This invite-only evening do was the real deal. Guests, most of whom were booked into the hotel, changed into casual wear and had a chance to unwind in the refreshingly serene environs of the hotel.
Perched atop Njara hill on a 14-acre piece of land, the hotel commands a spectacular view of not only Fort Portal town which it overlooks, but of the Rwenzori Mountains ranges in the distance.
With 40 self-contained rooms, the hotel boasts three fully facilitated restaurants, a 500-seater conference hall, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a health club with sauna and steam baths, among others.
And guests, who included Keith Muhakanizi, deputy secretary to the treasury and wife; former gender minister and businessman Sam Bitangaro and wife; Jim and Susan Muhwezi; Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga and wife; Patrick Bitature and wife; construction magnate Henry Lubwama and wife; Bob Kabonero and Tom Mugenga took full advantage of them.
Other notable guests included prominent lawyers Andrew Kasirye; Masembe Kanyerezi; Moses Adriko and Phillip Karugaba. Elvis Sekyanzi and buddy Stephen Kavuma were also in attendance as were a host of mid-range corporate employees.
Because of an evening downpour, the party never really kicked off until about 9:30pm. The bar which had every kind of spirit, beer and soft drink imaginable, was open and William Byaruhanga played the bartender for the evening.
After about an hour of food and drinks, it was time for entertainment. Singer Ragga Dee was at hand to take care of business.
He took to the dance floor and invited the crowd to join him. Ragga Dee performed in their midst and nobody seemed to care about the biting cold. Excited, they all took to the open arena and danced till their legs could not support them anymore.