With a great location, lush green gardens, lovely rooms and plenty of atmosphere, Kabira Country Club is the place to stay in Kampala. The grounds are huge and manicured, broken up by an enormous lap pool that acts as the hotels centerpiece. Rooms wrap around the pool and look out onto the terrace restaurant, the large gym and the squash court. In fact, even if you’re not staying here, it’s worth stopping by for a swim or a meal.

I stayed in a first floor suite, which came with its own self-catering kitchen (including a tall fridge) and a lovely sitting room, furnished with two sofas. Beyond the sliding doors, a wide veranda made a perfect sundowner spot. The bedroom was smaller than the lounge area but equally comfortable; it also had its own patio door access onto the decking. The bathroom was equipped with a tub as well as a shower.

Wi-fi access was free and fast, and it worked well throughout the grounds (staff will hand you a long list of passwords upon arrival.) Fitness enthusiasts eager to step away from their laptops and into the gym or squash court will be very happy here. And there’s no doubt that the pool here is the best in Kampala.

A proud catering manager oversees the fine restaurant, where the quality of the food surpassed my expectations. The breakfast buffet includes plenty of hot and cold options, including fresh watermelon juice, lots of Ugandan fruit, and some tasty Indian dishes – including lentil dahl and sweet cardamom pastries. Dinner is served by candlelight on the terrace; there’s a long menu that includes meat, fish and pasta, plus more Indian choices. I ordered freshwater tilapia fish, served with spinach and grated Parmesan, and was impressed.

It’s very hard to fault Kabira Country Club, and we certainly wouldn’t hesitate to come back here. The amenities are fantastic, there’s excellent security, and the rooms ensure a good night’s sleep. It’s also a great place to hold informal business meetings, and really does feel like the epicenter of Kampala’s hotel scene.