Bananas are a staple food in Uganda and that is obvious when you see the many, many banana palms planted in every nook and cranny around the country.
There are five different types of bananas grown here, each with a specific use.
Gonja bananas are for roasting on a grill or in the oven. This variety can also be fried.
Embidde bananas are fermented to make a local brew. The ripe bananas are mashed with grass releasing the juice which can be consumed or have sorghum added to it to begin the fermentation process. The resulting brew is distilled producing the local drink.
Ndizzi bananas are very small and eaten as a raw fruit.
Bogoya bananas are larger that the ndizzi variety and also eaten raw as a fruit.
Matooke bananas are steamed, mashed and eaten hot.
We have had the pleasure of having many of these varieties at our distribution lunch feasts.
Bananas are transported in every imaginable method from boda bodas, on the backs of bicycles, in baskets on the top of women's heads, to large transport trucks.
Bananas being transported by boda boda.
Bananas figure prominently in local art as well (picture).
Clearly, bananas are an important part of this culture.
Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦