allAfrica.com: Uganda: Hang Outs Defining Patrons (Page 1 of 2)

There's a soft mist of rain in the air on this Friday night, but the queue still stretches from the red carpet. One can feel the beats that are floating from the club, enticing the eager clubbers.

Young women in skinny jeans and little dresses that would make any grandmother frown, are lining up, waiting to enter. Once in the narrow corridor, the guest list and amount of cash in one's wallets determine where their eardrums are going to be punished from. However some have learnt that they have "face value" and thrive on it when getting into clubs.

With its four different levels the club celebrates more anniversaries than most married couples and the one you fall in depends entirely on your position in the social landscape.

Club Silk which is mostly for youngsters and those in their vacation is the cheapest but most of them scrap together the Shs4,000 in order to enter. If they are lucky they may be able to add in a bottle or two of soda but you are not going to find them sipping Martinis. Silk Royale is a favourite for university students (campusers) and kyeyo returnees.

Friday nights are popular with reggae and ragga being the crowd puller, although some are wishing that TFI (Techno, Funk, Indie ) would be resurrected by a good Samarian as it pulled in crowds every first Friday of the month. The executive wing's name speaks for itself. Silk Lounge and Oxygen are for the top-notch and entrance goes for Shs20,000.

Well decorated with wide screens, homely sofas and the right dose of air conditioning, there is no reason why someone shouldn't be comfortable. This is where you are going to find people ordering the likes of Jack Daniels and Baileys.

Elvis Ssekyanzi (the owner) can be a bit generous and dishes out the odd membership to his loyal patrons that gets you and a guest free entrance, but it is for the selected few.

If you don't fall into this category you will have to rely on a number of contacts and sources for a complimentary. Out of all the clubs, it is the one that attracts the most local artistes such as Bobi Wine and Bebe Cool, and television and radio presenters. But if there are no guest artistes slotted in to perform, resident DJs Ivan, Alberto and Emma can be seen playing tracks.

Just a few weeks ago the club hosted Reggae artist Elephant Man for their annual street bash, an event that has grown over the years.

The Club Silk street bash is very entertaining, in case you looking for somewhere to spend New Year's Eve.

Ange Noir Old is gold

If you are ever in search of oldies music then there is no other place to be other than this five storied discotheque, nobody knows how to spin the classics like they do. With a swanky mirrored interior and carpeted floors, the multi coloured lights are not the only attraction.

It is strategically positioned on First Street, well established, but unfortunately the higher you are up in the social chain, the more stairs you have to climb.

The entrance fee starts from Shs5,000 and go as high as Shs20,000. Getting your hands on a free pass needs the right connections and enough airtime. But the let down is that almost every floor is the same with only the ground floor offering space and a difference. It is normally heavily infested with university students and holiday makers.

With all the floors, there is always free space to hold private parties, most times kasikis and birthday parties. But Charlie Lubega plays it safe with his theme nights, Campus Nite, Ladies Nite and Corporate Nite. DJ Bangi (RIP) was a great asset to the club when he played a great selection of oldies music but if you want to get the feel of what the DJs can do Radio One on Saturday airs live from Ange Noir so you will feel like you are in the club.

Sway Bar and Club: Small space, lots of fun

If you want to have a drink after work or experience something similar to that of a squashed sardine on a Saturday night then all roads lead to Sway Bar and Club. You will be seen sipping on cocktails if you ever make it into the bar. The DJs beats are infectious, surprisingly.

But if one of our Kampala tycoons went to the club he would probably be asking himself what he was doing in a teenagers' club, the size of his store room, with a VIP area the size of an average living room and a piece of rope separating the two sections.

The deco is a letdown with black walls and simple lights. You have to hand it to the organisers though, they know how to pull in crowds organising parties with top corporate companies and acting as a venue for after parties thus pulling Kampala's A list through their doors. A complimentary and flyers for the club is the easiest to get your hands on but if not, getting into the club is Shs10,000.

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