As Kampala counts down to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, one question instantly brought a room full of strangers together on Friday night.
“Where are you watching the World Cup opening match from?”
The question came from host Ronnie McVex moments after guests began settling into their seats at Old Tymerz, the cozy Ntinda kafunda that has quietly transformed into one of Kampala’s most intriguing Friday night gathering spots.
The responses came quickly and enthusiastically. Some planned to host viewing parties at home. Others preferred the atmosphere of neighborhood hangouts and sports bars. A few admitted they would probably be sneaking a livestream on their work laptops since the tournament opener inconveniently falls on a Thursday.
It felt less like the beginning of an event and more like a continuation of conversations Kampala had been having all week.
With the World Cup now just days away, football naturally dominated the early exchanges. But it was guest Shadrach Mutebi who delivered the evening’s most surprising fact.
“Curaçao is the smallest country, both in land area and population, to qualify for this year’s World Cup.”
The revelation sparked curiosity across the room. Many had never heard of the Caribbean nation, let alone imagined it sharing football’s biggest stage with global giants such as Brazil, Argentina, France, and Spain.
Yet football was only one piece of the conversation.
Because in Uganda, there is always another story competing for attention.
Freshly sworn-in Members of Parliament and Cabinet ministers have dominated public debate. Social media has spent much of the week following the latest online episodes involving Hon. Justine Nameere. Meanwhile, the now widely discussed cartoon standoff between Hon. Nameere and political cartoonist Dr. Spire Sentongo has kept timelines busy and opinions divided.
Then there is the issue that has quietly overshadowed everything else: Ebola.
The disease has once again entered public consciousness, bringing with it a familiar sense of unease. Families are checking in on loved ones, hand sanitizers are making a comeback, and many Ugandans are paying closer attention to health updates while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy.
“It’s so hard to stay sane in this motherland with all this drama,” one guest joked, drawing laughter from around the room.
The humour landed because everyone understood exactly what she meant.
That shared understanding is precisely what Gilbey’s Hangouts has been building since its launch in April. More than just another night out, the weekly gathering has evolved into a space where people can process the week’s headlines, debate trending topics, share perspectives, and connect with others beyond the noise of social media.
Whether the discussion is about football, politics, public health, entertainment, or internet drama, the atmosphere remains refreshingly judgment-free.
“Every week, we see people walk in carrying the weight of the news cycle, the politics, the health scares, the online noise,” says Raymond Karama, Gilbey’s Brand Manager in Uganda. “What Gilbey’s Hangouts does is give them a safe, welcoming space to unpack all of that with like-minded people.”
In a city that rarely slows down and a country that never runs out of conversation starters, perhaps that is exactly what people need—a place to pause, laugh, debate, and make sense of the week before starting another one.
