The fruits and vegetables of Nakasero Market in Uganda’s capital of Kampala range from exquisitely sweet pineapple and aromatic baby bananas to freshly shelled groundnuts and semi-husked mature coconuts. Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa,” is known for its vibrant markets. Last summer, I found myself winding through the city center with our guide, Fridaus, and my best friend’s family to the next stop: Owino Market. This spectacle has operated over 54 years with capacity for 50,000 vendors and 300,000 daily customers. Beyond its fame as a clothing bazaar, Owino teems with baskets of tomatoes, turmeric and traditional herbs, fresh meat cuts of the day, coops of live chickens, and matoke plantain fritters.
This market had everything. We could not help ourselves and bought a rolex on the way out.
When you think rolex, you likely think of a pricey wristwatch rather than rolled eggs. What a hot dog is to America, a rolex is to Uganda—a beloved street food of an egg omelet rolled into a handmade chapati flatbread. What makes the Ugandan market scene unique is the customization. If you pick up a red bell pepper enroute to the rolex stall, it is not uncommon for the chef to gladly incorporate the ingredient into a deluxe rolex.
Where can you find a rolex relative in the Indianapolis area? Yafa Coffee in Noblesville, Indiana’s first Yemeni café, offers a seasonal paratha collection. It includes a fluffy egg-and-cream-cheese rolex using flaky paratha flatbread instead of chapati.