Name: Welo Inn and Tours
Address: Mulago Hill1, Kampala, Uganda, Kampala, Kampala, Kampala, Uganda
Rating: 7.2

Location

Entebbe International Airport

Welo Inn and Tours

I was organizing a big group situation, and though I didn't actually end up using this space, I wanted to review that they were SO helpful and great in communicating. I found them on Airbnb, and they were very responsive. They really tried to accommodate my group and the specific needs and budget we had. If I ever make it back to Kampala, I know where I'll want to stay!

Facilites are very good for a budget lodging, the room was confortable, toilet and shower good.  The common area is very warm. The manager, Herman is super nice and really helpful. He got me a really good deal for the Gorillas Trekking tour (private tour for less money that other agencies offered me to join a group) and he arranged everything for me to go to my next destination. A quality guy!
The location is a bit far from downtown, but this makes it super quiet place. The sorroundings are not really inspiring, though it is safe.

Relative to the cost of living in Uganda, hotels and restaurants are generally quite expensive. An alternative option is a guesthouse like the Welo Inn which for €25 per night offers clean, good quality, en-suite accommodation albeit without some of the luxuries of hotels. Where the Welo scores, in addition to price, is the very friendly staff who are welcoming and helpful; the relaxed and informal atmosphere and an idiosyncratic range of alternative services ranging from free phone calls to the US and Canada to free use of a scanner/printer/photocopier – see attached photo (by the way, the water does not cost UGX5,000 per bottle rather this is indicative of the price paid in a shop – a voluntary donation of UGX 1,000 to 2,000 per week is what they expect). I only stayed two nights but the set-up is probably best suited to those with longer stays be it a week or a month. Guests have free reign to cook for themselves in the kitchen (there is a separate fridge-freezer for guests) or have the family cook for them.

On the negative side – the location could be seen as problematic. The Inn can be entered either via Mulago Hill Road or New Mulago Hill. Both are dirt-track rutted roads which are fairly common throughout Kampala but may be off-putting to Western guests. In addition the Inn has no signage and for first time visitors can be difficult to locate. On the other hand the location is very central and handy to most of what the City has to offer – the Acacia Mall (the only upmarket Mall I have come across in Kampala is just a five minute walk away, although half of this is down the rutted track – there is a Boda-Boda stop about a minute’s walk from the Welo). 

I had the only room on the ground floor which I would not recommend for those who want to “sleep in” as you hear the comings and goings of earlier risers. The WIFI is patchy. When it works it is quite strong and reasonably fast but unfortunately it does not work all the time. My room had a balcony attached where it worked most of the time but in the bedroom itself the signal was in and out. The alternative, using my mobile as a hotspot faced the same problem as the 3G signal similarly came and went with bewildering regularity. This may be the case throughout Kampala something which I will find out soon enough. For this reason alone I will probably find somewhere else on my next visit. The room was clean but could have been cleaner – marks on the floors, on the top of the quilt and the bath and sink could have done with a deeper clean. The shower gives instant hot water but pressure is poor and it is bizzarely located at about chest height.

All in all the Welo is good-value “horses for courses” accommodation depending on the sensitivities and requirements of the prospective guest.

Kampala

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Great communication!

Good quality/price option

Basic but good value

Welo is good for long-term stays, especially if you are working at Mulago Hospital or Makerere College. Area is safe in daylight but it's probably best not to walk alone at night. Rooms are large and adecuate but no toiletries are provided and balconies are shared. Cooking facilities are well-equipped or you can ask the staff to cook breakfast and dinner for you at an extra fee. There is a nearby mall with restaurants and supermarket. Staff will also do your laundry for a fee. They are very friendly and helpful. Drinking water ($2/week) and internet ($15/week) are extra. Internet was as good as can be in Uganda and fairly reliable. Cons: No sign outside so hard to find for drivers. I was locked out of the property once and left alone with no staff on site on a few occasions. Because of this I recommend it's best if you are coming in a group.

Good for long-term stays

We needed something close to George street. So  Welo Inn was just perfect. The Problem is: It is not there any more. Although addvertiesed as located there, once you have located it, you will find yourself in a completly other site of town.

As we arrived, we were no longer much surpriesed, that none of the things, we requested for & had been booking, were ready.

They kindly offert us to stay in a tiny little privat  room of theirs, which was no option for us at all. So after not even 5 minutes, we went away!

Other guests, we briefly meet, seem to be happy & satisfyied.
However. Our particular viewpoint of that place, includung how our booking was carried out, or better said, NOT carried out, is below average & should not happen. Not even in Uganda. I can say this because I am working & living since 4 years here.

Sad to say, it was a failure! Hope they will improve. 

Welo Inn and Tours

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