Uganda’s ‘rolex’: The many meanings of the quintessential street food

When Ugandans refer to getting a rolex, they seldom mean an expensive Swiss watch. Rolex is a popular kind of street food, made famous in the global media. It serves more than just a practical function as fast food, but has many cultural meanings that form part of the country’s national identity, and a ralling point for promoting social causes.

These have been played out in Uganda’s media – which is the basis of a recent study of the meanings of a rolex in Uganda. We asked journalism and communication lecturer Ivan Lukanda about his research.

What is a rolex

A rolex is a chapati rolled around fried eggs to which have been added spices and vegetables. It’s usually cooked in a frying pan on a charcoal stove. It’s prepared on order and served very hot, usually in a paper wrapper, plastic bag, or plate.

The snack is common in Ugandan urban centres in east Africa. It’s mostly prepared on roadsides at informal stalls. Artisans may simply have a table for kneading the dough, a pan for frying the eggs and chapati, a charcoal stove as a heat source and the ingredients – which can vary widely.

Read more