From the outside looking in, you can hardly tell that there’s a vibrant gem tucked away in the heart of Bukoto, just a few metres off Kira road. The unmissable teal and mustard sign along the main road invites you to one of Kampala’s modern entertainment spots. The Villa’s sizable parking lot is dotted with lush greenery that contrasts the scarlet carpet - a true red-carpet moment that marks the lounge’s formal but warm welcome to all their patrons.
As you step inside, the lively space is sectioned with different, comfortable seating arrangements that are set around the main kitchen and the multiple bars. The space that can hold 1000 revellers, incorporates al fresco dining spots, a VIP section and a private dining area for those interested in more intimate experiences.
The Villa Bukoto experience
“We sell happiness.” says Chance Michael Mugisha, the Villa’s General Manager right before we sit for the interview. Since their launch in August 2022, The Villa Bukoto team has been intentional in creating experiences. The team runs theme nights on every day of the week. The Monday Escape, which is the biggest night in Kampala for corporates, Chill Tuesday, where smooth saxophone melodies coupled with bogof (buy one get one free) offers on food and drink set the mood for a perfect evening, Live Wednesdays where they host an artist who’s backed by a live band, Sunset Thursdays for the Amapiano lovers, Good Vibes Friday to ease into the weekend, Lifestyle Saturdays where an array of Kampala’s top DJs ensure you stay on your feet all night long, and for the competitive at heart, Fiesta Sunday which is a cocktail of interactive games, good food, great company and even better music.
Adding to its charm, The Villa has a diverse menu that caters to both locals and international visitors looking for a fun dining experience. “We are particularly famous for our signature Italian pizza that’s cooked in our wood-fired oven, the goat fillet which is a refreshing take on the popular nyama choma, and the Caribbean jerk chicken that brings a little of that Jamaican flavour to Uganda.” states Faith Sumba, the Head Chef at The Villa. In this ‘camera eats first’ age, Faith understands and delivers on memorable dining experiences by ensuring that not only is the food delectable, but that the presentation is top tier.
Enhancing The Villa Experience with a unified payments solution
With many transactions happening during their busy nights, many were the instances where they encountered network challenges when processing payments. Additionally, cash management and reconciliation were The Villa’s biggest headaches.
Jemimah Nabaasa, Finance Manager, explains that reconciliation and banking cover the bulk of her work, and the former was the most challenging thing in her role. “Books have to balance at the end of the day," she quips. It goes without saying that reconciliation is often cited as the most stressful task for most people in finance. Automation is key to effective account reconciliation.
Ms. Nabaasa adds that the Pesapal dashboard has been helpful to her and her team. “You can generate a statement instantly, view all transactions and the commission charged. You are also able to view double payments, if any, in real time.” In addition to that, Pesapal processes both card and mobile money payments making it a unified solution for all matters payments.
With 150 employees working in different departments, Chance states that having a reliable payments partner has made managing the business simpler. “Pesapal has made my life easier in that I spend less time looking at the reconciliation reports.” He adds that working with us has enabled him to free up his time for other strategic tasks such as coming up with ways in which The Villa can keep pushing the envelope in the entertainment scene. 
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The team who have been using Pesapal for close to 2 years point to reliability, visibility into your business performance, and great customer support as some of the factors one needs to consider when choosing a reliable payments services provider - all of which Pesapal has delivered on, affording them more time to dedicate to areas of the business that they can influence the most.
Conclusion
For players in the hospitality industry, Chance states consistency - in service and customer experience - as the secret sauce for success.
Whether you are seeking a spot to unwind after a long day, or a space to celebrate with friends, The Villa Bukoto is that spot that satisfies both your culinary cravings and your social needs.
If you think your business would benefit from working with a knowledgeable financial technology and payments partner than can help simplify and unify your payment data - be it online or in-store, or card and mobile money payments, get in touch.
