Serene Hotel

A calm, lovely place to unwind, with good food. Serena Kigali is quite expensive, especially for foreigners, but it's still nice to visit and relax.

I've stayed here on every Mbarara visit since 2015, and after long days stuck in conference rooms, it's a relief to be able to walk to the taxi and bus parks, banks, and the central business district. The guest rooms are impeccably clean, and the subtle additions and thoughtful design changes keep surprising me. Parking is right outside and secure. Rates are in the usual range for town hotels, starting around Ug.Shs 80,000 a night with breakfast. Breakfast is a treat if you insist on your preferred choices, but dinner isn't anything special. Staff are usually out of sight, though polite and helpful when they do appear. Nearby places play loud music in the evenings, but things get fairly peaceful at night. Don't expect many TV channels in the rooms.

I spent eight nights at Hotel Serene and found it safe, clean, modern, and well equipped. They have their own PCs for internet access, and a very good breakfast is included and served in the restaurant.

Management needs close monitoring. The washrooms should be cleaner, and rooms need to be cleaned by 11 AM. The morning buffet also needs serious improvement.