Kampala has a surprising variety of international eateries at much more affordable prices than bigger, more touristy African capitals like Nairobi. For Italian, check out Cafe Roma in Muyenga, owned and operated by an Italian family. If it's on the menu at Cafe Roma, it's good. If you like Asian food, try Krua Thai in Kololo. For an especially interesting culinary experience, try the nam tok. Your taste buds won't know what to do with themselves. Beware of ordering things extra hot. Also, Fang Fang Restaurant at the Fang Fang Hotel has good Chinese food. If you have a large group, ask for a carved watermelon.
The real highlight of East African international food though is Indian. Check out Khana Khazana in Kololo for great food and an unbelievable atmosphere. The restaurant is decked out like a North Indian palace or temple, and the wait staff is dressed in period North Indian attire. The seemingly endless menu can be a bit overwhelming, even if you are very familiar with Indian food, but the wait staff can help you, and as this is Africa don't be afraid to ask others around you for their recommendations. Nawab in Garden City is also excellent, and even the Handi in the Garden City Food Court is great. If you have some people in your party who aren't in to Indian food, try Sam's in downtown Kampala near KPC. It's a cross between an Indian place and a steakhouse, so there's food for everyone.
Rwenzori House at the Lugogo Shopping Center (next to ShopRite) has good British food. Le Patisserie at Quality Hill on Gaba Road has good pastries and coffee and is a good stop for breakfast, though Le Chateu, the Belgian restaurant next door, is way overpriced though decent food.
For a good cup of coffee or some Ugandan coffee beans to take home, visit 1000 Cups on Buganda Road across from Exposure Africa craft market. Try the natural Rwenzori Arabica, which has a dark, chocolately flavor. Don't get cheap and buy the robusta; why travel all the way to Uganda to buy bad coffee?
For dessert, hit up the gelatto at The Italian Supermarket in Muyenga.
If you want local food, the most affordable thing to do is just find a small local "hotel" and fill yourself up for a thousand shillings or less. However, if you don't have anyone to recommend a safe one to you, find a larger, more established restaurant that also sells Ugandan dishes. You'll pay more than is necessary, but you won't get food poisoning either.
A MUST IN UGANDA is buying goat muchomo from the roadside vendors that pop up every evening. One stick of goat meat should cost you a mere 500 shillings. Go to the grill itself while it's still daylight so you can really inspect the meat and can ask the seller to put it back on the grill for a little while longer if you are afraid it's underdone. They don't mind at all.
