After nearly two years of operation, Noni Vie Lounge & Restaurant has quietly exited Kampala’s fiercely competitive nightlife scene, following prolonged financial and operational challenges.
Sources familiar with the matter say the upscale bar and lounge located at Lugogo began struggling to keep afloat amid rising operating costs, stiff competition, and tightening regulatory oversight in the city’s night economy.
By mid last year, the establishment was discreetly placed on the market by its owner, identified as Mark, a former nightlife entrepreneur.
Mark is also associated with Laventi Bar in Najjera, which ceased operations after enforcement action by the Uganda Revenue Authority, underscoring the growing pressure on entertainment businesses that fall short of tax and compliance requirements.
Credible information obtained by this publication indicates that Noni Vie has since been acquired by a group of Chinese investors. The new owners are said to be planning a complete shift in business model, with intentions to convert the former bar and restaurant into a fully fledged casino.
According to sources briefed on the transaction, all necessary paperwork between the investors and the property’s landlord, Stanislas Isiagi, has been finalized.
What remains is the renovation of the premises to meet gambling and gaming standards, after which the casino is expected to commence operations.
The development reflects a broader transformation in Kampala’s entertainment landscape, where several bars and nightclubs have either closed, downsized, or changed ownership in recent years.
While nightlife venues struggle with declining spending power and stricter regulation, casinos and gaming establishments have continued to attract investor interest, buoyed by steady demand and higher profit margins.
The conversion of Noni Vie into a casino marks the end of another once-prominent nightlife spot, while signaling the evolving face of leisure and entertainment in Uganda’s capital.
