By Tonny Mushoborozi
Recently, at a hilltop residence in Mutungo, Kampala, James Byaruhanga, popularly known as Byaru, and his wife Tasha Nkwanzi, hosted an elite whisky tasting. The evening brought together friends and associates from business, technology, media, hospitality, and entertainment. The setting was calm, the atmosphere deliberate. The focus was whisky. Not just any whisky but Diageo’s 2025 special releases.
Whisky special releases are the distillery’s way of saying, “We don’t do this every day, and so don’t get too comfortable.”
They are small-batch, limited-edition drops made from rare or well-aged whisky, basically the VIP section of the whisky world. Some get fancy with wild cask finishes or experimental tricks, like the distillery is flexing a bit just to see what happens.
Others show up to celebrate big milestones, acting like a birthday party where only a few lucky guests get invited. Because they are rare and a bit show-offy, they usually cost more, but hey, exclusivity has never been cheap.
A host between two worlds
Byaruhanga, CEO and managing director of Roke Cloud, a subsidiary of Roke Telkom, also sits on the board of Private Sector Foundation, Uganda, representing ICT.
Alongside his corporate high roles, he is also connected to Kampala’s entertainment scene through House of DJs and major event productions such as Blankets & Wine. The man is big waters on the night scene. The evening reflected this dual identity. Structured, but social. Professional, but relaxed.
A guided introduction to whisky
The session was led by reserve ambassadors Melanie Kaita and Steven Baguma from Uganda Breweries Limited. Guests were introduced to the making of single malt whisky. Production methods were explained. Tasting principles were demonstrated.
Read full story here: Whisky, power, and connection: Inside Mutungo’s most exclusive tasting night