KAMPALA — Kampala-based pastry chef and culinary instructor Catherine Nalule is set to represent Uganda on the global stage after clinching third place at the inaugural Africa Tapas Competition, held on October 3 at the Prue Leith Culinary Institute in South Africa.
Her podium finish earns her a spot at the prestigious 10th World Tapas Championship “City of Valladolid,” scheduled for November 11 at the Cúpula del Milenio in Valladolid, Spain.
Popularly known as Chef Cathy (@chef_cathy on social media), Nalule works as a pastry instructor and Chief Operations Officer for the pastry department at the 7star Culinary Institute in Kampala. She holds diplomas in cookery from the Directorate of Industrial Training and the World Chefs Academy, alongside training in sustainability education. Her day-to-day work focuses on curriculum development, mentoring young talent, and hands-on culinary instruction.
The Africa Tapas Competition brought together seven top chefs from across the continent to craft original, unpublished tapas—small, sophisticated bite-sized dishes rooted in Spanish tradition.
Competitors had to design a dish that could be eaten by hand in one or two bites, sticking to a strict ingredient budget of roughly USD 1.90 per portion.
South African chef Sasha-Lee Small took top honors with her Butter Prawn Curry Pani Puri, while Egyptian chef Adham Khaled finished second. Nalule’s third-place finish delivered a strong statement for Uganda’s debut appearance in the regional tournament, which was organized in partnership with the Spanish Embassy in Pretoria, e-Spain, and Spain Is Tapas.
Nalule’s qualification makes history, marking Uganda’s very first appearance at the World Tapas Championship. The global final will feature 16 elite chefs from across five continents, including contestants from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, the UK, and host country Spain. Africa will be represented by Nalule alongside South Africa’s Small and Egypt’s Khaled. Michelin-starred chef Mario Sandoval of Madrid’s famed Coque restaurant will chair the judging panel, with event organizers covering all travel and accommodation expenses for the finalists.
Back home, news of Nalule’s achievement has sparked widespread excitement. TV host and philanthropist Douglas Lwanga took to X to celebrate the milestone, calling it a huge win for the nation and urging her to “fly high.” Model and campaigner Judith Heard also joined the chorus, calling on food bloggers, media houses, and the public to get behind Chef Cathy as she flies the country’s colors.
Her journey comes as Uganda steps up efforts to market its rich food culture as a key tourism driver.
The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has lately been running training workshops for chefs and hospitality operators, teaching sustainable cooking and ways to present traditional favorites like matooke and luwombo as immersive experiences for visitors. Nalule taking the global stage neatly aligns with this broader push to put Ugandan and African gastronomy on the map.
As she prepares her trip to Valladolid, Chef Cathy’s breakthrough highlights the rising confidence of Uganda’s culinary talent—proving once again that local food can be a powerful bridge for culture, diplomacy, and national pride.
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