Dorcus Bashema Kirabo prepares a meal as she is set to break the Guinness world record for the longest cooking time by an individual in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on Dec. 26, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
A Ugandan female chef, Dorcus Bashema Kirabo, alias "Mama D," is believed to have broken the Guinness world record for the longest cooking time by an individual.
KAMPALA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Ugandan female chef, Dorcus Bashema Kirabo, alias "Mama D," is believed to have broken the Guinness world record for the longest cooking time by an individual.
"At the time of ending she had clocked 144 hours, seven minutes and 24 seconds," Max Adii, the manager of Urban TV, the official broadcaster and sponsor of Mama D, told Xinhua over the phone that the cooking ended Friday morning.
The current record for the longest cooking marathon is 119 hours and 57 minutes, according to the Guinness World Records.
"Someone from the Guinness Book of Records from Nairobi was here at the beginning of the cooking," Adii said.
He said that all the cooking events had been recorded and would be submitted to Guinness Records for assessment.
"After assessment, they will be the ones to announce the new record," Adii said.
Dorcus Bashema Kirabo poses for a photo as she is set to break the Guinness world record for the longest cooking time by an individual in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on Dec. 26, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Mama D received support from many Ugandans on social media and those who went to her food joint in Kira Town, in the central district of Wakiso, to cheer her up in person.
At Mama D Restaurant, the aroma of different traditional foods brought together fans from all walks of life, including musicians, TV and radio personalities, as well as food enthusiasts. There were also customers from abroad.
"I can't be more grateful to all Ugandans that have shown me support, Uganda to the World," Mama D posted on her handle on X, formerly Twitter.
"Should we go for more hours, or we call it a record?" she asked her fans Friday morning after cooking 118 meals.
Darron Bartlet, program controller at Urban TV, said he was, from the start, optimistic she would break the record, noting that she started cooking at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Dec. 23.
People are served food prepared by Dorcus Bashema Kirabo who is set to break the Guinness world record for the longest cooking time by an individual in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Dec. 26, 2023. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
"One of the basic rules she has to follow is that she only has five minutes to rest for every hour, and all the food she cooks is not sold but given out free," Bartlet said. "She cooks some exotic food, but mostly she's cooking Ugandan foods."
Lilly Ajarova, chief executive officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, thanked Ugandans for the great support they had shown to Mama D.
"This is not just about supporting Mama D. It's an opportunity to showcase Uganda's culinary treasures to the world," she told the media. "It is not only about backing her but also championing our culture." ■