Kampala turns into a beehive as Christmas shopping hots up
Last minute efforts. Shoppers buy assorted items ahead of Christmas in Kampala on Wednesday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- Shopper’s experience. Ms Proscovia Akello, a mother of two girls found shopping at PEP Store Kireka, said: “The prices are relatively fair unlike last year and this place (PEP) gives you unique and a variety of kids’ clothes and shoes for all ages.”
Kampala.
It is a beehive of activities downtown Kampala City. Even amidst the scorching Sun hundreds of shoppers are busy checking and buying products for Christmas which is around the corner.
Through the city streets of Ben Kiwanuka, Luwum, and Namirembe Road, Nakivubo Road, Kibuuka Lane, Mukwano Arcade, Luwum Street, William Street and Kikuubo Lane yesterday showed that it is now next to impossible for one to navigate through.
The verandas and entrances to the shopping arcades are all littered with merchandise ranging from clothes, kitchen utensils, packed cereals, shoes and confectionaries.
Ms Ritah Kirabo, a trader dealing in women hand bags and shoes both on wholesale and retail imported from China and Turkey, says: “I stocked enough products in anticipation for this season and I must say, unlike last year, this time around I have recorded more sales.”
To her, the prices are relatively fair, for example, for one buying a bag at between Shs50,000 and Shs150,000 depending on the brand and grade, they get a pack of three-in-one.
However, according to Mr Deepak Sharma of Sam Electronics (U) Ltd, dealers in electronics and appliances along Luwum Street, business is still modest this festive season.
“We largely deal in the sale of LG, Samsung, Turkey and Indian appliances. We offer discounts and give warrant on our products of up to three years on some products and because of this business has been modest,” Mr Sharma explained.
For an LG fridge of 200 litres which, ideally, would cost Shs1.4 million, the shop offers a discount of about 16 per cent and this comes with a one-year warrant.
Most visited points
Ideally, the most crowded places with shoppers are the clothes selling points for both adults and Kids.
At all PEP Uganda stores around Kampala City and in the suburbs, they are giving offers to Christmas shoppers especially for children items such as clothes, shoes and toes.
Baby play suits are being offered at Shs14,000, shoes at Shs17,000 while a pair of adult pump shoes goes for as low as Shs18,000.
The other place where kids’ clothes and shoes can be accessed in all sizes and colour at affordable prices is Mukwano Arcade shopping Mall.
In an interaction with Daily Monitor, Mr John Lwetaba, a trader at Mukwano said: “We have seen more shoppers than visitors this year. People are actually buying unlike last year when they would check and go.”
He expressed optimism that more buyers will come in the next few days especially over the weekend.
