Kampala Shopping

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Owino marked is one of the biggest markeds in Africa with a lot of items. Even if you should not buy something, it's worth visit the place.

The marked for second hand and used clothing is famous due to its sice and the number of customers. Since most of the people in Uganda are poor they can not afford new clothes. Bargaining is the way to the business.

What to buy: I bought 2 used jeans for 35000 UGS (16 USD).

What to pay: Remember to bargain. Especially if you are a Mzungo (white man). The prices should be around 1/2 of the beginning price.

Out of all the FOREX bureau's in Kampala the best rates this time (May 2009) were at Dollar House. The next best rates I found were at Half East and they are conveneintly next to each other at King Fahad Plaza.

What to pay: It's worth asking if you get a better rate for changing large amounts. It has worked for me in the past.

Supermarket

Supermarkets are not the kind of place I go to regularly while I’m in Kampala but on the odd occasion I have found things like bed bug spray which I struggled to find at some of the local shops. But always before I fly back to the UK I’ll go to a supermarket to stock up on some goodies to take home.

If you are entering Kampala after arriving from the airport you will no doubt see Shoprite supermarket near the Clock Tower. The South African owned shop is not exactly my favourite place to shop. Far too much imported produce and not exactly the cheapest either. Uchumi and Nakumatt are two Kenyan owned supermarkets both situated just out of the centre of town in Garden city both really well stocked with goods but unfortunately I was unable to find my favourite Kenyan coffee at either last time I was in town.

There are a couple of great supermarkets in Old Kampala that cater for the local communities of the area and are full of some really exotic Indian spices and foods.

Capitol is my favourite Supermarket in Kampala. It is situated near Nakivubo Market. In the past I have stocked up here on Coffee, mazigo and waragi before I go home. It is also the cheapest place I have found for Marmite!!!

In the depths of Owino market or as it is now called St. Balikuddembe market is a fine stall that over the last couple of years I have spent a fair bit of money.

Last year I bought a box leather jacket black made from real heavy leather it must have originated from the States by the look of the label. It was like nearly all clothes in Owino second hand but in really good nick only a small repair to the top left pocket was needed which can also be done in the market. the jacket after some haggling cost me 40,000, in Uganda quite a bit of money but a jacket like that back in the UK would have cost a lot more than the £12 I paid.

This February before coming home I checked the stall out again just incase. Wanting something different I picked up short brown French made leather zip jacket with very little sign of wear for 25,000. Absolute bargain!!!

Kampala seems to have a brand new shopping mall every time I arrive in the city. There are 1,000s of identical shops like the one in the photo that somehow manage to do enough business to keep going. A lot of them like this deal in cheaply made Chinese clothing or clothing made locally from bitenge or Indonesian printed fabrics or various other vikoi and kangas.

What to pay: I bought what was called a "free dress" complete with matching scarf for 22,000 UGX

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Buy some odd curios and traditional stuff from this wonderfull woman. I bought some top plant pots from her. (she does open her eyes ocaisionaly).
I can spend hours walking around Owino looking at the second hand clothes, some of the bizzare hardware and buying the odd bag of mangoes.

What to buy: This year before leaving I bought myself a really nice leather jacket for the equivalent of what in the UK would be £12. Top bargain!

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I think most visitors to Kampala will sometime end up at the craft market near the national theatre. A lot of the stalls are filled with tourist tat and if I do venture this way I usually only end up visiting stall 32 which is the only stall that sells Congolese masks which I am quite partial to.

What to buy: A well as masks the last time I was at the market I was well tempted to buy what they call "matumbo" which are used in Congo to aid fertility!!! One of these would have looked great on my wall a lack of funds stopped me buying the one I wanted.

What to buy: Jaffery Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 3703,
Plot 68, Ben Kiwanuka Street
Phone +256-41-347090/1
Alt. Phone +256-77-786020
Fax +256-41-347089
email jaffery@imul.com

Stanhope Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 24559,
Plot 4A, Crown House, Kampala Road
Phone 256-41-347297

City Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 3841,
Plot 22, Luwum Street, Mukwano Arcade

Crane Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 22572,
Plot 20 Kampala Road
Phone 256-41-345-345
Alt. Phone 256-41-256-511
Fax 256-41-231-578

Gold Trust Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 70,
Plot 13 Kimathi Avenue
Phone 256-41-231-784
Alt. Phone 256-41-256-891

Money Point Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 2235,
Plot 35 Kampala Road
Phone 256-41-250-418

Speke Hotel Forex Bureau Ltd, Kampala
P.O Box 3673,
Plot 7/9 Shimoni Road
Phone 256-41-259-221
Alt. Phone 256-41-236-332

Express Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 1946,
Plot 40 Kampala Road
Phone 256-41-251-539

Metropolitan Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 8166 Kampala, Uganda,
Plot 8/10 Entebbe Road
Phone 256-41-232620

Speed Bird Forex Bureau Ltd, Kampala
P.O Box 75007,
Kampala
Phone 256-41-344-449

Allied Bank International Forex Bureau, Jinja
P.O Box 2095,
Plot 1 Main Street
Phone 256-41-121-257

Unique Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 5900,
Plot 9 Entebbe Road, Metropole House

Downtown Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 2801,
Plot 54 Kampala Road

Lloyds Forex Bureau Ltd, Kampala
P.O Box 6587,
Plot 1 Entebbe Road
Phone 256-41-343-448

Redforex Bureau De Change, Kampala
P.O Box 2397,
Plot 54 Kampala Road
Phone 256-41-250-954

Ugamark Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 7762,
Plot 10 Nile Avenue, Int. Conference Centre

Afex Forex Bureau Ltd, Kampala
P.O Box 180,
Plot 1 Nakivubo Road

Kristal Forex Bureau, Kampala
P.O Box 3877,
Plot 83/85 Kampala Road
Phone Kampala

Musicraft Forex Bureau Ltd, Kampala
P.O Box 197,
Plot 28 Kampala Road

What to pay: Rates change from day to day but are usually printed in the local papers.