URN.Though nowhere near those pre covid-19 festive season sales, this is so far the best weeks for for the ‘down town’ traders in the last two years.
The increase in sale of different items in preparation for Christmas celebrations has relieved the Kampala business community from a two year long dry spell occasioned by Covid-19 lockdowns.
And as if the lockdowns were not bad enough, as some restrictions were eased, the city experienced two bomb attacks last month which worsened the transactional momentum, since many people were scared of coming to city center in fear for their lives.
However today the business community has started experiencing what has been missing for long: an influx of customers from within and outside Uganda who have come in to do their Christmas shopping.
Most people were moving in groups of more than three, in most cases with young ones just to make sure what they have bought fit them very well. This influx has made the already congested city more impassable. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1885173889378683&output=html&h=345&adk=1590975256&adf=921249380&pi=t.aa~a.4031299446~i.15~rp.1&w=414&lmt=1640079049&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=9833304535&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=414×345&url=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fstory%2Fcity-traders-relieved-by-christmas-week-sales&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=320&rw=384&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1640079049497&bpp=4&bdt=4619&idt=4&shv=r20211207&mjsv=m202112060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D88cd2e7aa907c7df-22c92ff17fcf00bf%3AT%3D1640077224%3ART%3D1640077224%3AS%3DALNI_MadBuWNbYzitqsb11149DsK9wd_Rw&prev_fmts=384×1417%2C414x345%2C414x345%2C0x0%2C414x345&nras=3&correlator=7760370933180&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1026755852.1640003503&ga_sid=1640079046&ga_hid=639388150&ga_fc=1&u_tz=180&u_his=6&u_h=896&u_w=414&u_ah=896&u_aw=414&u_cd=32&u_sd=2&adx=0&ady=1862&biw=414&bih=715&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=42530893%2C44750773&oid=2&pvsid=405018182805960&pem=595&tmod=348&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fugandaradionetwork.net%2Fa%2Farchive.php%3FstatusId%3D4&eae=0&fc=384&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C414%2C0%2C414%2C896%2C414%2C715&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=CkZoBC40w3&p=https%3A//ugandaradionetwork.net&dtd=21
Many shop entrances were see crowded with customers trying to bargain over their purchases, as others are seen fitting the products of their choice just to make sure they have the perfect size before making the payment.
Wholesalers were their also smiling as their many of their shops entrances were piled up with merchandise boxes waiting to be delivered to the their destinations, an experience they have missed for years.
Across the business community, sales momentum for the festive season that usually starts as early as August has just started this week.
Many of the traders expressed joy as the end of the financial drought they have been going through since March 2020 seems to be approaching.
Primrose Kirabo who deals in lady’s traditional wear says this festive season is at least better from the previous one, and attributes it to the increase in number of people at a single venue to 200.
She adds that she has been making a take-home of two million shillings a week since November and says she is optimistic and thankful.
Lucky Ssemakula a dealer in children’s ware, admitted that she didn’t work the entire festive season last year because of the covid-19 lockdown. However this time round, her business is at least promising.
However, some traders complain that despite the influx, the people are not buying, and are just moving around in groups.
