By Staff Writer
Over time, Kampala City has transformed into a city with a number of specialized locations. How each of these locations came to deal in the same kind of stuff is a question that can only be answered by historians. This week, we reveal areas in Kampala that specialize in particular stuff. If you want something in the city, you will be more than sure to get it in these locations.
1. HARDWARE (Nakasero) It’s only with the entry of Hardware World that some people begun shopping for hardware products from other places other than Nakasero. The whole area around Nakasero Market has evolved to be the location where one is bound to get any hardware product. If you fail to find a certain hardware item that you want here, then you won’t get it anywhere in Uganda.
2. PRINTING, PAPER (Nasser Road and Nkurumah) Nasser Road branded itself as Uganda’s printing conurbation. Every arcade in this area is full of people selling paper, printing material, carrying out bulk printing, graphic design and anything that requires one to put a design onto paper or stuff. If you want branded cups, Nasser road is the place. If you want to print exam papers, Nasser is still the place. If you plan to make Identity Cards, look no further than Nasser Road. Of course it’s also famous for all kinds of forgeries. No wonder, it produced Nasser Ntege Ssebagala aka Seya.
3. MUSIC AND MOVIES and PHONES (Majestic Plaza, Mutaasa Kafeero) These two arcades of Majestic Plaza and Mutaasa Kafeero are popular for ripping CDs. For the latest movies and music CDs, this is the go-to-place. If you are looking to buy a phone for any price, this is also the place. A joke is often told that if your phone is stolen in Kampala, you would rather go to Mutaasa Kafeero than report to police. At least in that case, you are assured of finding your phone.
4. TEXTILES (Kiyembe) The Kiyembe strip is the go-to-center for one’s textile needs in Uganda. For all kinds of clothing material, tailoring stuff, sewing machines, this is the collection centre. If you can’t find a specific material in Kiyembe lane, then it doesn’t exist in Uganda.
5. SCRAP METAL, FABRICATIONS and MILLING (Katwe and Kisenyi) These places which are somehow located next to each other are your one stop centre for Scrap Metal, Fabrications, Metal works and Milling needs. If you can’t get something fabricated in Katwe or Kisenyi then you are 99.9% sure whatever you are trying to fabricate is an impossibility. Are you working on your own design, these people here will bring it to reality.
6. PROSTITUTES (Speke Road and William Street) Speke Road is famous for its high class prostitutes. Even Bad Black now Bad Brown came from Speke Road. It’s the famous red-light zone of Kampala. If you are looking for even cheaper sex, then William Street will get you something for your price. William street is the stretch from Radio One down to Mutaasa Kafeero. It’s famous for its “Top Pub.” Apparently, in Top Pub, every woman in there is a lady of the night and only speaks the language of money.
7. ENGINEERS and TEACHERS (Kyambogo University) Kyambogo University is famous for producing Engineers and Teachers. For every ten Kyambogo University students that you meet, at least four of them will either be engineers or teachers. This University is also the only one that has a faculty dedicated to training people to handle Special Needs People.
8. COFFINS and CASKETS (Upper Katwe Road) Even though of late, there are funeral service providers such as A-Plus and Uganda Funeral Services, they are still expensive for most people. However, if you are looking for all types of coffins, grave makers, engravers, then the upper katwe road as one heads to Kibuye is the place. You will get a coffin or casket for any price. If you are trying to work on your deceased person’s grave, you will find all types from terrazzo, tiles to marble and granite.
9. ENTERTAINMENT (www.bigeye.ug) Not because we work here but if you are interested in all kinds of entertainment in Uganda, you want to be plugged into Uganda’s social life whether through music, news, events, then www.bigeye.ug is the answer to all your problems. And if you want to zero down to campus, then www.campuseye.ug is your answer.
10. COMPUTERS (Bombo Road-Kampala Road) These two roads which are connected to each other is where you will find all types of computers, printers, scanners, the latest tablets, computer technicians, repairs etc. You will get a computer for any price along these two roads.
11. ELECTRONICS (Nakasero, Energy Center) There is an area around Nakasero Market that has evolved into an electronics hub of Kampala and Uganda at large. It even has plazas such as Energy Center to reflect this purpose. It is famous for companies such as Ssebagala and Sons Electronics Centre. If you want a diode, then come here. Want a sensor, this is the place. Anything that is electronic, this is the place.
12. MOTOR SPARES (Kisekka Market and Ndebba) Did you lose your car side mirror? Please rush to Kisekka market. Are you looking for a certain spare part, once again rush to Kisekka market. Ndebba, another suburb of Kampala also serves a similar purpose. In Ndebba, you will find full-stocked garages and the good news is, they won’t charge you as if you have global funds.
13. WOOD, TIMBER (Ndebba and Kibuye) If you want wood or any timber, Ndebba is the place to be at. Whether you want mahogany or pine, you will find all the wood in Ndebba. Don’t bother yourself going to expensive places such as Nina Interiors when Ndebba exists, you will get the same kind of material for a less price.
14. RETAIL, WHOLESALE (Kikubo) If by this time, you don’t know Kikubo, then you are a refugee in Uganda. Almost everything you buy at your local shop is bought from the big shops of Kikubo. It’s in Kikubo where you will find many silent Ugandan billionaires and millionaires. Many of these didn’t go to school but they are loaded. They will sell you all household items, and every other item that you need for your day-to-day needs.
15. CHEAP STUFF (Owino Market, Downtown Kampala) If you want any kind of cheap stuff, cheap clothing, cheap foodstuff, then go to Owino Market aka St.Balikuddembe Market and the arcades in downtown Kampala. Also beware that Kampala demands alertness, if you are absent-minded, you will come back without your phone or wallet.
16. BEEF PRODUCTS (Lufuula, industrial area) Do you want mutton or you want beef? Want goats’ meat? What really do you want? Go to Uganda’s largest slaughter zone aka abattoir aka Lufuula. It’s located in Industrial area, second or First Street just below the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the former BAT factory in Uganda. Here you can get to buy some cheap fresh meat and also pose around.
This article shall be updated in due-process to add on other specialized areas in Kampala. For now, enjoy this free guide and share it among your circles.