Kampala lights up with last minute Xmas shopping

By Norman Katende

Kampala city was Monday lit up with some last minute shopping by revelers, while others travelled to their village homes to enjoy the festive season.

Despite the increase in the transport fares, many families and individuals were still travelling to the bus parks to get an opportunity to get seats to reach their upcountry homes in time for Christmas celebration.

“I can say that there has been a decrease in the number of customers but we are working,” said one of a bus touts, as he directed passengers to one of the buses that was heading to Western Uganda.

Many were travelling with mattresses, loaves of bread and sugar to their villages.

Others used boda bodas and others were on foot with their luggage as they tried to connect to the alternative preferred and cheap transport.

There was a scarcity of transport leaving the traffic officers speechless as they watched over loaded boda boda cyclists, trying to make up for the   decrease of taxis in the city services. Most taxis head to travel to upcountry places parted away with extra coins following a surge in the number people going g to the villages.

“It is a tradition that we have Christmas at home and that is why we are heading home,” said Christopher Otim, who was travelling with his family to Gulu in Northern Uganda.

Shopping for the Christmas festivities geared up with many using the last day to get clothes, Christmas trees, decoration and food stuff for the family.

Most of the activities were in the downtown, where   movements was tight due to the large population that were making final shopping in second hand clothes and utensils. Also the market was busy selling greens and fruits as people prepared for the party.

“We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ,” one lady ironically said as she carried a box of canned beers from one of the super market.