Kampala Readies For Valentine’s Day

By Lillian Nalumansi In the shops it is red and black outfits on display. On the streets, it is cards, gifts and scrolls inscribed with love messages.Shopkeepers, hawkers and florists are haggling for customers. This is in preparation for the lovers’ day popularly known as Valentine Day today.Hawkers are shouting themselves hoarse for customers while shopkeepers who are usually laid-back and rude to buyers are at their best to attract customers. As is the normal trend, they are targeting young people who fuss more about the lover’s day. “Sister, come and buy a card from here. These are cheap and have more meaningful messages than those old cards with stale words,” a hawker selling cards and other gifts outside Bata Shoe store on Kampala Road said to this reporter.“Sweetie, on this Valentine Day, I want to use words to show what you mean to me,” read a message on a sh1,000 heart-shaped Valentine gift he showed me yesterday.“You are my one and only true love. I wish you a happy Valentine Day,” read a wrapping on a sh500 white handkerchief.The cards and gift packets sold on the streets, shops and supermarkets are similar although there is a price difference.In Wandegeya, single unwrapped red roses go for sh500 while a wrapped one goes for sh1,000. A single plastic rose is sold at sh1,000 while a bouquet with six plastic roses goes for sh5,000.Ends