High computer supplies hit Internet cafes hard
Apr 28, 2006
CITY Internet café proprietors are crying foul over increased supply of computers and computer accessories into the country.
By Benjamin Ekusai
CITY Internet café proprietors are crying foul over increased supply of computers and computer accessories into the country.
The increased supply has enabled most Internet café users own personal computers. This comes amidst an acute shortage of power in the country, which has greatly reduced the Internet cafe operators’ number of working hours. They work for a few hours a day or do not work sometimes.
Some Internet cafe managers fear they may be forced to close shop.
Ali Kiyonga of Advanced Surfing Café on Kampala Road said on Wednesday that the number of customers had drastically declined.
“Most clients have found it cheaper to have their own computers at home,†Kiyonga said. The price of computers ranges from sh450,000 to sh500,000, almost half of the previous prices.
Romeo Serunjogi, a manager at Kaaka Enterprises, said computer sales are soaring. The proprietors attributed the fall in computer prices to favourable import taxes. Computers and computer accessories are exempted from import taxes.
Simon Apedel of Quick Surfing Café in Kireka said even the number of clients who used to be trained in basic computer skills had declined.
Jackson Okurut of New Line Cafe on Wilson Road said cut-throat competition for the few clients had made the situation worse.
He said each operator reduces the price so that it is lower than their competitors.’ Surfing rates range from sh25 to sh50 a minute, down from sh59 to sh100 a few years ago. An hour of surfing costs sh2,000 in most city cafes and sh5,000 in the suburbs. However, computer dealers say the drop in computer prices is due to technological advancement worldwide.
Ends
CITY Internet café proprietors are crying foul over increased supply of computers and computer accessories into the country.
The increased supply has enabled most Internet café users own personal computers. This comes amidst an acute shortage of power in the country, which has greatly reduced the Internet cafe operators’ number of working hours. They work for a few hours a day or do not work sometimes.
Some Internet cafe managers fear they may be forced to close shop.
Ali Kiyonga of Advanced Surfing Café on Kampala Road said on Wednesday that the number of customers had drastically declined.
“Most clients have found it cheaper to have their own computers at home,†Kiyonga said. The price of computers ranges from sh450,000 to sh500,000, almost half of the previous prices.
Romeo Serunjogi, a manager at Kaaka Enterprises, said computer sales are soaring. The proprietors attributed the fall in computer prices to favourable import taxes. Computers and computer accessories are exempted from import taxes.
Simon Apedel of Quick Surfing Café in Kireka said even the number of clients who used to be trained in basic computer skills had declined.
Jackson Okurut of New Line Cafe on Wilson Road said cut-throat competition for the few clients had made the situation worse.
He said each operator reduces the price so that it is lower than their competitors.’ Surfing rates range from sh25 to sh50 a minute, down from sh59 to sh100 a few years ago. An hour of surfing costs sh2,000 in most city cafes and sh5,000 in the suburbs. However, computer dealers say the drop in computer prices is due to technological advancement worldwide.
Ends