You do not need sh 10.5m to have Katumwa's look
Apr 26, 2007
DAVID Katumwa is the very embodiment of a rags-to-riches tale, having risen from selling secondhand shoes in St Balikuddembe Market (Owino) to owning the most acclaimed sports store in town.
Cost the celebrity
By Titus Serunjogi
DAVID Katumwa is the very embodiment of a rags-to-riches tale, having risen from selling secondhand shoes in St Balikuddembe Market (Owino) to owning the most acclaimed sports store in town.
But even though he is an accomplished businessman, Katumwa is no shopping fanatic. He claims that he never goes shopping routinely for clothes except once in a year when he visits Japan.
In the picture, Katumwa dons a wool suit that costs about 370,000Japanese Yen (sh5.5m). Little wonder; because the suit is a genuine handmade fabric from the White Pigeon fashion Line.
However, you too can get a similar suit around town, for much less. Vialli Boutique on Garden City sells genuine-brand designer suits from Italy for sh980,000.
Alternatively, walk into Select Garments on Mabiriizi Complex with sh600,000 and you will march out with not only a nice suit, but also shoes, cufflinks, stockings, a tie and a belt!
However, the cheapest men’s suits in town can only be found at Man About Town, on the Entebbe Road-Kampala Road junction right next to Steers.
Suits cost sh150,000 a piece.
There is also the option of paying in installments.
Katumwa’s shirt goes for JPY 30,000 (sh460, 000) in Tokyo. Needless to say, you can get shirts for much less in town.
At Brovad Linens on Garden City, elegant shirts cost sh150,000.
On the shops along Nabugabo Road, you can get an equally good shirt for sh12,000.
Everyone in town knows that men’s shoes are much more expensive than ladies’ shoes.
So, it should come as no surprise that Katumwa’s red all-leather shoes cost him JPY 230,000 (about sh3.5m).
You can get similar, but black shoes from Street Feet Shoes, on Wilson Road for sh250,000. There are similar, but synthetic shoes, going for sh40,000 in St. Balikuddembe Market.
The gold cufflinks that cost JPY10, 000 (about sh 150,000) in Tokyo, only go for sh 5,000 at Kiyembe just above the old Taxi park in Kampala.
Get the very best of leather belts from Cham Towers for sh70, 000; though Katumwa spent sh382, 000 (25,000JPY) on his from Tokyo.
There are also second-hand belts in the st balikuddembe market for sh20,000 each. Polyester neckties go for less than sh5,000 from street vendors in Wandegeya.
At Sakina Boutique on the Game Mall, you can get silken neckties for sh55,000. However, for the 100% viscous necktie like Katumwa’s, you might have to visit Tokyo with JPY10,000 (sh146,000).
You can hardly find Katumwa’s gold Rolex Cryster Perpetuer Watch readily on sale in Kampala.
Even Radha Jewelers at Sheraton Kampala Hotel needs about a week to order it for you from Dubai.
And for that, you might have to dole out about sh650, 000. But not everyone can afford to spend a more than month’s salary on just a wristwatch.
If you are the type and are still fashion savvy, desiring to achieve Katumwa’s look, just march into Kyakuwa General Enterprises with sh45, 000.
You will come out with a nice gold-plated watch. So, if Katumwa spent JPY720,000 (sh10.5m) on his look, you only need sh350,000.
By Titus Serunjogi
DAVID Katumwa is the very embodiment of a rags-to-riches tale, having risen from selling secondhand shoes in St Balikuddembe Market (Owino) to owning the most acclaimed sports store in town.
But even though he is an accomplished businessman, Katumwa is no shopping fanatic. He claims that he never goes shopping routinely for clothes except once in a year when he visits Japan.
In the picture, Katumwa dons a wool suit that costs about 370,000Japanese Yen (sh5.5m). Little wonder; because the suit is a genuine handmade fabric from the White Pigeon fashion Line.
However, you too can get a similar suit around town, for much less. Vialli Boutique on Garden City sells genuine-brand designer suits from Italy for sh980,000.
Alternatively, walk into Select Garments on Mabiriizi Complex with sh600,000 and you will march out with not only a nice suit, but also shoes, cufflinks, stockings, a tie and a belt!
However, the cheapest men’s suits in town can only be found at Man About Town, on the Entebbe Road-Kampala Road junction right next to Steers.
Suits cost sh150,000 a piece.
There is also the option of paying in installments.
Katumwa’s shirt goes for JPY 30,000 (sh460, 000) in Tokyo. Needless to say, you can get shirts for much less in town.
At Brovad Linens on Garden City, elegant shirts cost sh150,000.
On the shops along Nabugabo Road, you can get an equally good shirt for sh12,000.
Everyone in town knows that men’s shoes are much more expensive than ladies’ shoes.
So, it should come as no surprise that Katumwa’s red all-leather shoes cost him JPY 230,000 (about sh3.5m).
You can get similar, but black shoes from Street Feet Shoes, on Wilson Road for sh250,000. There are similar, but synthetic shoes, going for sh40,000 in St. Balikuddembe Market.
The gold cufflinks that cost JPY10, 000 (about sh 150,000) in Tokyo, only go for sh 5,000 at Kiyembe just above the old Taxi park in Kampala.
Get the very best of leather belts from Cham Towers for sh70, 000; though Katumwa spent sh382, 000 (25,000JPY) on his from Tokyo.
There are also second-hand belts in the st balikuddembe market for sh20,000 each. Polyester neckties go for less than sh5,000 from street vendors in Wandegeya.
At Sakina Boutique on the Game Mall, you can get silken neckties for sh55,000. However, for the 100% viscous necktie like Katumwa’s, you might have to visit Tokyo with JPY10,000 (sh146,000).
You can hardly find Katumwa’s gold Rolex Cryster Perpetuer Watch readily on sale in Kampala.
Even Radha Jewelers at Sheraton Kampala Hotel needs about a week to order it for you from Dubai.
And for that, you might have to dole out about sh650, 000. But not everyone can afford to spend a more than month’s salary on just a wristwatch.
If you are the type and are still fashion savvy, desiring to achieve Katumwa’s look, just march into Kyakuwa General Enterprises with sh45, 000.
You will come out with a nice gold-plated watch. So, if Katumwa spent JPY720,000 (sh10.5m) on his look, you only need sh350,000.