Ocorimongin: The biggest market in Uganda

TOURISM

KATAKWI-The advent of supermarkets previously feared to kill dukas (corner shops) and katale (market) or okison (auction) has been proved impossible. This is true in the biggest one in the country called Ocorimongin (market of cows) in Katakwi.

Besides cattle the market at the mercy of sun or rain, is a typical Uganda equivalent of a supermarket where everything can be bought. The list of goods there comprises: electronics, toys, cosmetics, household essentials, poultry, livestock, ajon (millet beer)and bottled lagers.

"Traders come from as far as South Sudan, Kenya and Kampala," confides the LC John Okello. "Times have changed. Thirty years ago boys trekked to Ocorimongin plucking akogo (thumb piano) but today they listen to FM stations on the mobile phones."

Dry cassava chips is a food security gimmick used since time immemorial (Photo by Titus Kakembo)

The market is the main revenue earner to the budding district with few taxable businesses in place. Medicines stolen from the government hospital find their way in the tree shade stalls.

A look around for what has not changed was futile apart from whole roasted chicken with a price tag of sh12,000-sh15, 000. This is eaten with a huge mountain of steaming millet bread, a potato here and vegetables. The menu has  cuisines like ebileng (mud fish,) emolokony (cow hoof) leaving vegetarian ones for the less endowed.

"Romantic couples dine out on tree stumps and wash the food down with a bottle of beer or tot pack of dry gin," reveals Ronnie Ikara. "The combination makes any suitor eloquent, funny and brave to say what they can't when sober."

Besides a good sell is worth celebrating by dining out and sipping some beverages. Many singles go to the market with their antennas on full alert for any marriage material.

The markets owes its name for being originally a weekly cattle selling and buying place. (Photo by Titus Kakembo)

"The qualities treasured in an Itesot woman are: hospitality, hard work and a shape known as adusele (curvy)," says a veteran scribe Job Opolot. "In the past she was tested on a grinding sack of millet and brewing aperoi (millet beer)"

As one saunters through the huge crowds music on public address systems tunes like Afrigo's akon Ikoku eyauni emali oree are audible alongside Bobi Wine and Chameleon lyrics.

In a nutshell, trendy supermarkets may be in place but Okison is too diverse to be replaced by them. With time these weekly markets are transforming to suit the prevailing times.

Today they offer haircuts, rolex and cosmetics. The person to person communication between buyer and seller is still better than those in supermarkets.