This week, “non-essential” family members are heading to the village, textile and decoration dealers are stepping up their stocks, and street-side music is turning to Christmas cantanta, signaling that the day is exactly a month away. The next month is usually a critical period for the business community, especially those selling garments, decorative items, and later, foodstuffs.
In Kampala, a visible shift occurs in busy trading areas like Nakivubo and Nakasero, where shops stock more seasonal merchandise to take advantage of the festive mood of consumers. However, for traders in Nakivubo, this year’s season comes at a challenging time.
The area is still recovering from devastating floods a month ago, which destroyed goods and damaged stores. Some traders are still cleaning up their premises and salvaging affected merchandise, which they say has lost value.
Herbert Lukwago, who operates a multi-section store in the basement of Totala Business Centre at the Nakivubo/Namirembe Road junction, was found reorganizing his shop, installing new shelves, and repairing fittings. He sounded helpless as he explained that they had given up on this year’s seasonal business because they were unprepared.
He expressed disappointment at how flood victims have been treated, blaming Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and businessman Hamis Kigundu for implementing a construction project over the Nakivubo channel. While KCCA and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja toured the area and gave assurances, Lukwago says nothing has been done, leaving traders to rely on creditors and moneylenders.
At the neighbouring French Plaza near Mukwano Arcade, several women — who preferred to speak off the record — have resumed selling baby clothes. They hoped business would pick up with Christmas shoppers, but say the effects of the floods are still being felt.
They accused the media and city authorities of taking note of their concerns without providing any tangible assistance, fearing that their struggles would be forgotten once business resumed. On the streets and in other shops, traders are already engaging in Christmas business, covering pavements and pedestrian islands with merchandise like garments and decorations. Christmas songs and advertisements play from loudspeakers outside roadside shops.
Some traders, however, are worried that this season could be worse than previous years, citing money scarcity among consumers. Musa Ntambi said he is unsure whether the adjustments KCCA and Kigundu have made to the channel since the floods will significantly improve drainage or prevent future flooding. He added that potential Christmas shoppers might avoid the area for fear of floods and muddy roads, further dampening business prospects as the year ends.
The traders most affected by the floods were those operating in basements, where runoff easily flowed into their shops. KCCA recently expressed unwillingness to compensate them, saying the affected spaces were illegally occupied and had only been approved for car parking.
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