- China Town Super Store opened its first retail branch in Kampala’s Lugogo area on Saturday 31st August.
- Excited Ugandan shoppers flocked to Lugogo Shopping Mall to take advantage of the Chinese retail store’s lower prices.
- Chinese retail players have taken the East African market by storm, rapidly spreading their tentacles in the region.
- Local traders in Kenya and Uganda have protested the arrival of Chinese retail businesses, fearing that their competitive pricing is driving them out of the market.
- Reports suggest that China Town Uganda has been closed due to concerns that it may be a potential terrorist target.
Newly Opened China Town Super Store Causes Jitters Among Ugandan Traders
Kampala recently played host to the rapidly expanding Chinese retail business in East Africa with the opening of China Town Super Store.
The grand opening happened just weeks after Kenya-based China Square Limited opened a new retail outlet in Mombasa.
China Square already has several outlets in Kenya since its arrival in 2023.
Akin to what happened in Nairobi, wholesalers and retailers in Kampala’s trading bastions are under serious pressure with fears rising that the Chinese outlet is poised to price them out of the market.
Inside China Town Mall, Ugandans can get clothes, suitcases, cutlery, electronic appliances, and gadgets at significantly lower rates than in other local shops.
As China Town Super Store moves to gain a foothold in Uganda’s capital, reports indicate that traders in Kikuubo are up in arms protesting the move.
Their Nyamakima counterparts in Kenya staged protests last year when China Square Mall opened its doors at Unicity Mall along Thika Superhighway on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Angry local traders staged demos in Nairobi city center against the mall’s operations. Their procession made its way to the Deputy President’s office along Harambee Avenue.
The angry traders mostly drawn from Kenya’s central region demanded an audience with the country’s second in command and the region’s political kingpin, calling for an end to what they termed as a ‘Chinese invasion’.
Read: Confusion in Mombasa as Newly Opened China Square Mall Closes Shortly After Opening
Enthusiastic Ugandan Shoppers Throng China Town Super Store
While local traders worried about the threat posed by China Town Superstore, enthusiastic residents flocked to the outlet for a heavily discounted shopping spree.
Videos seen by Kenyascoop.com show shoppers in their hundreds pouring in through the main entrance.
From gym equipment to motorbikes, massage chairs, refrigerators, skateboards, and kids’ playtoys the massive Kampala outlet is a one-stop shop for household and commercial commodities.
The retail giant is expected to give local traders a run for their money as Ugandans who typically shop downtown flock to the new store.
China Town Super Uganda comes in the wake of high-profile exits of notable shopping brands including Game Store and Shoprite. The stores mainly target upscale clientele in African markets.
Ugandans have taken to social media to react to the new entrant in the retail space. While some welcome the development, others are doubtful about the mall’s ability to maintain its current level of foot traffic.
The skeptics base their opinion on the common Ugandan tendency to hype new trends before eventually returning to traditional purchasing habits.
Ugandan Authorities Close China Town Superstore Amid Terror Concerns
China Town Super Store’s fanfare and excitement ended prematurely as the country’s security forces closed the premises citing security concerns.
According to reports out of Uganda, the highly-packed shopping mall has been designated as a potential terrorist target prompting authorities to take immediate action.
Members of the public have vacated the area and are set to return once the threat has been cleared.
