As Uganda continues to witness the national lockdown meant to curb down the spread of COVID-19, almost all business ventures have been set to a standstill less the e-commerce platforms. Partially, because of a wide population made up of the youth, Uganda is one of the countries where e-commerce platforms are thriving year in year out. For the year 2018, Forbes magazine ranked Uganda in the seventh spot of countries with the highest internet penetration in Africa.
The report also indicated that in the same period, mobile internet subscriptions registered a 14.5% growth with 1.6 million new subscribers, whereas fixed internet subscription grew by 3.2%. For this and other reasons, E-commerce is rapidly growing in Uganda. Additionally, due to the ongoing lockdown, stay home and quarantine government directives, there has been an increased online presence of many Ugandans.
The restrictions could suggest shopping and ordering goods and services away from the direct market but rather ordering from your fingertips using one’s mobile phone in case you want your goods delivered at your door steps. Though still concentrated in the Capital Kampala, a few platforms have come up with enticing discounts and promotions, and really doing well.
As always, at Guide2Uganda, we have gone ahead to list you down the Top 10 Ugandan domestic e-commerce platforms to turn to during this lockdown. Check them out bellow.
1. Jumia
Jumia Uganda is the largest online retail store in Uganda and undoubtedly tops this list. The online platform earlier established in May 2012 with the aim and vision to become the one-stop shop for retail in Africa with implementation of best practices both online and offline provides varied online services ranging from personal to inter-personal goods and services. The platform has over time enhanced its services enormously with improvements in delivery time and introduction, a whole day working call center, after sale services among others. You couldn’t probably miss out on their services in case you opt to have goods delivered at your convenience in your homes during these ‘restricted’ days.
2. Masikini
Talking about satisfactory eCommerce services, Masikini too cuts the line. The platform enables a user to do shopping from an endless range of products from USA and UK using the fastest payment options like MTN mobile money, Airtel money and VISA. It further offers shipping days from 5 to 15 days. This platform is idea for customers who would prefer to buy or import some goods that literally can’t be found around the country. Masikini also has an option of refunding you should the product not meet the buyers satisfaction after receipt and verification which service protects customers from un satisfying products. Besides their online portal, Masikini has a physical presence with their offices found on the Basement floor of Oasis Mall on Yusuf Lule road in Kampala.
3. KiKUU
Coming third on our list is KiKUU. Also known as Hangzhou Jiku Information Technology Co. Ltd is a prominent online shop in Uganda with numerous services to offer. KiKUU offers an unparalleled shopping experience with the largest selection of quality products from China. KiKUU also has an online presence that helps customers shop and order a wide range of quality products direct from Chinese manufacturers.
4. Jumia Food
Hellofood, as earlier referred to, rebranded to Jumia food. It works under the parent Jumia Company. The global food delivery chain also opened up shop in Uganda with an aim to make it easier for customers to get their favorite dish(es) from a preferred restaurant without leaving their home or desk. The customers only have to sit and wait to enjoy the delicacy of their ordered dish (es) as an agent brings their order down to the comfort of their set location.
5. Dondolo Market
Dondolo is a Ugandan ecommerce platform that aims on mobile phones and accessories. Even though they have other categories, unfortunately nothing is listed on them. They however have a good repository of refurbished and new smartphones that many would be interested in. The platform is functional and they have an offline shop in Kampala town.
6. Eyetrade
EyeTrade is an eCommerce platform that has been around for a while and one of the earliest in the E-commerce business even way before Uganda hadly had any infrastructure to fully support it as a business. Eyetrade does classified ads harnessing the power of community to help people buy and sell whatever they want. They have multiple categories and wide variety of products to choose from including but not limited to Real Estate, Agriculture, automobiles and electronics.
7. Jiji ug
Jiji is another eCommerce home on the Ugandan market. Like sister platforms, customers visit the platform for almost all the available goods and services on the Ugandan market. One could call the platform an enhanced supermarket. The platform connects sellers with buyers for free. If you’ve got something you want to sell in Uganda, you can advertise it FOR FREE right there on the Jinji platform through web site or app If you are looking to buy something in Uganda, you can search through all items and contact the seller FOR FREE.”
8. Paple Rayn
Paple Rayn store is the most recent in the Ugandan e-commerce sphere. Previously operating on Facebook, Paple Rayn has no physical location and only shows off its products on Social Media letting people make orders online that are delivered after contacting the buyers. They recently launched their independent online shopping platform for all things fashion. The platform allows shoppers to browse through a variety of fashion items for both women and men with multiple international brands to select from.
9. Safeboda food
Safeboda food is another online platform that compliments the local food distribution chain. The e-commerce platform avails customers with a wide choice of different dishes from a number of selected food restaurants around Kampala town. Interesting about Safeboda services is the fact that the customer pays on delivery.
10. UGAKart
UGAKART is a new entrant in the market. It is operated by Emerald Global Limited an Emerald Group company, Ugakart aims to build a highly customer focused, one stop shop for its customers for getting the products sufficing their requirements. You can buy variety of products from Vegetables, Groceries, Stationery, Daily Needs, Clothing and many more with a provision of direct local payments like mobile money.
About Guide2Uganda
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