{UAH} Friday Craft Market in Kampala

Friday Craft Market in Kampala

Posted by Jon Blanc on December 31, 2012

Deal directly with the Artisans and get more value for your money.

Best place in Kampala for bargain souvenirs, African arts and crafts

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There are various places where you can buy craft, you can go to Buganda Road by Daisy Arcade, also by the National Theatre, those two places are the ones where most people buy things that they would like to take home to their country.  Great choices, all neatly laid out, helpful shopkeepers, a bit on the pushy side at times, but a laughter, smile and kind word overcomes that.  Not much bargaining there, since most of them are resellers and not creators of what you are buying.

Every Friday there is another option for buying crafts such as carvings, fabrics, T-shirts, African style shoes and sandals made locally and even Kenyan items such as soapstone chess sets and other items are found here.  There are drums of all kinds, even the West African styled Djembe drums, but buy a local styled one.  Batiks are a good choice, not much weight and you can frame them back home.

Please keep in mind, you are flying, you will see many things you just might like and want to buy – the question that is before you, " will it add too much weight to my luggage.  Consider also the size of the item that you are buying and ask yourself "how am I going to get this on the plane?"

You can get a lot of quality original items including masks, spears, drums, wood carvings, jewelry, blankets, sheets, pillow cases, African clothes and more.

Pay in Uganda Shillings and not in US Dollars, you simply get a better deal.

At the Friday market you are dealing with the artists, the creators of the crafts you are buying and one advantage here is that you can bargain a bit more than at the normal Craft Markets and the bargaining dance always is a lot of fun.  I set a final price, show the money and if they want more, walk away, if my price was just  a bit fair, someone will come running after me and I will receive the item at that price.  Enjoy Friday's at the Craft Market in the Nsambiya area along Ggaba Road…from Kampala…jon