What to take home: gift ideas & craft markets in Kampala
One of the exciting things about travelling is buying gifts for family and friends – or a personal souvenir of your memorable time in a new country. Uganda has a wealth of beautiful things for you to take home, from traditional handmade crafts to world-class coffee, and gorgeous kitenge prints.
Here’s Explore Uganda’s guide to help you discover the best of Kampala’s craft markets and find the perfect memento of your visit to the Pearl of Africa.
Kampala is the best place in Uganda for craft shopping thanks to its numerous markets, galleries, shops, malls. But don’t worry if you run out of time, many lodges – and even Entebbe International Airport – have a small selection of gifts on sale too.
Craft Markets
Uganda Arts and Crafts Village, next to the National Theatre, central Kampala is a hub for artisans selling handmade crafts. If you’re short on time, this is a great place to buy all your souvenirs. Browse through stalls selling woven baskets and bags of all shapes and colours, wooden carvings of gorillas, jewellery, fabrics, bark cloth bags and artworks, such as batik prints.
Daisy Arcade, Buganda Road, central Kampala. This is another convenient place to grab everything in one go. Home to dozens of stalls, you’ll find thousands of gift ideas!
Tips for shopping
The downside of markets is that few things have price tags so you’ll need to haggle. The prices may start high (so don’t accept the first price). Market shopping is a great way to interact with local people. Ugandans are very friendly. Smile, take your time and compare prices at the different stalls. Don’t show your interest yet (and see who comes running after you!)
Negotiating can be fun, but you might prefer the experience of a gift shop. Here, items are more likely to be marked with prices but you can still sometimes haggle. (It’s always worth a try, particularly if you’re buying a few things). For quality souvenirs (with high price tags to match), visit Banana Boat shops in Kisementi Square or Lugogo shopping mall and gift shops at the Serena Hotel and the Sheraton Hotel.
Want to feel the Kampala vibe? Nothing beats the energy of a bustling market!
Try one of Kampala’s sprawling ‘downtown’ markets where every day, thousands of Ugandans congregate to buy everything from second-hand clothes to fruits and vegetables, pots and pans and even grasshoppers (a Ugandan delicacy nsenene) when they are in season! Owino and Nakasero are Kampala’s best-known big markets.
Gift ideas
Now, let’s explore Uganda through some of the unique gifts on sale in Kampala’s craft markets and shops:
Traditional instruments
Africa is famous for her drums and Uganda is no exception. Drums of all sizes can be bought at craft markets. Look for shakers or rattles made from large seedpods on sticks (perfect gifts for young children). For music lovers, how about the unusual akogo (thumb piano) or the deeply traditional musical instrument such as the adungu (harp), from West Nile.
Woven Baskets
Made from natural materials such as sisal, raffia, and banana fibre, Ugandan baskets are both beautiful and functional, and come in a wide range of colours, patterns and sizes. Use them for storage or display them as decorative pieces in your home.
Wooden Carvings
Uganda is renowned for its skilled woodcarvers. Pick up a hand-carved sculpture depicting wildlife, or everyday rural scenes.
Jewellery
Where better to buy jewellery than in Africa? Browse through earrings, necklaces, bracelets made from colourful beads, shells, metal, leather and Ankole cowhorn from Western Uganda. You may even find ornaments made out of recycled bottle tops! UGANDA bracelets in the distinctive red, yellow and black of the national flag are always popular too.
Coffee
Uganda’s coffee is famous internationally, and can be purchased in coffee shops and cafes, local supermarkets and Entebbe Airport. Love gorillas? Gorilla Conservation Coffee sell packet coffee from their cafe on the main road to Entebbe Airport. By supporting coffee farmers on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, we are protecting the forest habitat and the gorillas that live there.
Uganda Waragi
You’ll quickly notice what a fun-loving nation Uganda is. Uganda Waragi “the spirit that binds us” never fails to go down well. This triple-distilled gin is popular with Ugandans and visitors alike.
Shopping Tips
Support Local Artisans
By purchasing directly from local artisans, not only are you supporting them and their families but you’re helping to preserve Uganda’s traditional crafts.
Top tip: BUBU! It may look African, but that doesn’t mean it’s Ugandan. We know you love Africa – and everything African – but much as we love our East African brothers and sisters, while you are in Uganda, we would really love you to sample Ugandan products. “Buy Uganda, Build Uganda” we say!
If you’re heading to a busy market, be aware of pickpockets. Like in any big city, thieves are quick to spot an opportunity if your phone or valuables aren’t out of sight.
Conclusion
Landing in a new country can be exciting, but sometimes overwhelming too. Hire a local guide for the best experience shopping in Kampala’s markets.
Looking for more inspiration in Kampala? Read Explore Uganda’s Guide to 10 Must-Do Activities in Kampala (for Visitors with Limited Time).