New Vision (Kampala)
NEWS
July 29, 2005 [/b]
Posted to the web July 29, 2005

By Yasin Kakande
Kampala

Ugandan traders are emerging as the newest bulk buyers of consumer goods in Dubai. They go to Dubai daily, looking for lucrative bargains.

Hajji Tamale of Taimex Commercial Brokers and a member of the Uganda Business Council in Dubai says there are many attractions to Africans in Dubai.

Tamale said some of the attractions are the absence of sales, income and corporate taxes with free local telephones.

"Dubai is a shopper's paradise, especially for gold and electronics. It offers maximum value for money," he said.

Rashid Ssemugenyi, a businessman, said he comes to Dubai every month to buy used cars from Awir Used Car Market and Sharjah, the largest market for used cars in the world.

"Cars are very cheap. One can buy a Toyota SE 100 for less than $1,500 (sh2.6m) and sell it back home for $4,000 (sh7.1m). A Toyota Rav4 which costs $4,000 can be sold in Uganda for $7,500 (sh13.3m)," Ssemugenyi said.

He said although Uganda's customs duty is high, reasonable profits can be made from sale of the used cars.

Margaret Zawedde, who works from William Street in Kampala, visits Dubai once every month to purchase ready-made garments.

Zawedde said Deira City Centre is her favourite. "There are designer outlets like Mexx, Debenhams, Laura Ashley and others," she said.

Zawedde said the best time to shop is during the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) in March when the whole city becomes "one big discount alley."

She said the raffle draws, with prizes ranging from Lexus cars to a million Dirhams, were another attraction.

Her colleague, Saudah Bukirwa, says although much is gained during the DSF, the best discounts are during Ramadhan, the Islamic holy month. However, a muslim trader will not do much during that time.