There was drama at Shoprite in Kampala as Hundreds of Ugandans flocked the stores to buy discounted goods, a practice analogous to an American tradition commonly known as Black Friday.
The day takes place annually on 25 November 2016, the first Friday after Thanksgiving. To many, it's a day for big deals and business promotions. The day is already popular in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria where crowds pack shops for the best bargains in the mayhem of the day.
It's against this background that hundreds of Kampala city dwellers jammed Shoprite branches in Lugogo and Clock Tower where Beverages, beer, electronics furniture and many other products were selling at half price.
However, many shoppers rushed to grab beers which were going for 1,900 a bottle. Some were heard thanking God that a weekend full of house parties is all they ever wished for, praying this would happen at least once a month.
Also, a carton of soda was slashed from 22,800 to 11,400 shillings, A liter of cooking oil selling at 5,900 from the usual 11,800 Shillings, a crate of beer down to 38,000 Shillings from 76,000 Shillings and campsite chairs which were sold at 299,000 instead of the usual 549,800 Shillings.
At Lugogo, customers filled the supermarket to capacity. They were tightly marked as queues stretched beyond the parking lot while others were struggling to gain access to the shopping centre. Inside the mall, staffs used microphones to guide shoppers where to get the best deals of the day as stalls were emptied by enthusiastic buyers.
Cars and trucks are packed outside the Lugogo supermarket loading merchandise. Gasper Kasaija the controller and representative of Nile breweries at the Lugogo based shop rite said this Friday offer is a full day offer aimed at giving back to their customers.
"As you can see already, customers are very many. So far our stock is running out. We are giving back to our customers in appreciation for their support over the years."
"It's a good promotion and I think they are giving back some good things to customers. I learnt about this from the newspaper sometime back and I had to save for the promotion. Unfortunately sodas are over but they have told us they are offloading after lunch," Brenda Apiso, a customer from Namuwongo.
