ecommerce site in
Uganda
Uganda - eCommerce
Describes how widely e-Commerce is used, the primary sectors
that sell through e-commerce, and how much product/service in each sector is
sold through e-commerce versus brick-and-mortar retail. Includes what a company
needs to know to take advantage of e-commerce in the local market and,
reputable, prominent B2B websites.
Last Published: 8/3/2017
Overview
Loosely regulated and informal, eCommerce is rapidly growing in Uganda due to the widespread use of mobile money payments and rapid growth in telecommunication users. Since 2008, Ugandan commercial banks have offered Mobile Money, which allows mobile phone users to electronically transfer funds to retailers or individuals. With comparatively lower fees and a wider network of money exchanges, mobile money is growing faster than traditional banking in Uganda. Although the GOU regulates Mobile Money, identity enforcement remains poor. The GOU lacks regulations and enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal activities advertised on informal mobile platforms.
Current Market Trends
The GOU does not officially track eCommerce use; however, mobile money usage is nearly universal among mobile phone customers and the GOU is beginning to track mobile money and mobile commercial transactions. As the number of smart phone customers increase in Uganda, Ugandan entrepreneurs have developed several new mobile applications to facilitate e-commerce over the past year.
Domestic eCommerce (B2C)
Most of Uganda’s domestic business to customer (B2C) eCommerce sector is run on social media platforms on mobile devices including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and WeChat. As the number of smart phone customers increase in Uganda, developers have started offering mobile applications to facilitate eCommerce. Online classified websites also facilitate B2C eCommerce.
Cross-Border eCommerce
The Ugandan businesses community uses the following websites to facilitate cross-border eCommerce:
Skrill
WorldRemit
Western Union
MoneyGram
Dahabshiil
Customers can pay for goods and services with a credit card and businesses in the region can receive a payment through mobile money transfers.
Loosely regulated and informal, eCommerce is rapidly growing in Uganda due to the widespread use of mobile money payments and rapid growth in telecommunication users. Since 2008, Ugandan commercial banks have offered Mobile Money, which allows mobile phone users to electronically transfer funds to retailers or individuals. With comparatively lower fees and a wider network of money exchanges, mobile money is growing faster than traditional banking in Uganda. Although the GOU regulates Mobile Money, identity enforcement remains poor. The GOU lacks regulations and enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal activities advertised on informal mobile platforms.
Current Market Trends
The GOU does not officially track eCommerce use; however, mobile money usage is nearly universal among mobile phone customers and the GOU is beginning to track mobile money and mobile commercial transactions. As the number of smart phone customers increase in Uganda, Ugandan entrepreneurs have developed several new mobile applications to facilitate e-commerce over the past year.
Domestic eCommerce (B2C)
Most of Uganda’s domestic business to customer (B2C) eCommerce sector is run on social media platforms on mobile devices including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and WeChat. As the number of smart phone customers increase in Uganda, developers have started offering mobile applications to facilitate eCommerce. Online classified websites also facilitate B2C eCommerce.
Cross-Border eCommerce
The Ugandan businesses community uses the following websites to facilitate cross-border eCommerce:
Skrill
WorldRemit
Western Union
MoneyGram
Dahabshiil
Customers can pay for goods and services with a credit card and businesses in the region can receive a payment through mobile money transfers.
B2B eCommerce
See above section on B2C eCommerce. Uganda’s business to business (B2B) eCommerce runs on a similar basis as B2C eCommerce.
eCommerce Services
Uganda’s eCommerce covers a wide-range of goods and services and also allows for tax payment. With no specific eCommerce regulations, illicit as well as legitimate trade is facilitated in Uganda’s informal eCommerce sector.
eCommerce Intellectual Property Rights
Businesses operating on eCommerce platforms rely on traditional mechanisms to protect their intellectual property rights. See section on intellectual property rights.
Popular eCommerce Sites
In addition to advertising on social media platforms, the following websites are among those that facilitate eCommerce in Uganda.
Consumer Goods:
JUMIA
Dondolo
GoodsExpress
Intraline
Masikini
US2UG
SupaPrice
Kilimall
Hi2 Shop
KiKUU
2Fumbe
Alibaba
Shipping:
FedEx
Dhl
Nile Cargo Carrier
IntershipUG
TNT - The People Network
Exporting out of Uganda:
Uganda Post Limited (sole mail service provider in Uganda)
Restaurants & Home Delivery:
Jumia Food
Clothing & Apparel:
Paple Rayn
Classifieds:
OLX
Eye Trade
Tax Payment:
Uganda Revenue Authority
Online Payment
Larger eCommerce firms accept credit cards, most Ugandan merchants operate on a cash basis through mobile money. This is quickly changing due to numerous interchange transactions allowing for credit cards or mobile money to be transacted online in a similar fashion.
Mobile eCommerce
Most of Uganda’s eCommerce is conducted informally on mobile devices through social media platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and WeChat. Uganda’s mobile eCommerce platforms are unregulated and can contain illicit goods and services.
Digital Marketing
Uganda’s digital marketing is conducted on social media platforms and online classified websites. Many Ugandan businesses run social media campaigns targeting segmented user sets through most social media platforms. While traditional media is still prevalent, many firms with smaller marketing budgets rely heavily on social media platforms to promote their goods and services.
Major Buying Holidays
Major buying holidays in Uganda include:
Christmas –Consumer goods sales volume increases begin in October.
Schools – Stationary goods sales volume increases in January and July ahead of the academic calendar.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha – Consumer goods and food sales volume increases around the Eid holidays, which vary according to the lunar calendar.
See above section on B2C eCommerce. Uganda’s business to business (B2B) eCommerce runs on a similar basis as B2C eCommerce.
eCommerce Services
Uganda’s eCommerce covers a wide-range of goods and services and also allows for tax payment. With no specific eCommerce regulations, illicit as well as legitimate trade is facilitated in Uganda’s informal eCommerce sector.
eCommerce Intellectual Property Rights
Businesses operating on eCommerce platforms rely on traditional mechanisms to protect their intellectual property rights. See section on intellectual property rights.
Popular eCommerce Sites
In addition to advertising on social media platforms, the following websites are among those that facilitate eCommerce in Uganda.
Consumer Goods:
JUMIA
Dondolo
GoodsExpress
Intraline
Masikini
US2UG
SupaPrice
Kilimall
Hi2 Shop
KiKUU
2Fumbe
Alibaba
Shipping:
FedEx
Dhl
Nile Cargo Carrier
IntershipUG
TNT - The People Network
Exporting out of Uganda:
Uganda Post Limited (sole mail service provider in Uganda)
Restaurants & Home Delivery:
Jumia Food
Clothing & Apparel:
Paple Rayn
Classifieds:
OLX
Eye Trade
Tax Payment:
Uganda Revenue Authority
Online Payment
Larger eCommerce firms accept credit cards, most Ugandan merchants operate on a cash basis through mobile money. This is quickly changing due to numerous interchange transactions allowing for credit cards or mobile money to be transacted online in a similar fashion.
Mobile eCommerce
Most of Uganda’s eCommerce is conducted informally on mobile devices through social media platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and WeChat. Uganda’s mobile eCommerce platforms are unregulated and can contain illicit goods and services.
Digital Marketing
Uganda’s digital marketing is conducted on social media platforms and online classified websites. Many Ugandan businesses run social media campaigns targeting segmented user sets through most social media platforms. While traditional media is still prevalent, many firms with smaller marketing budgets rely heavily on social media platforms to promote their goods and services.
Major Buying Holidays
Major buying holidays in Uganda include:
Christmas –Consumer goods sales volume increases begin in October.
Schools – Stationary goods sales volume increases in January and July ahead of the academic calendar.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha – Consumer goods and food sales volume increases around the Eid holidays, which vary according to the lunar calendar.
Social Media
See mobile eCommerce section.
See mobile eCommerce section.
Prepared by our
U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States
and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S.
Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing
expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide.
Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by
visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.
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#1. Kaymu (Merged with Jumia
Part of the Rocket Internet
group, Kaymu recently opened shop and wants to be your biggest online marketplace where you
can buy or sell anything. More like an Amazon of sorts, Kaymu allows users to
list items for sale or to buy listed items. With a fully functional website,
you can browse and search through vast categories of products like Electronics.
Mobile phones and Tablets, Fashion, Health and beauty products among others.
They are currently on web and mobile even though they don’t have a dedicated
Mobile App. We have used Kaymu before and it works just fine.
READ MORE:
- A 2017 complete
guide to online Shopping and Shipping websites in Uganda
- Online Shopping: 6
payment methods you can use when shopping online in Uganda
- Here are 10 valuable
tips for shopping safely online in Uganda
- Online Shopping in
Uganda: Here’s how to buy stuff online and easily ship to Uganda
#2. Jumia
With probably more experience
in the e-commerce and online shopping arena, Jumia operates in 6 African
countries with a lot of documented success in Nigeria. They recently opened up
shop in Uganda and are also fully functional. With an easy to navigate website.
Aspiring to be your one stop online retailer, Jumia offers a wide
selection of products including but not limited to electronics, fashion items,
home appliances and many more. They also have a dedicated Android App to help
you shop while on your phone. To begin shopping on Jumia, this will help it includes how to and the links to their SOcial Media Pages
and Android App.
#3. Hellofood (Now Jumia
Food)
Hellofood the global food
delivery chain also opened up shop in Uganda early this year with one
mission; to make it easier for you to get your favorite dish from your favorite
restaurant without leaving your home or desk. We first wrote about them and later met the managing director
for an interview about the service and how it works. We also used the service
and we were satisfied with it.
#4. Home DUUKA (Closed Shop)
Think of them as an online
supermarket with a lot of what you need from fresh produce, groceries, health
and beauty products to fresh Beef, Chicken, Goat and even fish. We first learnt
of them earlier this year. They are fully functional business that uses a pool of local
vendors to bring to you a variety of products which you can order online on
their website and the products are delivered to you in the comfort of your home
or workplace. They use a network of delivery agents to efficiently get the
products to the customers. Unfortunately they have few listing compared to the
competition.
#5. TakewayUG (Closed Shop)
TakeAway UG is part of the
HomeDuuka Group and is your online food delivery service. They have 11 major
restaurants in town listed including the The Bistro, Prunes and The Soundcup.
To order, one has to quickly set up an account that helps them capture the
customer’s’ billing address and contacts. However, TakeAwayUG has a minimum
purchase requirement of 20,000 Ugx and will not process your order if its any
less. They have payment options of Cash On delivery and Mobile Money
among others.
#6. Eyetrade
EyeTrade has been around for a
while and are one of those people who stuck to E-commerce way before we had any
infrastructure to fully support it as a business. Think of them as a Ugandan
“Craigslist”; They do 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. In their own words, “we connect
sellers with buyers for free. If you’ve got something you want to sell in
Uganda, you can advertise it FOR FREE right here on our web site. If you are
looking to buy something in Uganda, you can search through all items and
contact the seller FOR FREE.”
#7. Shop 24/7 (Closed Shop)
Shop 24/7 is another online
supermarket that seems to be as big as they claim. We haven’t used them
yet but checking out their website, we meet a fully functional e-commerce site
that allows you to easily shop online. There is lots of products listed and lots
of payment options. We will be contacting them for an interview and we will
keep you posted.
#8. Dondolo Shop
Dondolo is all about 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. One thing we don’t like is
that they list items in dollars instead of shillings but other than that, they
are functional and have an offline shop in town.
#9. ZIDI (Closed Shop)
Zidi is another e-commerce
portal, enabling individuals, small business and companies to find buy & sell
their products and services online. They seem to be new and have few products
listed but they are also operational and have a fully functional website.
#10. Paple Rayn Store
This 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.
These are the Top 10 functional
e-commerce sites among the many that we have come across in Uganda that are
driving and growing the e-commerce sector. If you know any others that we don’t
know, please let us know in the comments
Defunct Ugandan Shopping Websites
1.
Zidi.ug
2.
Shop247.ug
3.
Kaymu.co.ug (Merged with Jumia)
4.
Takeawayug.com
5.
Homeduuka.com
6.
Meka.ug
7.
Goodsexpress
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