LOCAL BUSINESSES STRUGGLE AMID INFLUX OF FOREIGNERS

The influx of different traders, especially the Chinese, has changed the trade dynamics in Uganda’s downtown business – the heart and soul of the country’s local trade industry – creating what many see as an unfair ground. For example, while the Chinese traders can tap into their home country’s cheap labour and low interest rates on credit, Ugandan traders have to grapple with the high business costs, such as the ruthless pursuit of moneylenders, to match their Asian competitors.

The field is not levelled. For landlords, though, the growth of traders is simply music to their ears. Landlords have hiked rent fees in downtown Kampala due to the growth of foreign traders in the market, making it hard for indigenous businesses to survive.