Market vendors in Kampala are embracing online services to deliver foodstuffs to their customers because of the travel restrictions because of COVID19.

 The vendors have taken to Facebook, WhatsApp, twitter and open online stores to market their products. Nakawa Market Online Store is one of the platforms that have taken social media by storm.  The store operates Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm and on Sunday between mid-day and 6 p.m. 

The store delivers food to any place around the city for as long as the order doesn’t go below Shillings 20,000. Our reporter placed an order on WhatsApp through Deo Twikiriize, the team leader Nakawa Market Online Store. He explained that he was working with several vendors in the market to supply him with goods on order.  

Also indicated was a 10 per cent charge for the service. With a total shopping order of Shillings 25,000, the reporter paid an extra Shillings 2,500 as shopping fee and parted with an extra Shillings 1,000 for every kilometer to get the delivery.  

 Payments are made either through mobile money, or on delivery. The delivery was made through a motorcyclist, albeit after so many hours of waiting. Four years back, the Institution for Social Transformation started working with market women to improve their economic status. 

This Non-Government Organization trained over 400 women to use their "Market Garden App" to deliver goods to customers. Rita Atukwasa, the Executive Director Institution for Social Transformation, says customers in a radius of five kilometers can make orders and be served with in 45 minutes by any of the over 50 women in Ntinda New Market and Nakawa market  using the App.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES