• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

DENIS JJUUKO: Business hubs could lead to development of small towns

Watchdog Uganda by Watchdog Uganda
2 years ago
in #Out2Lunch, Op-Ed
2 0
Kikuubo business hub

Kikuubo business hub

ShareTweetSendShare

Somebody posted on social media last week asking what is in Gayaaza as everyone they knew seemed to be buying or wanting to buy land in that area. Of course, what Ugandans refer to as Gayaaza today is really miles away from Gayaaza even though this town has always been famous, largely for being host to one of the country’s best known high schools. As Uganda’s population grows, so are towns near Gayaaza.

It all started with real estate dealers referring to every town after Gayaaza as Gayaaza hence Gayaaza Kalagi, Gayaaza Ziroobwe and even sometimes advertising plots of land in Kikyusa deep down in Luweero as Gayaaza Kikyusa.

Unable to afford land in Kampala, many people moved out to what is today known as greater Kampala (parts of Wakiso, Mpigi and Luweero districts). That is why areas like Busiika, Kiwenda, Busukuma, Nakasajja, Ddundu and Kalagi which are considered Gayaaza are attracting attention. Gayaaza may be attracting the “middle class” that can tweet and use social media, but the expansion is in all directions.

Can this expansion be better planned for better returns on investment? The planning may not have to be done by the government as that may take a lot of time. Individuals investing in certain areas could learn a thing or two of how Kampala originally created business hubs.

In downtown Kampala, a narrow street became famous for trade where retailers purchased merchandise. Because of the size of this street, this area came to be known as Kikuubo. Every retailer and bargain hunter visited this area from Uganda and beyond, making it the country and region’s wholesale hub. Many other businesses such as restaurants, banks, forex traders, law firms and transporters had to set up shop. Pickpockets descended on Kikuubo as well to “teach people that Kampala isn’t just buildings.”

Some of the people who set up shop in Kikuubo 30 or so years ago are today’s renown billionaires having benefitted from the numbers that visited this area every single day as Uganda recovered from the wars that had paralyzed its economy for years.

Eventually bigger buildings started coming up which now dedicate some floors to selling certain stuff. If you want shoes, you go to Discount Mall, if you want hair pieces or salon services it is Gazzaland or Gaaliiya. If bales of old clothing is your thing, then you go to Kisenyi. Kisekka Market is famous for motor vehicle spare parts while Katwe is for artisans. Nasser and Nkurumah roads are known for printeries and stationery1 shops respectively.

Some streets in Bugoloobi and Kololo are becoming entertainment hubs where young people party beyond dawn, hopping from one bar to another in the same location. This is cheaper for them than moving from one part of Kampala to another in search of “vibe.”

In cities like Dubai, it has been deliberate to create areas for specific stuff. Dubai Healthcare City for the health industry. You will find many hospitals and senior medical consultants operating in this area. Then there are other areas like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Financial Centre and Dubai Media City.

Zoning the city this way ensures that certain services are concentrated in one area and therefore one doesn’t have to move from one place to another. You can operate profitably on Nasser Road when your job is just stamping serial numbers on printed receipts or invoices. Whoever prints them, brings them to you to put serial numbers. Another can own a paper shearing machine. So you find many small businesses working together to produce something big.

The automotive industry for instance works in a similar manner. Many independent parts manufacturers work together to make at least 30,000 parts needed to make a car functional although these may not necessarily be in one place.

As Kampala expands, what should Gayaaza or Kakiri be known for that can take people there? Business hubs can enable areas achieve specialized skills in certain areas while at the same time enabling large economies of scale. A business that deals in one part of the value chain can forward customers to another business in the same area to enable them create a single product.

Customers won’t have to move from Gayaaza to buy one part and then go to Mukono for another. Many commercial buildings remain unoccupied because every single shop is dealing in a different product which they may not have in quantities big enough to attract enough customers to sustain it. If you have a small shop selling maize or beans in Gayaaza, a trader may prefer to go to Kisenyi where they could buy the quantities (and varieties) they need from several small shops. Could the business hub model help small town in greater Kampala blossom?

The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

Richard Musaazi
Op-Ed

RICHARD MUSAAZI: The Uganda’s Military-Style Policing

13th July 2025 at 16:37
Museveni wants to secure and protect the telecom infrastructure
Op-Ed

How Opposition Instability Could Pave the Way for Museveni’s Victory in Uganda’s 2026 Elections

13th July 2025 at 11:18
Op-Ed

AKANSASIRA JUNIOR VICTOR: GEN. MUSEVENI’S GUIDANCE ON THE BALAALO ISSUE IS A GENERATIONAL CALL TO DISCIPLINE, PATRIOTISM, AND ORDER

10th July 2025 at 11:20
Next Post

Unmasking the dark world of sugar daddies: signs your girlfriend might be keeping a secret

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1135 shares
    Share 454 Tweet 284
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    56 shares
    Share 22 Tweet 14
  • Who is Bosco Muwonge, Uganda’s elusive real estate billionaire?

    41 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2291 shares
    Share 916 Tweet 573
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    51 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Maama Janet and President Museveni visited Mrs. Fausta Nalweyiso on Monday in Kibumbiro, Busega. The President praised her dedication to the Parish Development Model through her piggery project which he found very impressive.

MIKE SSEGAWA: Museveni’s PDM Tour; A Journey of Connection and Transformation

14th July 2025 at 22:49
Mashable is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company For more queries and news contact us on this Email: info@mashablepartners.com

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is the undisputed king of Kampala

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0
Maama Janet and President Museveni visited Mrs. Fausta Nalweyiso on Monday in Kibumbiro, Busega. The President praised her dedication to the Parish Development Model through her piggery project which he found very impressive.

MIKE SSEGAWA: Museveni’s PDM Tour; A Journey of Connection and Transformation

14th July 2025 at 22:49

Justice George Kanyeihamba Passes Away at 85, Leaving a Lasting Legacy in Uganda

14th July 2025 at 09:39

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda