Discover the booming online shopping culture in Uganda and the top e-commerce sites every business owner should consider. Uganda’s online shopping culture is experiencing explosive growth, fueled by the post-COVID-19 surge in online businesses and the rise of side hustles.
According to Datareportal, there were 13.30 million internet users in Uganda in January 2024. Uganda’s internet penetration rate stood at 27.0 per cent.
Why not trim your business sales team and be a merchant on online sites? Business owners can reduce rent expenses in branch extensions by supplying online sites. The increasing affordability of smartphones and internet access, coupled with a young and tech-savvy population, is driving this trend.
Depending on the e-commerce site. Some are free to vendors while others have a subscription model. There is a massive untapped market. A significant portion of Uganda’s population remains underserved by traditional retail, presenting a vast opportunity for online businesses to reach new customers, whether it is food or everyday home-use products.
Facebook Marketplace
As long as you have a Facebook Profile account, you can post your business products, whether new or used products, and you will be sure to have orders. It even enables you to add a price tag. You can sell everything imaginable and it is free.
You can boost if you want. You get the orders through Facebook Messenger. Facebook Marketplace is a built-in e-commerce platform within Facebook where users can buy and sell items. It allows for local transactions within 500km, where buyers and sellers connect directly, and also supports nationwide shipping with transaction fees for the latter.
Delivery fees: Not applicable
Delivery time: Minutes or same day
Market by MTN Momo
Is a new one-stop digital marketplace connecting thousands of traders to millions of customers, offering a seamless, secure, and convenient selling and buying experience that was launched last year. The e-commerce site is accessible to both MTN and other telecom users.
It is accessible at the market. Momo. Africa and the MTN MoMo app. This platform is creating new opportunities for both sellers and buyers across Uganda. Many small businesses have struggled to reach customers beyond their physical locations. Market by Momo is key.
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet.
Market by MoMo offers a bridge to millions of potential customers. It is currently Zero-rated Seller Hub Access: Merchants can access the seller portal without data, and also without usage site charges. It has a customisable storefront. Merchants can create personalized digital shops that reflect their brand identity while operating within the larger marketplace.
Delivery fees to business: Not available
Payment methods: Credit Card, Momo Mobile Money, No cash on delivery
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet.
Jumia
One of the pioneer e-commerce sites in Uganda. Jumia is a leading e-commerce company in Africa, offering a wide range of products and services across numerous countries. Founded in 2012, it has become a major player in the African online retail market, providing a platform for businesses to sell their products and for consumers to shop conveniently.
Jumia offers a diverse selection of goods, including electronics, fashion, beauty products, and home goods, and it has invested heavily in logistics and delivery infrastructure to support its operations across the continent.
While it has faced challenges, including competition and navigating diverse market conditions, Jumia remains a significant force in the African digital economy.
Jumia has over 200,000 Products,15,000,000 Monthly site visitors, and more than 3,000 sellers. To be a Vendor on Jumia, you must be based in Kampala. Currently due. It delivers between 2-14 days.
Visit the Jumia Website
Delivery fees to business: Vendor delivers to Jumia
Payment methods: Credit Card, Momo Mobile Money, no cash on delivery.
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet.
JIJI
Jiji is a prominent online shopping platform in Uganda, known for its user-friendly interface and extensive range of products. As a leading free classifieds website, Jiji allows users to buy and sell a variety of items, making it a go-to marketplace for many Ugandans.
You can sell used and new products, but not limited to cars. Jiji boasts an extensive array of listings across a multitude of categories, catering to diverse consumer needs.
The platform serves as a comprehensive marketplace, featuring a wide selection of products and services. Key categories include: Electronics, fashion, home Goods, Vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and Real Estate.
Tubayo
Founded in 2018, Tubayo is an online marketplace that enables people to market houses and household products, Users can access Tubayo on the web or a mobile Application.
The unique technology platform economically empowers many people to unlock and monetise their spaces, with 1000+ Tubayo listings countrywide as of December 2021.
Visit Tubayo Website
Kikuubo online.
So for factories and other importers, that could be a site for you to sell your products, with over 6,000 items available on our online grocery platform.
Visit Kikuubi Online’s Website
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet.
Mtunda
Mtunda is a growing Ugandan Brand dealing in e-commerce (Online Selling). Mtunda.ug is becoming very popular with its Quality, affordable Prices, and value for money for products sold to customers both online and at the shop, which is located at Kampala Plaza Shop F3, Kampala Rd. The e-commerce site is home to reliable, quality products sold at the most competitive prices. Founded in April 2016
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet.
Dombelo
Launched in 2019, Dombelo.com became a trailblazer in Uganda’s e-commerce sector, starting as an online platform. To combat trust barriers common in African digital commerce, the company introduced its first physical showroom at Solar House in January 2023.
Encouraged by customer approval, it expanded further in January 2024 with a larger, strategically positioned showroom at Musisi Complex, Kampala (near Quality Chemicals on Entebbe Road).
These steps solidified Dombelo.com as Uganda’s leading e-commerce entity, boasting the country’s most extensive online presence, coupled with key physical locations, enhancing customer reliability and market reach.
Style: Buyers and vendors don’t meet automatically. They never meet. Visit Dombelo website
Businesses Should Embrace Online E-Commerce. By embracing e-commerce, companies can cut operational costs (eliminating physical rent and streamlining logistics) while expanding their reach beyond geographic barriers to tap into national and international markets.
Kampala’s booming digital shopping scene offers businesses a chance to dominate a competitive yet underserved market by staying agile, adapting to trends, and leveraging mobile-first strategies.
To reduce overhead costs, many businesses are transitioning to digital platforms, and consumers are increasingly embracing the convenience of online shopping and online digital payments. This shift to digital retail has made online shops more sustainable and accessible than ever before.
To future-proof operations and capitalize on Uganda’s growing appetite for digital commerce, businesses must act now. Supply in e-commerce sites. It is isn’t just about survival—it’s about positioning a brand at the forefront of a transformative economic wave.
