BADRU KATUMBA
Today we take you through Mukwenda Zone, Makerere, which is popularly known to many as Kikumi Kikumi. Mukwenda is divided into four parts and these are Kataka, Busia, Nsangi, and Kikumi Kikumi.
Kataka is the place behind the school of Veterinary Medicine. Busia is the place where Malwa is sold, Nsangi is the place around Nsangi primary school, that is to say Waterloo hostel and Haruna tower area. The last one is Kikumi kikumi which is the area after the Impis rugby ground up to the first road branching off to WaterLoo Hostel.
Mukwenda originated from the Kabaka’s chief Mukwenda from Mityana who was the land lord for that village. But the name Kikumi Kikumi sprung from a restaurant that was started by a Congolese National by the names of Ngozi Ngozi in the early 90’s…. Ngozi Ngozi who is in his 60’s began by selling avocado’s to university students, but later realized that some students needed to eat food at their comfort not the routine timetable meals provided at university kitchens.
It’s from then that he started his restaurant selling buffet at 100 each type of food served which later grew into the area name Kikumi Kikumi. However today with the rise of the Dollar rate, some food prices have been raised from Kikumi Kikumi to a different price: a sweet potato is now at 200, rice is at 300, matooke is shs500, kalo is at shs200, silver fish (mukene) shs200, fresh fish shs1000, beans shs300, meat shs500 a piece etc.
Today, it’s very hard to find any one at Makerere who does not know where Kikumi Kikumi is located. From food to hostels, and boutiques around it, the place is cheap compared to other places like Kikoni and Wandegeya where University students reside.
Leonard Twinomugisha a student of Makerere says that the place is so conducive with God fearing students and he advises all freshmen to stay in Kikumi kikumi to save a lot of money. “Life in kikumi kikumi is very conducive, food is cheap, it’s easy to walk from here to campus, and people who live in this place have morals, they are not like those in kikoni who are drunkards and prostitutes.” he noted.
However, just like any other place, Kikumikikumi faces some problems and these range from the dusty road, poor hygiene and thieves. But the off campus affairs minister Bukamba Nelson assured us that Makerere University is working towards solving all these issues.
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