NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — Unlike Kigali City and other urban areas where markets operate on daily basis, with well built stalls and lockups, in Gicumbi, two days were allocated for the market.

Held on Friday at Gaseke trading center and Sunday in an open place, at the hill adjacent to Rukomo trading centre, the market days, are a big event attracting vendors and buyers from within and outside the district.

Hundreds of villagers display their agricultural produce, domestic animals and other merchandise whether in rain or sunshine.

Traders bring in fresh agricultural produce such as Irish potatoes, Banana, Cassava, sweet potatoes, local tobacco, passion fruits and avocados among others. At the same time, traders in domestic animals like goats, pigs and chicken walk long distances with their animals to the open market.

Unlike urban cities where hawkers are common, there are no hawkers in these markets. All dealers in second hand clothes and other industrial products mingle where bargain for price cuts is a common phenomenon among buyers.

Not only traders, but even transporters such as taxi operators, cyclists and truck drivers all reap from the market. They transport traders and customers and goods to and from different points.

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