Skechers, the American footwear and apparel brand, has opened its first store in Uganda.
The store at Acacia Mall in Kampala will be operated under franchise by OHOD General, a regional retail group with a proven track record of successfully managing and expanding international brands in new markets.
The entry of the footwear giant that designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children, was announced by Knight Frank Uganda, the property management firm that manages Acacia Mall.
Kampala’s luxury brand lovers will enjoy an expanded variety of options for genuine and comfortable footwear and apparel at Acacia Mall, Kampala’s premier retail and lifestyle destination.
The lifestyle company’s collections are available in approximately 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through skechers.com and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores.
Knight Frank says Skechers’ entry “not only marks Skechers’ debut in the Ugandan market but also underscores the continued international investor confidence in Uganda’s retail sector”.
This launch follows closely on the heels of two other prominent international brand openings—U.S. Polo Assn. and Numero Uno—all within Acacia Mall in recent months.
“We’re thrilled to bring Skechers to Uganda for the very first time,” said a Skechers spokesperson.
“This expansion is part of our broader global growth strategy, and Uganda presents an exciting opportunity. The confidence and professionalism shown by Knight Frank and the vibrancy of Acacia Mall made this decision an easy one.”
As the managing and leasing agents for Acacia Mall, Knight Frank Uganda continues to be at the forefront of transforming Uganda’s retail landscape.
Skechers operates through approximately 5,300 company- and third-party-owned retail stores worldwide.
In Q1 of 2025, Skechers delivered record quarterly sales of $2.41 billion, reflecting strong global demand across both its wholesale and direct-to-consumer segments with international sales representing 65% of the company’s business, according to David Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer of Skechers.
Sales by region increased 14% in EMEA which includes Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The expansion further into Africa could be a result of this surge in demand. The company’s EMEA sales grew by 25%, measured versus 2023, outperforming other regions even amid global headwinds.
“The arrival of Skechers, following U.S. Polo and Numero Uno, sends a clear signal: international retailers see strong potential in Uganda,” said Marc du Toit, Head of Retail at Knight Frank Uganda.
“Knight Frank is proud to lead these landmark deals and to deliver exceptional retail destinations that attract global attention. This momentum reflects a broader vote of confidence in Uganda’s retail and investment environment.”
The continued influx of global brands is positioning Uganda—and Acacia Mall in particular—as a rising hub for premium shopping experiences in East Africa. In the Ugandan market in particular, Skechers joins other international fashion brands like Adidas, Puma, Hummel, Zara and LC Waikiki.
In its latest (H2 2024) Kampala market report, Knight Frank reported resilience in the retail sector, evidenced by increasing turnover and occupancy figures. Occupancy levels across Knight Frank-managed malls increased by 1.72%, rising from 80.7% in H2 2023 to 82.4% in H2 2024 while average footfall figures decreased by 5%.
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“The increase in occupancy was occasioned by new entrants into the market such as Numero Uno as well as retailers who were expanding and opening new outlets at other malls. The continued development of neighborhood malls within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area has likely contributed to the decline in footfall observed in Kampala’s larger retail malls” Knight Frank’s H2 2024 report states.
In the same period, Numero Uno, a franchise operation dealing in fashion brands such as Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, and Zara to mention but a few opened its first store in Kampala at Acacia Mall while MRP, an international fashion retailer opened its third store in Kampala at Arena Mall.
Knight Frank projected continued growth in the retail sector during the first half of 2025, with numerous new store openings in Kampala malls.
