A simple guide for buyers
What KampalaSnap is, what you can do as a buyer, and how to find your way around in plain words.
What is KampalaSnap?
KampalaSnap is a shopping app where you watch short videos of things people are selling, and then you buy what you like. Think of it like a small market that fits in your phone. Real sellers in Uganda are on the other side of the screen, showing off their shops, services, and products.
You can:
- Watch videos of clothes, food, gadgets, and lots of other things.
- Follow shops and creators you trust, so their new posts show up for you first.
- Buy things through the app, with your money kept safe until your item arrives.
- Ask for refunds if something goes wrong.
- Find services like cleaners, mechanics, salons, and more.
You don't have to be signed in to look around. You just have to sign in when you want to buy, follow a shop, leave a review, or report something.
The simple idea behind the app
Most shopping apps make you scroll past walls of pictures. KampalaSnap shows you short videos instead. Videos are easier to trust because you can see the actual item, hear the seller, and watch the thing move.
When you find something you like, you can:
- Tap the heart to save it.
- Tap the seller's name to visit their shop.
- Tap "Add to cart" to buy it later.
- Tap "Buy now" to check out right away.
That's it. The rest of the app exists to help those four taps feel safe.
What makes buying safe here
Three things keep your money protected:
1. Escrow
When you pay for something, the money does not go straight to the seller. It goes into a holding place called escrow. The seller can see that you paid, so they know it's safe to send your item, but they can't actually touch the money yet.
The money is only sent to the seller after you tell us "yes, I got what I paid for."
2. The Delivery PIN
When you pay, we send you a 4-digit code (your Delivery PIN) on WhatsApp or SMS. Don't give this PIN to the seller until you have your item in your hands and you're happy with it.
When the rider arrives, you look at what they brought you. If it's what you ordered and you're happy:
- You give the PIN to the rider, or
- You type it into the app yourself.
Only then does the seller get paid.
If the item is wrong, broken, fake, or never arrives, do not give the PIN. Open a dispute instead (see the dispute guide).
3. The dispute window
After a delivery is marked complete, you have 72 hours to open a dispute if something is wrong. During those 72 hours your money is still being held — it's not actually with the seller yet. After the 72 hours are up, if no dispute is open, the money moves to the seller.
This means: even if you accidentally gave the PIN too quickly, you still have 3 days to flag a problem.
What does it cost?
Browsing, watching videos, following shops, and chatting with sellers on WhatsApp is always free. You only pay for the things you choose to buy.
There's no membership, no monthly fee, and no hidden charges added to your order. The price you see when you tap "Buy" is the price you pay — plus a delivery fee if the seller charges one (you'll see this clearly before you confirm).
What about my data?
We collect only what we need to make the app work — your phone number, your delivery address when you buy something, and the things you actually do in the app (videos you liked, shops you followed, etc.).
We don't sell your data to advertisers. Read the Privacy Policy for the full version.
What if I get stuck?
You can always email support@kampalasnap.com with any question and a real person will write back. There's also a Contact page with all the ways to reach us.
If your question is about a specific order, please include your order number in the email. That saves time on both sides.
Where to go next
- Brand new? Read How to sign up and verify your phone.
- Ready to buy? Read How to make your first purchase.
- Got an order on the way? Read How orders and delivery PINs work.
- Something wrong? Read How disputes and refunds work.
Welcome to KampalaSnap.