January, 24th 2022 the New Year’s Day for Many Ugandans.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda was no different from the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Uganda confirmed it’s first COVID19 case in March 2020 following a traveller who is believed to have boarded the plane from UAE, as fear arose from all over the world with the fact that little was known about the virus, a precautionary measure, on 18 March 2020, President Yoweri Museveni had was to first of all ban all incoming and outgoing travel to specified highly affected counties for a period of 32 days by then. Schools were closed and public gatherings banned. The president extended the lock down period for another 21 days on top of the 14 days. This lock down period continued from 15 April and run up to 5 May 2020.
Up until 5 May 2020, most businesses had to remain closed. Food markets remained open, but many vendors were unable to return home and had to sleep in markets due to the suspension of public transport. A small number of businesses such as factories, garages, hardware shops, metalworks and restaurants for takeaway were allowed to reopen on 5 May, while others such as hair salons and business arcades remained closed until 27 July. Since then due to the high level of informality in Uganda’s economy, it has not been possible to assess the full magnitude of the economic impact of the lockdown, but the consequences for incomes and poverty have likely been severe. Research results from July 2020 show that many informal entrepreneurs in Kampala had no income at all during the lockdown, and hence had to dip into their own savings, rely on government food support as still many asserted did not receive this support[From Government], some resorted to asking for help from family or friends to survive.
Musicians have been mostly affected since the first lockdown in 2020 as their places of income generation the bars & clubs featured the most affected. When President Museveni announced that Schools will be opened on 10th January, and two weeks were put away for reopening of full economy. This left a very big smile on the faces of musicians and bar owners as since the Presidential address many are believed to have been counting the days on their fingertips, only praying that he[President] does not change his mind in the last minute.
January 24th 2022, literally is not the official calendar date for New Year’s Day but in Uganda it has not been the case as many of the Life choppers are believed to have spent the 24th eve in bars, just waiting and celebrating.
January 24th 2022, finally arrives as many recreational centers spent the day carrying out drives as a form of letting their customers that they’re fully opened for work and only awaiting for them to enjoy their best services. Many vendors have been closing forcefully at 7pm but today[24th January, 2022] many have been heard saying “if I dare see an LDU, this time it’s me arresting him”. Still not to far from staying outside for the entire night, many are just walking just outside for just to just prove whether it’s reality.
However, when spoke with the President of Fiktube, HE. Masumbuku Jamaldin who looked worried and concerned, he told us that many Ugandans seem that today looks like New Year but they shouldn’t take their lives for granted as the virus is still around and besides the virus that many have been afraid of, there’s a lot more of other viruses including HIV/AIDs which has no cure. In his words he wished Ugandans the very best as they think about what they’ve been through and encouraged them to keep praying to the Almighty.
