When the country’s first coronavirus case was reported two months ago, the government declared a comprehensive lockdown, prohibiting public transportation and non-essential labor, among other restrictions.
They were choking by the time the limitations were eased to allow non-essential personnel to return to work.
Mr Lutaaya a lone trader is one of millions of Ugandans who manage small enterprises and SMEs who are now dealing with the fallout from the lockdown.
We were promised an assistance package by the government, but we have yet to get it. It went to a few major enterprises, and I’m sure many of us will be forced to close shop because of the new lockdown,” Lutaaya added.
President Yoweri Museveni issued another 42-day ban last month, which may be prolonged due to the country’s low immunization rates. Schools, social gatherings, and non-food markets are closed, and all modes of transportation are prohibited.
The economy, particularly small-scale businesses, will be severely shaken by this second lockdown. Several of these businesses have already shuttered their doors, while others have been forced to close.
“We had recently rebranded and overhauled our company approach, and everything seemed to be coming together until the shutdown, which prevented us from traveling. “We’re back to square one,” Makutano Safaris’ head of product development, Baker Masheta, said.