Caroline Ameso, one of the affected cloth vendors in Bukedea, says she is forced to sell clothes stealthily to help her family of seven people who are all dependent on her. Ameso faults government for paying a deaf ear to their pleas to reopen the weekly markets to allow them business and fend for their families.
In her communication to the house, Kadaga noted that her office has continued receiving petitions from different Ugandans whose businesses are still under lockdown. President Yoweri Museveni announced a nationwide lockdown in March this year to contain the spread of Covidi19.
But no wedding has taken place in Soroti Since the pronouncement four months ago. Rev. Naphtali Opwata, the Provost at St. Peter’s Church of Uganda in Soroti Diocese says all the planned weddings were immediately postponed by couples, many of them believing that scientific weddings contradicted the social norms in the region.
Statistics from January to March, 2020 show that 1,108 teen mothers visited health facilities for antenatal services. This represents 21 percent of antenatal care visits in the district.
Both districts advertised for various jobs at the beginning of the year, but interviews were halted after the President announced a lockdown following the outbreak of COVID-19.
Some of the vendors boycotted the payment of the market dues in 2012 claiming that St. Balikuddembe Market Stalls, Space and Lock up Shops Owners Association-SSLOA led by their Chairperson, Godfrey Kayongo doesn’t remit the fees to Kampala City Council Authority-KCCA.
According to Michael Erebu, the District Education Officer in Serere. He explains that less than 10 percent of the learners across the district is trying to read or pay attention to the learning programs on the national broadcaster- Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, UBC.
Musinguzi of Abitex promotions and Mukasa of Bajjo events had invited artists, promoters and comedians for a meeting at Calendar Prestige Hotel in Makindye. The meeting was meant to discuss plans of resuming music shows.
The performance in local governments was affected when districts downscaled their activities and reduced the number of workers as the country partially shut down in March 2020 to contain a lethal virus which had started paralyzing the world.
Through the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment, the government pays senior citizens above 65-years of age a monthly stipend of 25,000 Shillings. However, the elders in Katakwi say they have not received their stipend for five months, partly because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Paul Omongin, the chairperson of Serere Drivers Association says only six taxis from Kagwara, Kamod, Pingire, Serere town and Ochapa had arrived to town in the morning. He explains that many passengers are finding it hard to cope with the new rates.
Stephen Omoen, another client in Ajesa Cell says he is now suffering body itches after being forced to take another drug after failing to get Atazanavir.
Reuben Twinomujuni, the Public Relations Officer Kyambogo University, says they are considering moving evening class students to the day program to cope up with the curfew.
According to Atredeza, when he heard the president, Yoweri Museveni, saying they can resume work, he parked basic requirements and walked to his work place.
In her communication to Members of Parliament this afternoon, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga noted an appeal made to her office by the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) who reported that 1,750 national and international students all over the country are stranded in hostels, rentals, halls of residence and other accommodation places.
