Salons open, owners yet to recover from lockdown shock

Jul 22, 2020

Sulaiman Kibirango who operates from Sacred Heart Unisex Salon on Park Enkadde Mall said he was not yet happy since he received very few customers on the first day.

HEALTH VIRUS

KAMPALA - There was excitement as salons opened for business on Wednesday after President Yoweri Museveni announced further easing of restrictions on arcades and salons that were closed down in mid-March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A customer having her hair worked on in a hair drier at Sacred Heart Unisex Salon at Park Enkadde Mall in Kampala. President Museveni allowed the salons to open starting July 22,2020. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Robinah Namuwonge, owner of Neat Salon at Park View Shopping Centre along Luwum street in Kampala said she spent the first-day cleaning and wiping dust from the salon that was locked for four months.

She said some of the machines had started rusting and chemicals, which they use in making women's hair, had expired and needed replacement.

Robina Namuwonge, middle, owner of Neat Salon at Park View Shopping Arcade, buying face shields from a vendor. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

She bought face shields, masks and sanitizers in compliance with the ministry of health guidelines but was still sceptical about the demand for rent arrears by the landlord.

Robina Namuwonge, middle, owner of Neat Salon at Park View Shopping Arcade and her colleague try to fit face shields after opening their salon. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

"Our landlord has not said anything about rent arrears, we don't know whether they will give us a waiver or not, otherwise we don't have any money left to pay," she said.

Robina Namuwonge fitting on a face shield. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

John Nyanzi in the same salon who does manicure and pedicure said most of their tools and items they use needed replacement after a long time without using them.

Robina Namuwonge said some of the machines had started rusting and chemicals, which they use in making women's hair, had expired. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Sulaiman Kibirango who operates from Sacred Heart Unisex Salon on Park Enkadde Mall said he was not yet happy since he received very few customers on the first day.

He said the low turnup could be that most customers were not yet sure that they had opened.

Sulaiman Kibirango works on a client at Sacred Heart Unisex Salon. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

He charges sh5,000 for a man's haircut and sh10,000 for women. He charges extra 2000 for facial massaging.

A man cleaning and wiping the dust from the salon. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Kibirango appealed to the government to consider supporting them financially, saying the four-month lockdown had left him in bad shape since he did not have any savings.

"I have been finding a lot of difficulties looking after my family during this period, we just need a big push," he said.

A hair vendor trying to persuade a woman to buy a hair weave. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

A hair vendor waiting for passers-by to buy a hair weave. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Other women were however seen waiting for clients outside Galiraaya and Mini Price arcades. They stand and sit on the pavement where they grab hands of especially women passing by and ask to work on their hair. They also sell artificial 'hair' to women.