COVID-19: Ugandans turn to self-employment

COVID-19|LOCKDOWN

KAMPALA - Having lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Ugandans have decided to create their own small scale businesses to enable them earn a living and cater for their families.

Among these is Nathan Senungi, who used to deal in selling clothes, from one of the city arcades, but had to leave the business after failing to pay his rent arrears that accumulated as the government declared a lockdown.

 "I resort to selling fish so as to meet the needs of my family and the landlord where I rent," Senungi said, adding that he experiences more losses when it rains for the majority of his customers are pedestrians who trek.

"Most of my customers are those who walk, so in case it rains, there is a lot of panic so that people beat the curfew time, so I end up making losses, but nevertheless I have to continue hustling," Senungi said.

However, Barbara Nabawe, 36, dealing in charcoal stoves said most of their products used to be sold in neighboring countries, which is now no more.

"With closure of boarders, my business has been affected, therefore forcing me to start hawking my stoves so as to survive," she said.