Rhona is parent to two children and looks after a third who is sponsored into school by HFL. Rhona has worked hard over the years to be able to increase her income and provide for her family, through training in tailoring, starting a tailoring service and building her vegetable offering.

Rhona shares how she is managing at this time.

“It was really difficult at the start because my husband is a mechanic and garages had been ordered to close as part of the lockdown. My tailoring business also wasn’t bringing in much because at the start of the lockdown we were not allowed to work. Those found working were being arrested. Thankfully, now they allow us to work.

“So, our only source of income was my vegetables selling business. Although even that was very difficult because the market I buy the vegetables from in bulk had been closed, and there were no means of transport to bring the vegetables here. But through perseverance and being creative around the challenges, we have managed to stay alive.

“Sometimes, I have found the prices of food down by almost half due to the low demand caused by the ban on public transport. This has enabled me to buy enough food for my family, even with little finances.”

Have you received support from others during this lockdown?

“HFL have us some food items at the start of the pandemic before the government banned such donations. HFL has also given us flyers with information on how to avoid contracting Covid-19. We also received some food items from the government, although the cost of preparing the food like the beans is higher than that of being already cooked food.”

Has this lockdown period taught you anything?

“I have learned the need to always save some money for emergencies such as this. I’ve been talking with my husband about needing to take the discipline of saving seriously because if we had saved, we would not have suffered like we have suffered.

“I have also learned how to live under the law. Once it clocks 7pm, Katanga is filled with policeman and soldiers. If they find you loitering around or working, they beat you up. So, I have learned how to work within the times as set by the president - that work must end by 7pm and everyone should be indoors.”

What will you do if the government extends the lockdown by more weeks?

“We shall leave Katanga and go back to the village because life is only getting harder. Getting what to sell is difficult and even the people buying have greatly reduced because everyone has used up all their savings.”

Rhona has been in a fortunate position comparatively, as she has been able to continue selling vegetables, even as her husbands work and her tailoring business stopped bring in income. This doesn’t exclude her from feeling the struggle that many across Uganda are feeling at the moment. Her little income is tied to the available wealth of her customers, which has been depleting day by day.

President Museveni has this week allowed residents to move in their private vehicles after being banned during the last couple of months. Public transport will be able to start operating again once the government are satisfied the conditions have been met. This includes public wash stations being installed and government issued masks are to made available, which are not likely to be ready before a further two weeks.

With extreme restrictions, Uganda has managed to keep the number of cases down to just 395, with no Covid-19 related deaths. The majority of new cases are identified as those who are entering from neighbouring country as truck drivers. The government have implemented a quarantine period for truck drivers who are tested positive, before entering into the country.

With citizens running low on savings, and with the virus under as much control as possible, President Museveni is keen to start opening up the country again. Ugandans are likely though, to see some restrictions remain for a number of months still.

Rhona shares her experience of lockdown over the last 2 months