The coronavirus pandemic has deprived many teachers in Uganda of their source of income, having led to the suspension of school activities.
Introducing measures to curtail the spread of the respiratory disease, the country enforced a lockdown some months ago.
To this end, schools have remained closed since March, leaving many teachers without work and any stream of earned income. Private school teachers have been hit hardest and recently appealed to the government for support.
However, the Ugandan government has done very little to save the situation and the country continues to reel from the economic impact of the disease.
Casual jobs to the rescue
Although many teachers are now at home, others have decided to make a living by taking up casual jobs.
According to a report in the Daily Monitor, most have turned to carpentry and operating boda boda (motorbike taxis). Reports suggest that others have taken up selling food and charcoal or are doing other domestic work in an effort to survive.
The chairman of the private school owners’ group, Hasadu Kirabira, said private schools are dependent on fees and this is their main source of income.
With schools shut down, he said, they are unable to pay teachers, unlike those in the state-run schools, who are still receiving stipends from the government.
Ugandan case count
As of 18 July 2020, Uganda’s total novel coronavirus case count stands at 1,062, with 1,023 recoveries.
The East African country is, however, one of very few countries across the world that are yet to record any deaths from the disease.
The country recently opened its borders to about 1,500 refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing conflict.
Quarantine facilities for people crossing into Uganda have been set up in border districts with funding from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
E A Alanore
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