Impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on community livelihoods in Mpatta sub-county in Mukono district.

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic which broke out in 2020 led to various restriction to be put in place in Uganda. These restrictions have had significant impact on people’s livelihoods and adequate studies have been done to that effect. This study aimed at assessing the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on people’s livelihoods in Mpatta Subcounty. The study specifically addressed the following objectives: to a) find out the various COVID 19 lockdown restrictions that were imposed in Mpatta Sub-County, b) assess the gendered effects of the COVID 19 lockdown restrictions on the livelihoods of fishing communities in Mpatta Sub- County, c) analyse ways through which communities survived during the COVID 19 lockdown restrictions in Mpatta Sub- County and d) suggest appropriate interventions that can be adopted to help households from the COVID 19 lockdown restrictions in Mpatta Sub- County. A cross section research design was used in this study to accommodate both the qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study was based on a sample size of 40 due to the time and financial constraints. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guides and checklists. As per objective 1, this study revealed that curfew, transport limitations, social distancing among others were one of the measures and restrictions enforced so as to control the spread of the pandemic with curfew and limitations in transport being the most devastating restrictions towards livelihoods. Objective 2 revealed that female-headed households were the least affected households in terms of loss of property while male-headed households were the most affected households. As per objective 3, the study revealed that many households both male-headed and female-headed adopted new economic activities like brick laying while the ones they carried out faced both a decline and incline depending on the situation for example fishing which intensified as compared to the latter. Appropriate interventions were suggested in accordance to objective four and these included financial support to the communities to help them recover and government should always revise its allocation programs so as to obtain optimum results. There is also a need to put in necessary measures to ensure the sustainability of resources, strengthen infrastructure and food systems to avoid or minimize food crises in the future for an improved livelihood.