Impact of Covid-19 on butchers and their coping strategies in Kampala District

Abstract

Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11th March 2020. This forced various countries to put in place various measures to curb the spread of the virus. The measures included wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing. In addition various countries imposed lockdowns and Uganda imposed its first lockdown in April 2020. The lockdown negatively affected people‟s businesses as some were completely stopped from operating like schools, bars and some businesses were allowed to operate like those dealing in agricultural activities. This study was aimed at examining the impact of Covid-19 on butchers and how they coped up with the effects. It helped us to know that butchers were negatively affected and also know the current economic importance people attach to beef and goat‟s meat. The study was carried out in Kampala district in Rubaga, Nakawa, Kawempe, Makindye and Central divisions. It employed a descriptive research design and this helped to examine the impact of Covid-19. A total of 120 butchers were interviewed and these were selected using random sampling. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire uploaded in the Kobo data collection app. This was downloaded in excel spread sheet where it was cleaned and coded and then transferred to stata15SE for analysis. The findings of the study showed that 100% of the butchers were affected by the meat sales. It also showed that the butchers were mainly men, adults, married, experienced (5 years and above), attained O level as their highest level of education, mostly sell beef and source their meat from both slaughters houses and abattoirs. A t test revealed that there was a significant difference between the periods of beforeCovid-19, during the lockdown and after the lockdown for daily meat supply and weekly meat sales. The descriptive statistics revealed that there was a decrease in the daily supply of beef (56.3kgs) and goat‟s meat (15.7kgs) during the lockdown and an increase in the daily supply of beef (90.6kgs) and goat‟s meat (27.3kgs) after the lockdown was lifted. There was an increase in the buying price of beef (shs11544) and goat‟s meat (shs15018) during the lockdown and it still increased after the lockdown was lifted, beef (shs11758) and goats meat (shs 15235). The weekly mean meat sales reduced beef (178.32kgs) and goat‟s meat (103.81kgs) during the lockdown and it increased beef (548.38kgs) and goat‟s meat (178.23kgs) after the lockdown was lifted.Covid-19. The selling price of meat increased beef (shs 17698) and goat‟s meat (shs 13464) during the lockdown and still increased beef (shs18396) and goat‟s meat (shs13870) after the lockdown was lifted. Most of the butchers adapted reducing the quantity bought from sources to cope up with the negative effects caused by Covid-19. Some engaged in other economic activities with the majority (43%) joining farming and some got loans to reinvest in their business. Key words: Butchers, Covid-19, Kampala, beef and goat‟s meat.