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.