Ugandans approved of COVID-19 lockdown despite difficulty complying, but say relief aid was distributed unfairly, survey shows

Almost nine in 10 Ugandans say that last year’s lockdown was necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19, in spite of the toll it took on the economy and people’s livelihoods, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.

Two-thirds say they found it difficult to comply with lockdown restrictions or curfews imposed by the government.

Only about two in 10 citizens say their households received special government assistance during the pandemic, and most Ugandans believe that government assistance was not distributed fairly.

Whereas the lockdown was nationwide, relief aid was distributed only in Kampala and Wakiso, and the first phase targeted only 1 million urban poor. These survey findings suggest a need for transparent criteria for targeting of beneficiaries so as to ensure equitable benefits of the program intervention.