Key recommendations

(selling fruits and vegetables). You may not know where to get them (fruits and vegetables), how to sell them, the quantity ... it needs a lot of effort for you to adjust.”6

While the Covid-19 National Taskforce instituted a cash bailout for more vulnerable members of society,7 This safety net did not buttress every vulnerable woman.

“I never got (the cash bailout). I tried my level best with my women. They (local authorities) requested for our national IDs, [which] we gave them. We even gave them our (mobile) telephone numbers but we never got money.”8

As a direct result of the financial strain caused by the closure of businesses, the government and civil society organizations (CSOs) reported an increase in cases of gender-based violence (GBV).9 This was made worse by the ban on public transportation and gatherings, which ensured that CSOs, which would have mediated cases of GBV or offered sensitization on sexual reproductive health and rights, were hindered in their work during the lockdown. However, with the lifting of the lockdowns and relaxing of restrictions, women market and street vendors have returned to their savings cooperatives as a source of social support and financial credit to help them get back on their feet. The Government of Uganda has also instituted a number of programs that seek to support vulnerable women with the skills, knowledge, and capital grants needed to reinvigorate their businesses.

6 Jane Akwero, market vendor, Driwala Market, Arua City 7 ‘Covid relief: Govt to give direct cash (Daily Monitor, 2021). https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/covidrelief-govt-to-give-direct-cash-3444516 Accessed on July 21, 2022. 8 Molly Wambi, street vendor, Kamwokya, Kampala City 9 Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. 2021. Financing Gender Based Violence Prevention in Uganda.

The findings of this report have generated a number of recommendations for the government. Some of the recommendations include:

◊ Boosting women vendors’ cooperatives’ capital.

◊ Ensuring budgetary allocations take into consideration the unequal impact of poverty on women vendors.

◊ Supporting women vendors through capacity building and skills development.

◊ Seeking women’s voices and representation in market place planning and management.

◊ Creating safe and healthy work environments for vendors.

◊ Increasing security at the markets and lighting on the streets.

◊ Improvement of rubbish management in markets and on the streets.

◊ Implementing the KCCA

Regulation of Street Trade

Ordinance 2019.