Garment Suppliers Cry Foul over Continued Schools Closure

The continued closure of learning institutions has taken a huge toll on suppliers of uniforms. Many suppliers say that they have been struggling to survive since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the country.  

Ssalongo Joseph Magandaazi, a supplier of school uniform, says that prior to the lockdown, he could supply about five thousand (5000) trousers, shirts, t-shirts and skirts among other garments to different schools. He, however, says that currently no school or parent can order even a pair of stockings.  

He faults Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for repeatedly sending him messages to file his returns yet he has nothing to file because has not been working.

//Cue in ″Luli twalinga tusobola….  

Cue out …. Nze Ssalongo Magandaazi Joseph, ″//   

Anent Nantume, a tailor at Zai Plaza in Kiyembe Lane says that they are now borrowing from one bank to service loans in other banks where they secured loans before the lockdown. He says that close friends cannot lend them money since they know that are not working as they used to.   

She hates the day COVID-19 broke out in Uganda leading to movement restrictions, which stopped their clients from the neighbouring countries like South Sudan and upcountry from accessing their shops. 

//Cue in ″ Bank yo temanyi ….      

Cue out …. Nga alaba tokola,″//   

 

The operator of God′s Mercy school garments shop at Platinum House, Kiyembe Lane, Dizzy Nakku Mubiru, says that she is using money from other investments to pay rent for the shops where she operates her garment businesses just to keep the address.  

Nakku says that to earn from her shop, she has decided to stock other items and garments for other key populations such as medical workers, builders and scribes among others.

 //Cue in ″Nali ntegesetegeseeyo….      

Cue out …. teri mikolo gitambula″//  

 

Rashid Kayanja, a tailor and school garments supplier in Kabowa, Lubaga Division, says that to survive and raise the rental fees during the slump in business, he opted for other income-generating activities like setting up chapatti stalls to fend for his family.

He says that they had ventured in producing facemasks using different fabrics to cope up with the situation, which only worked for them during the first lockdown.  

//Cue in ″Olaba engeri amasomero….      

Cue out …. wadde Kayanja Rashid,″//

   

The suppliers are, however, optimistic about making a lot of money when schools resume saying that after two years of disruption; the learners will need almost new school garments since they have grown while others are proceeding to the next level of education.