Nowhere in the world were schools closed longer than in Uganda because of Corona, for 20 months, the schools remained closed since March 2020, during that time the country witnessed an increase in teen pregnancies and child labour. With no income to speak of, some schools shut down for good, rebranding themselves as hotels, chicken farms, bars, or restaurants. Others defaulted on loans as interest piled up, putting their future in doubt and adding to the uncertainty which was faced by out of work teachers following an almost two-year closure of learning institutions by the government as a measure to curb the spread of Corona.
On January 10, 2022. The reopening of schools was met with relief by some pupils, teachers and parents, but the turnout at many was low.
In this report, I present what I witnessed during lockdown and after; teachers transitioning into bricklayers, coffin makers, farmers, and students determined never to step foot in class after getting jobs during their time in lockdown.