“Not just all women but single mothers and other categories of socially discriminated women should be considered for Post COVID-19 business relief.”
A study carried out by the Master card in 57 countries in 2018 established that Ugandan women are the most entrepreneurial in the world with 1 out of 3 businesses in Uganda owned by women. Although, women are robust in starting SMEs, they lack information and access to resources to grow them into bigger enterprises. With huge local trade and individual purchasing power reductions, SMEs have faced rather tough times during COVID 19. The effect of these have chiefly been felt by single mothers and female headed households in trade who are struggling to make a living for both them selves and their families.
According to the Uganda National Household Survey of 2016/17, 31% of households are female headed. In these households, women have the sole responsibility of tending to both the financial and un-paid care needs of their children.
Unlike most male headed households, female headed households are usually operated by single mothers with one source of income and a large burden of care work. Knowing that women already constitute the largest percentage of Uganda’s poorest and on average earn half at 110, 000 Uganda shillings than men at 220,000 Uganda shillings, single mothers are likely facing the brunt of a pandemic that further limits their already diminished economic opportunities. Moreover, due to male based hereditary systems, men are likely to have access to land and other resources they can use to refinance their businesses. On the other hand, single mothers and female headed households depend on incomes from wages and jobs.
With job loss has come huge damages in income and deep feelings of hopelessness. Industries that employ women and a large proportion of single mothers such as; hospitality, child care and the service sector have been hit hardest. On the other hand, male dominated jobs such as; truck drivers, army and police offices as well as top management remain operational and for the most part paying workers’ wages.
Furthermore, single mothers rely on social support structures, whether it is for money to buy basic needs or for people to take care of their children as they engage in productive work. With social distancing in place even that is all crumbling.
Heart breaking stories of effects arising from single motherhood in the time of COVID-19 continue to surface in Uganda and all over the world.
In the UK, just last week, The Mirror online newspaper reported the death of a 34-year-old Ugandan single mother that starved to death next to her malnourished son. Although she had managed to get food from friends in the past, economic hardship and social distancing made it much harder to access food and basic needs.
On fabulous Beautiful Homes, a Facebook page, just a day ago, a single mother who had lost a job as a private teacher was left with no option but sleep in a tent with her children because she was un able to pay rent. Before COVID-19, she had been constructing a house.
I made a case in the beginning as to women’s excellent business acumen despite challenges to build businesses in Uganda. Women have created opportunities as well as been great employees in the labor market and yet remain invisible figures in state incentives given for trade and businesses.
However, I call for an even further dissection and challenge of the gendered category-woman to analyze the business needs not only of single mothers but other more socially discriminated categories of women like those living with disabilities, HIV/AIDs and those with different sexual orientations.
The onus falls on the government and different stakeholders to provide stimulus trade packages such as; business finance, information, training as well as skilling for post COVID-19 enterprise recuperation. These have already been mentioned as important elements for women economic empowerment for Uganda under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program and the Second National Development Plan and only need re-commitment.
These services also need to further be boosted with facilities such as; subsidized reproductive health clinics, free child care and intentional mitigation against Gender Based Violence. Without these in place, women that are socially segregated, are likely to sustain long term effects on their mental and physical health, incomes and children’s outcomes in life. In fact, if nothing is done now, am afraid that more women may soon be found dead next to their malnourished kids.
By Namata Tendo.
Pebble talk 