By Monsignor David Cappo
Do you believe that COVID-19 is real? Have you felt prepared to follow the President’s lockdown and social distancing measures? While the majority of people in Uganda would respond affirmatively to both these questions, there are still many people in Uganda, as evidenced by their behaviour, who would not.
When we fail to respect lockdown restrictions by breaching the curfew hours or reject public health measures like social distancing and wearing masks in public, we not only put ourselves at risk, we also compromise the health and safety of those around us. Taking actions that benefit only us as individuals and have little regard for the well-being of the communities in which we live is not only a sign of selfishness but represents disloyalty to Uganda and its well-being. This message applies not only to Ugandans but to expatriates who live and work in Uganda, such as myself.
When I look at the COVID-19 responses of leaders of African countries, President Museveni’s early decisions and consistent communication make him stand out as a leader. His swift action to institute protective lockdown measure has recently received international recognition in an article by the Right Honourable Douglas Alexander, Three No Regret Decisions For The Next Three Months: How Partners Can Assist Africa’s COVID19 Fight, published by the Harvard Kennedy School (June 2020). Moreover, the President’s regular TV discussions about the critical need to protect ourselves and each other from COVID-19 are a demonstration of his respect and care for the citizens of Uganda.
YouBelong Uganda, an NGO working in mental health, recently conducted a phone survey of individuals who have recovered from severe mental illness and their families. The focus of the survey was on the impact of COVID-19 and mental health. More than two-thirds of respondents stated that they grasped the seriousness of COVID-19 in Uganda and understood what they could do to protect themselves.
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Nevertheless, fear, anxiety, stress and depression were also reported in both adults and children. In addition, the lockdown has hit many families hard with food security being their biggest concern, many respondents limiting themselves to only one meal a day in order to ration food. Without clear national strategies on how to address these burgeoning issues in the near term, the risk for COVID-19 negatively impacting the national psyche through an increase in mental illness will increase in the future.
In recent days, the lockdown has been partially lifted. With reported COVID-19 cases increasing in Uganda, however, we cannot afford to be complacent. Stricter lockdown conditions may need to be reimposed at some point in the future. What should be our role during these uncertain times? Whatever the circumstances will be, we need to continue taking COVID-19 seriously and realise that every Ugandan citizen and expatriate shares in the community responsibility to follow government directions and health advice. All of us will need to enter into this social contract in order to remain as safe as possible during the COVID-19 crisis.
If I was to choose only one behaviour that I would like to see us all adopt during COVID-19 times, it is SOLIDARITY. I dream that we will work together with a real sense of community and pride in Uganda. I hope that we will care for one another, and I pray that we will choose generosity and compassion over selfishness, a sense of entitlement or greed. In spite of the uncertainty that the future holds, this solidarity will enable Uganda and the more than 43 million people embraced within her borders to overcome this global pandemic.
Monsignor David Cappo is the Chief Executive, YouBelong Uganda; Catholic Priest and Social Worker; Former Member of the Australian Government’s Expert Panel on Mental Health; Former Commissioner for Social Inclusion for the South Australian Government.
