The Rotary Club of Kasangati in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Kisaasi-Kyanja have been mentoring the Rotary Club of Gayaza to formalize and finalize their formation as an independent Rotary Club. The Rotary Club of Gayaza In Formation began its meetings in June 2021. To date the Rotary Club of Gayaza In-Formation (RC Gayaza IF) has selected an interim committee. This committee led the implementation of a service project on the 29th August 2021 in the villages of Mundazabazzadde and Nakwero “A” based in Gayaza – Wakiso district. The service project sought to alleviate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing material items to
affected households. Twenty one affected households were visited by RC Gayaza IF members.
The service project day also coincided with the 10th edition of the cancer run. Given the restrictions that have been brought about by the COVID-19 regulations, the prospective members of RC Gayaza IF combined the food and material distribution with the 10th edition cancer run. These combined activities were innovative in simultaneously addressing the effects of the cancer epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, but also presented an opportunity for members to interact with one another and their community members. To mark the tenth
edition, 27 members of RC Gayaza IF gathered at the G-Café in Kyetume to participate in a onehour session of aerobic activities.
The first case of COVID-19 in Uganda was reported on the 21st March 2020 (UNDP- Uganda 2020). The 32 day lock down that ensued on the 18th March 2020 resulted in a subsequent suspension of mass gatherings. On the 30th March 2020, schools were closed (COVID-19 response hub, 2020). The lock down resulted in a closure of businesses and affected millions of people who were dependent on the informal sector of employment for their livelihoods. 87% of the total employment in Kampala is informal (Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) which means that residents of Kampala and surrounding districts rely on their daily trade to feed themselves
and their families. According to the Development Initiatives report (2020), the pandemic caused a likely increase in poverty as the economy of Uganda slowed down, many people faced a reduction in their income due to job and livelihood losses, reduced flow of remittances, loss of market and loss of demand for domestic products (Development initiatives, 2020).
According to GIGA, (2020), the operations of informal businesses declined sharply during lockdown and female owned businesses were hit harder and were uncertain on when to open. These residents also experienced a high risk of COVID -19 infection due to close person to person contact (WHO,
2020). In mid-2021, the Government of Uganda (GoU) instituted a second lock down (of 42 days)
to curb the second wave of COVID-19
