Bhojpi – AFP
After the coronavirus pandemic casts a shadow over Uganda, Livingstone Musala, who was forced to quit his teaching job after schools closed to combat the spread of the virus, turned to making coffins to pay bills and help his community.
But few initially welcomed his initiative. He has been criticized by family members accusing him of exploiting the surge in infections and deaths caused by the epidemic in his densely populated hometown of Bugobi, 140 km east of Kampala.
Musala said that a relative once asked him, “Of all the businesses, did you choose to sell coffins as if you wished people were dead?”
But the former math teacher realized that he could make coffins and sell them for much less than the high prices charged by other carpenters, after the high demand for these wooden boxes due to epidemic-related deaths.
“It was a difficult decision but people realize its value now that the people of Bugobi no longer have to travel long distances to buy cheap coffins,” said the 28-year-old.
He added, “At the height of the pandemic, we were selling between four to 10 coffins a day, which earned him between 150,000 and 450,000 shillings (42 to 125 dollars) each.”
His success prompted about 30 teachers to join him, especially after many of them were left frustrated and bankrupt, due to the continuous closure of schools.
Although the Ugandan authorities recently announced their intention to reopen schools on January 10 after nearly two years of closure, many of these teachers say they do not intend to return to teaching, which may harm the fragile education system in this East African country.
About 15 million students have been out of school since the government brought them home in March 2020, and activists fear economic and social consequences, most notably the increase in teenage pregnancies and child labor as a result.
Some schools closed completely and hotels or restaurants became impossible, and others defaulted on loans with the accumulating interest, which put their future in doubt and increased the uncertainty faced by unemployed teachers.
“If given a choice between teaching and carpentry, I would take the second because it works,” said Godfrey Mutepa, as his colleagues collected logs for the final touches on a coffin.
This father of two added, “I used to love teaching, but because of the low salary I was getting in that profession, I will not return to it.”
On average, private school teachers in Bugobi earn between $100 and $250 a month.
Livingston Musala also chose not to return to teaching. Despite the decline in the epidemic, after a sudden increase in injuries and deaths in June and July, he will remain a carpenter.
“The pandemic has taught me that there is life outside of teaching,” he said.
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