IN THE UK, HGV drivers are being rightly praised as heroes for keeping shelves stocked and delivering vital supplies amidst a nationwide lockdown. In East Africa, however, truck drivers are facing increasing hostility as they are blamed for the spread of the virus!
The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat are reporting that never have truck drivers been more visible, highlighting their role as essential workers.
Africa relies heavily on the freight transport industry to keep supply chains functioning, and with a significant reduction in international and regional cargo flights, there is increasing reliance on road transport operators.
Uganda has taken a harder stance than many countries in sub-Saharan Africa to control the movement of people with little or no public transport and limited use of private transport permitted.
Truck drivers continue to operate despite the risk of exposure, and are under increased scrutiny particularly as many of the new cases of COVID-19 being found in Uganda are from long distance drivers entering the country. As a result there appears to be increasing levels of hostility towards drivers on various social media platforms, reports industry charity Transaid.
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