How Lira protests affected business

Closed. A closed pharmacy in Lira town. Foreign businesses closed on Monday following the Saturday protest in Lira town. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE KASEMIIRE

What you need to know:

Low sales. Most businesses record the biggest sales on Saturday in Lira. But one of them only received Shs200,000 after working for nine hours.

LIRA. Sales of businesses in Lira have been affected after protests left many closed.
Lira town went under siege by the police and military after locals protested against the death of an 11-year old boy, Dickens Okello who was allegedly killed by two Asians.

“We had never seen this kind of protest before. The only other time was last year when ‘Bobi Wine’ [Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi] came to town,” Mr Ibrahim Mayanja, a chapati seller said.
“At 4p.m, the protest which had started at about 2p.m intensified. We all had to close our businesses,” the 26-year-old who made no sales that day narrated.

At that time, Ulilim Guest House along Oyam Road near Kitgum stage closed to avoid any break-ins and damage to property.

Sales drop
According to Mr Tony Ojuka, the bar manager, it was an unfortunate incident since it happened on Saturday, a day characterised by high sales.
“Saturday is when we get most of sales. But that day, accommodation plus sales only raised Shs200,000 after working nine hours, he revealed.

Ordinarily, Ulilim Guest House makes between Shs800,000 to Shs1m on Saturday within its working hours that start at 8am to midnight.

Ms Lilian Otim from Light Your World Bookshop, equally dreaded the abrupt situation. The dealer in books, stationery and bibles said closing shop signified huge losses.
“It was a bad experience because that is the day [Saturday] people come to buy Bibles for Sunday at 3pm. When the riot started, we closed,” she frowned.

Lira market
The town’s local market was not spared. For those with goods on Oyam road, they were thrown on the ground and set a blaze by the protesters.

On Sunday, the minister of state for Defence, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola told the Asian community to go back to their duty stations after they closed businesses and fled following violent protests that day.

However, on Monday, businesses were still shy of opening for operation.
Zee Pharmacy, Tecno shop and Pari Enterprises all on the main street were on Monday closed and others barricaded with strong material to avoid break-ins.

However, Zee Pharmacy on a telephone call with this reporter revealed on Tuesday that they were open for business while Pari Enterprises anticipates its return to operations today (Wednesday).