• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
Away from home: studying abroad during the COVID-19 crisis

Away from home: studying abroad during the COVID-19 crisis

April 13, 2020
Victoria University thanks Museveni for granting them Charter

Victoria University thanks Museveni for granting them Charter

August 19, 2022
Tooro elders want age limit bill dropped

Prof. Edward Rugumayo appointed chancellor of Mountains of the Moon University

August 19, 2022
C-Care IHK launches CT scan machine

C-Care IHK launches CT scan machine

August 19, 2022
How fraudsters tried to sell off shs3bn plot of land in Kampala without owner’s knowledge

How fraudsters tried to sell off shs3bn plot of land in Kampala without owner’s knowledge

August 19, 2022
Disgruntled politicians planning to disrupt President Museveni’s swearing-in, says Police

Police launches operation to recover shs8bn held in uncleared EPS tickets

August 19, 2022
Police arrests woman for burning housemaid with flat iron, hot water

Police arrests woman for burning housemaid with flat iron, hot water

August 19, 2022
Next Production Limited announces the date for High Skool Kiro Mo

Opinion: Marketing teams strive on team building exercises

August 19, 2022
Home based players make case for Cranes yet again

Micho names squad for Tanzania CHAN qualifier

August 19, 2022
Minister Nankabirwa: “Don’t mistreat Bobi Wine’s supporters”

Nankabirwa: “Power supply will normalise in three weeks”

August 19, 2022
HORRIFIC: Jealous woman cuts off husband’s genitals in fit of rage

Man accidentally cuts his genitals while dreaming of meat

August 19, 2022
Logo
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
  • Education
  • Security
    • Cyber Security
  • Health
    • Coronavirus outbreak
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Mable Twegumye Zake’s #BitsOfMe&You
      • But this Year!
      • What Did I Miss?
  • Lifestyle
    • Hatmahz Kitchen
    • Food Hub
    • Let’s Talk About Sex
    • Entertainment
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Sudan
  • Technology
  • Ask the Mechanic
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
Logo
No Result
View All Result
Home Health Coronavirus outbreak

Away from home: studying abroad during the COVID-19 crisis

A Ugandan student in the UK writes about coping with Covid-19 outbreak in a foreign land

NP admin by NP admin
April 13, 2020
in Coronavirus outbreak, Featured, Opinions
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Away from home: studying abroad during the COVID-19 crisis
The author Kato Mpanga

It is almost three weeks since the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson placed a lockdown on the country. This means that one can only leave their residence to shop for necessities, exercise once a day, for medical needs, and to travel to and from work if they cannot work from home. As compared to Uganda, there is no curfew here.

According to Public Health England (PHE), as of Sunday 12th April 2020, there were 84,279 known cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom (UK), and of these, 10,612 people had succumbed to the virus. On the same date, PHE confirmed 784 cases of coronavirus in Oxfordshire, where my institution, Oxford Brookes University is located. As reported by the Oxford Mail, a local newspaper in the region, 67 people are said to have succumbed to the virus in Oxfordshire. It is not yet clear how many people have recovered.

I have tried coping with this crisis by doing my best to follow the necessary precautions, and above all, praying to God to protect my family, friends, and my country, Uganda. In fact, my hands were recently damaged due to overusing the alcohol hand sanitizer. I have since resorted to using soap and water which I think is a cheaper, and much better option. Besides, I have a friend who a few weeks ago briefly moved to Oxford. However, I have got to discipline myself not to visit him despite having not seen him in a long time.

AD-03 AD-03 AD-03
ADVERTISEMENT

The streets are generally empty with only a few people doing essential work, shopping, or exercises. Most of the buses I have taken for shopping have hardly had anyone in them. There are some fears when one goes out shopping. Every surface looks like a potential career of the virus. Nevertheless, the solution to this is to either wear gloves, carry a hand sanitizer to sanitize whenever necessary, or to avoid touching one’s face, and to wash one’s hands immediately after shopping.

Thankfully, some supermarkets have put sanitizers at their entrances and exits for their customers to use. In addition, to maintain social distancing, they only let in a few people to shop at a time. The other good news is that there has been a significant reduction in panic shopping, so one can access most of what they may need during the lockdown.

ADVERTISEMENT

Having read the situation early enough, some international students dashed off to their home countries before most states closed their borders. For the students ‘trapped’ in the country, thoughts of homesickness and concern for the safety of their families back home from contracting COVID-19 are sometimes inevitable. Staying indoors and keeping up with events, family and friends on social media is the new norm.

Getting a slight flu or cough or any other coronavirus related symptom leaves one in doubt as to whether they are safe from the pandemic. Sometimes, every new day looks like a new battle to conquer. However, praying to God about the situation restores one’s hope. When one looks at the increasing number of people succumbing to the virus in their host country every day, one gets to fully comprehend the importance of the fact that God has given them another chance to catch the breath of life.

The closure of most businesses in the city centre means that many international students could be facing financial challenges having lost their part time jobs, despite some university financial interventions.

The fact that the global economy is on the verge of a recession means that some parents might not be able to meet the accommodation costs of their children in time. It is uncertain how international students who may not be able to afford their accommodation will survive. Nevertheless, the accommodation owners might put in place an arrangement in which the stranded students will pay later.

It must be worse for students who have run out of pocket money. This means that they will have to sparingly eat the little they have got left, or depend on the mercies of people willing to share their food with them. Thankfully, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is treating international students who have contracted coronavirus.

The university has been physically closed owing to the virus. However, studying is continuing online. It is unimaginable how students who do not have laptops will manage. Unless the university lends them one, they might not be able to continue with their studies this semester. In my case, the university has been kind enough to make the assessments more manageable, with some people having to do take-home exams.

Other universities have applied a no detriment policy, meaning that the marks achieved in the 2019/20 academic year will not fall below the grade average that a student had achieved before the COVID-19 crisis. Graduation ceremonies scheduled for June or July in several universities have been postponed until further notice.

Paraphrasing from the Queen’s speech on COVID-19, ‘Together we are tackling this disease. If we remain united and resolute, by God’s grace, we will overcome it!’ As she added in her Easter message, “We know that coronavirus will not overcome us. As dark as death can be – particularly for those suffering with grief – light and life are greater. May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future.”

Kato Mpanga is a Law Student at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.

@KatoMpanga

[email protected]

Tags: coronavirusCoronavirus outbreakcovid-19COVID19covid19 responsekato mpangastudent lifestudent life interruptedUK Covid 19
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Rwanda’s workers union warns against unfair job layoffs due to COVID-19 concerns

Next Post

Kyengera: Security denies beating man while enforcing curfew

NP admin

NP admin

Related Posts

Disgruntled politicians planning to disrupt President Museveni’s swearing-in, says Police

Police launches operation to recover shs8bn held in uncleared EPS tickets

by Kenneth Kazibwe
August 19, 2022
0

Police have announced they will starting on Monday, August 28 launch operations to arrest and also recover huge sums of...

Next Production Limited announces the date for High Skool Kiro Mo

Opinion: Marketing teams strive on team building exercises

by NP admin
August 19, 2022
0

By Pamela Adongo  The author Pamela Adongo Are you a marketing lead or supervisor finding it...

Raila Odinga meets Besigye ahead of 2022 Kenya elections

Opinion: Opposition syndrome of refusing to concede defeat is playing out in Kenya

by NP admin
August 19, 2022
0

By Sam Evidence Orikunda In every election there's always a winner and loser and that's what makes it an election,...

Why do we fail to spend harmonious Christmas holidays with the very people we grew up with? 

‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’: the dilemma of today’s so called corporate parents

by Mable Twegumye Zake
August 19, 2022
0

Bits of ME My father’s cane, olugga, which among the Baganda tribe had its reserved place in the house. Atop...

Next Post
Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango

Kyengera: Security denies beating man while enforcing curfew

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
How Museveni found himself trapped in the middle of William Ruto’s troubles

How Museveni found himself trapped in the middle of William Ruto’s troubles

August 3, 2021
Tumwine

Army, Gen Tumwine family cry over social media as death rumors linger

August 15, 2022
Top 10 African countries with exceptionally beautiful women

Top 10 African countries with exceptionally beautiful women

April 29, 2021
Salam Charity runs to the rescue of the business community in Kampala

Salam Charity runs to the rescue of the business community in Kampala

1
Why all these youth entrepreneurship grants are not bearing fruit

Ugandan youths to benefit from € 7 million skilling project

1
Boda bodas given four months to register or be kicked out of Kampala

KCCA to carry out boda boda census starting today

1
Victoria University thanks Museveni for granting them Charter

Victoria University thanks Museveni for granting them Charter

August 19, 2022
Tooro elders want age limit bill dropped

Prof. Edward Rugumayo appointed chancellor of Mountains of the Moon University

August 19, 2022
C-Care IHK launches CT scan machine

C-Care IHK launches CT scan machine

August 19, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Careers
Call us: +256-417-720-101
Email: [email protected]

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • 2021 Elections Watch
      • The Election Podcast
    • Exclusive
    • Investigations
  • Education
  • Security
    • Cyber Security
  • Health
    • Coronavirus outbreak
  • Opinions
    • Columns
      • Parting Shot
      • Two Sides of a Coin
      • Bazanye’s Quick Shots
      • Mable Twegumye Zake’s #BitsOfMe&You
      • But this Year!
      • What Did I Miss?
  • Lifestyle
    • Hatmahz Kitchen
    • Food Hub
    • Let’s Talk About Sex
    • Entertainment
    • Tour & Travel
    • Love Therapist
    • Homes
  • Global
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • The Americas
  • East Africa
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
    • Ethiopia
    • Sudan
  • Technology
  • Ask the Mechanic
  • Special Reports
    • Kabaka Mutebi’s 25th Coronation Series
    • Focus on Somalia
    • Sino-Africa
    • Uganda at 56
    • Anti-Corruption Fight
    • Age Limit Map
    • Tuve Ku Kaveera
  • Sports
    • Place-It
    • StarTimes Uganda Premier League
    • Bundesliga
    • World Cup
  • Jobs

© 2020 Nile Post Uganda Ltd. - A Next Media Services Company.