Disaster preparedness among business communities and financial performance: a case of selected general merchandise wholesalers affected by coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

The study examined the difference in financial performance arising from Disaster Preparedness before and after the COVID-19 lockdown for General Merchandise Wholesalers in Central Division, Kampala The specific objectives of the study were to; examine the difference in financial performance before and after lock down arising from Planning in Central Division Kampala, examine the difference in financial performance before and after lock down arising from Strategic Decision Making in Central Division Kampala, and to establish the difference in financial performance before and after lock down arising from Endowment in Central Division Kampala. The study used a comparative and descriptive survey design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The target population were general merchandise wholesalers in Central Division. The target sample size for the study was 302 respondents owning/ managing general merchandise wholesales in Central Division Kampala. The study used simple random sampling technique to select respondents for structured interviews. Paired sample t-test was used to examine whether there was a significant difference between the financial performance arising from disaster preparedness before and after COVID 19 lock down in Central Division Kampala. The study found out that there was a significant difference between the financial performance before and after COVID 19 lock down arising from planning in Central Division (t-test value=44.462, df=193, P-value<0.05). The results from the study showed that there was a significant difference between financial performance before and before and after COVID 19 lockdown arising from Strategic decision making in Central Division, Kampala (t-test value=39.461, df=167, P-value<0.05). The findings also made revelation that there was a significant difference in financial performance before and after COVID 19 lockdown arising from Endowment in Central Division, Kampala (t-test value=29.3222.461, df=182, P-value<0.05). The study recommends that more Disaster planning should be conducted by General merchandise wholesalers. There is need for more strategic decision making since a considerable number of General merchandise wholesalers in Central Division Kampala district were found experiencing very low financial performance. More endowment should be provided to General merchandise wholesalers in Central Division Kampala District so as to step up financial performance.