From these, several youths and women used to eke out a living, with many of their clients being truck drivers from Kenya, Tanzania and other countries who would offload their cargo at the container depots in the area.

The drivers said they depend on colleagues who drive trucks to load cargo in factories where they fetch water in jerrycans and bring it to the resting centre.

Ms Sylvia Nalukwago, who had set up a makeshift restaurant at the resting centre, said she is instead incurring losses because the drivers come with their food and cook inside their trucks.

Mr Julius Bukosi, a shopkeeper in Kireka, said the number of truck drivers roaming in the area and interacting with local people has diminished.

Mr Saulo Nzira, a resident, said since the outbreak of Covid-19, the truck drivers have disappeared from the area.