The coronavirus kills people. Slow governments kill businesses and livelihoods. Even before global management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company warned that Kenya’s economy was bound to shrink by 5 percent – if the pandemic wasn’t contained (in what would represent a USD 10 Billion loss of the country’s GDP), the Kenyan government had already announced measures to buffer its people, and in turn stimulate the economy. Apart from granting tax relief to all salaried workers (that included 100pct tax relief for folks with monthly incomes up to USD 240), there was an immediate reduction of both VAT and the turnover tax for small and growing businesses. Government ministries and department were also ordered to settle outstanding supplier invoices. I assumed that was the beaten path for Uganda. What works here, works there, after all. Monkey see, monkey do. But alas!By not providing timely solutions when they had all the people’s good will going in their direction, the government of Uganda has opened up a can of worms with citizens left to imagineer their way out of a crisis. If only all the food got to all the deserving welfare recipients. If only the government had announced temporary tax cuts to the often-taken-advantage-of salaried workers. If only the government had eased the lockdown restrictions a fortnight ago. If only.