evidence: TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE CRISIS: As part of the response mechanisms to contain and manage the COVID-19 crisis, in April 2020 the government of Uganda (GoU) instituted national and subnational COVID-19 Task Forces to implement COVID-19 containment measures and manage recovery. The presidential directives on COVID-19 recognised local governments as essential to specific operations along with healthcare and security, though with lean structure and limited capacity. The district taskforces (DTFs) aided the local governments to contain COVID-19 and implement GoU COVID-19 containment. The DTFs were involved in case management, surveillance, health promotion, resource mobilisation and enforcement of control measures as well as continued delivery of basic services.