Accordingly, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed that the curfew from 7pm to 5:30am remain in place until the coronavirus has been eradicated.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda, has insisted that restricting night movement is essential to mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus. Therefore, the curfew will remain in effect from 7 pm to 5:30 am.
Museveni made the remarks on Wednesday evening while announcing new restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
He said boda bodas should stop moving at 6:00 pm.
“Curfew restriction of movement of persons at the night time is key to the enforcement of other preventive health measures. Curfew remains at 7:00pm –5:30am. Boda bodas should stop movement at 6:00pm,” Museveni said.
Among other new restrictions, the president allowed weekly markets to reopen but in adherence to the Covid -19 measures. On schools, he said these will remain closed until when a reasonable percentage of the population has been vaccinated.
“Weekly markets, these are open door settings and currently transmission rates are low in some areas. These can be opened with strict adherence to SOPs and the curfew hours except for current hotspot districts (Soroti,Kampala, Kalungu, Kabale, Kumi, Tororo, Gulu, Nwoya and Yumbe). The RDCs, RPCs, DPCs, DISOs, GISOs should enforce adherence to SOPs.”
“The Minister for Health should follow up the hotspot districts and review their situation for safe re-opening of the weekly markets after two weeks. For reopening of schools, infections in children below 18 years are often mild and they recover quickly. However,many of the 15 million learners are day scholars who once infected go back home and infect their parents and grandparents that may subsequently die,” he directed.
He raised that the Ministry of Education and Sports should support headteachers to carry out surveillance and early reporting of suspected cases in schools to the District and City Task Forces once the schools open.
On the places of worship, the president indicated that these can now open with full adherence to standard operating guidelines including limiting numbers of worshippers at the same time.
“Limit the number of worshippers at any one time to not more than 200 provided the place of worshipcan ensure physical distancing of two meters on either side and adequate aeration. There must be strict adherence to all SOPs at all times and consistent wearing of face masks by all congregants including the choir and preachers,” he said.
“No congregation for worship after curfew hours. The 200-persons-limit,physical distancing and all other SOPs should be respected even during special occasions e.g weddings, funeral services, confirmation etc. Partner with Government to communicate and mobilize the population for vaccination and other control measures.Weddings, Burials and other social events. The number of persons attending these events can now increase to 200 under strict observance of SOPs.”
On Casinos, Gaming, Betting shops and Gyms, he ordered that these can now operate during the day and close business by 6:00 pm. Meanwhile, he said bars, beaches and discos will remain non-operational until at least 4.8 million Ugandans have been vaccinated for the virus.
“The various local governments, Cities and Kampala Capital City Authority, working with the National Gaming and Lottery Board MUST inspect the various betting outlets for suitability and adherence to SoPs before opening. Concerts, disco halls, performing artists and beaches, these tend to congregate large numbers and are difficult to control,” he added.
“With the level of vaccination still low, I direct that these remain closed until at least the 4.8 million priority population is vaccinated. Bars are high risk areas where individuals have no sobriety to observe the SOPs. They will be considered for re-opening when the 4.8 million priority population is vaccinated. The local cinema halls are areas of immense crowding also should remain closed.”
