President Yoweri Museveni Friday reinstated a curfew time between 7:00 pm and 5:30 am as part of government efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.
As part of the government’s strategy to contain the further spread of the coronavirus, President Yoweri Museveni Friday reinstated the curfew time from 9 pm to 7:00 pm – 5:30 am.
“It is observed that some sections of the public are not adhering to the curfew hours (2100 Hrs to 0530 Hrs). As such, the curfew time throughout the country is pulled back to 1900Hrs to 0530 Hrs. All human beings except security and those authorized to move should be their home,” Museveni said while updating the country on the next course of action in tackling the pandemic.
Among other measures, the president also directed both private and public means of transport save for those with authorized stickers to cease operations.
He said only registered tourists’ vehicles will be allowed to move. These should move directly to their destinations and designated places.
“Emergency vehicles, police and army vehicles, and essential workers vehicles will be allowed to move. I have defined the essential sectors and where there is need for additional clarity, The Rt Hon Prime Minister will study such and communicate accordingly,” Museveni said.
“Among the Essential Health workers include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, veterinary doctors, and other essential health staff. Details of other essential sectors will be worked out by the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister and her team. The essential workers will be given specific identifications.”
In addition, he said boda-bodas will only be allowed to move only up to 5:00 pm. All schools and institutions of learning will remain closed for 42 days.
“Testimonies from credible sources indicate that schools had been deliberately silent about infections among students due to fear of closure. International and Cross-Border Travels, Entebbe International Airport will remain open, but we shall ensure the no virus, or new variants enter Uganda. Uganda’s land locked country. All cargo movements, to and out of Uganda will be allowed without any disruption,” Museveni noted.
“Cargo truck drivers at land-border crossings will be tested allowed to move and be followed up at the designated Seclusion Areas and holding places for Cargo trucks. The Ministry of Works and Transport is hereby directed to reactivate the operations of Seclusion Areas for Cargo trucks.”
Going further, he said food market vendors should revert to the Presidential Directive of March 2020 of staying in their places of work. For Kikuubo and other Business Centres, he said these should be closed, and the situation reverts to the Presidential Directive of March 2020.
On burials, the president indicated that whereas the compliance has been low, the high-risk factor assessed is the pressure of people seeking permission to go and attend burials from place to place.
As a result, he said burials will be restricted to the core family as applied in the military. For Bars, Discos, Sports Betting, and Cinema Halls he said these will also remain non-operational for the next 42 days.
Explaining the new directives, Museveni said this is aimed at limiting the movement of individuals because evidence has proven that it fuels virus transmission.
“Without limiting the movement of persons which leads to mixing and re-remixing of individuals in the different categories of infected and non-infected. This needs to be stopped since and is the cornerstone of the current exponential transmission drive,” Museveni explained.
