By Baker Batte, Kampala UGANDA
The government of Uganda is going to provide free
reusable masks to all its citizens aged six years and above as a pre-condition
for lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
Speaking at State Lodge in Nakasero
on Monday, President Yoweri Museveni said mask-wearing is now the new front.
“The masks must be worn all the time
you’re in public…This is the new point of emphasis,” Museveni said, and added
that since many people, were expressing concern that they can’t afford to
buy these masks, the government has decided to provide these masks to all
Ugandans of six years and above.
They will be distributed through the
Local government system; from the district, down to the villages. Each Ugandan
is entitled to one mask, he said. Local Council chairpersons last week started
registering Ugandans, taking their name, tribe and national ID or passport
number.
The president relaxed on the
restrictions on some businesses. For example, he allowed shops selling general
merchandise provided they are not in malls, food markets or arcades to resume
operations.
He
emphasized that in the immediate future, those selling non-food items will not
be allowed for as long as the virus still poses a threat and before a vaccine
is got. Museveni also allowed vendors who have been sleeping in markets to
commute daily to the market.President Yoweri Museveni in mask
Further,
Museveni said public transport will be allowed to resume provided buses, taxis,
and buses carry half their normal capacity to avoid overcrowding. But these
will have to wait for two weeks until June 2, when the distribution of masks
across the country has been effected.
For
border districts with Kenya, Rwanda South Sudan and Tanzania, however, the
restriction on public transport will continue for another 21 days.
Taxi brokers and touts should start thinking of other jobs as the
president said moving forward, he doesn’t want to ‘hear the noisemakers'
anymore.
Bodaboda
and tuk-tuk riders also have to wait for another 21 days before they can carry
passengers because according to Museveni, it’s hard to space between the rider
and the passenger. Private cars are also free to move with a maximum of
three people the driver inclusive, provided that they too have face masks.
The
president also allowed for the reopening of schools for candidate classes in
P7, S.4, S6 and finalists in tertiary institutions and universities. He said
however, there will not be end of term one exams.
“The
rest of the learners should be patient. it’s better to be alive,” Museveni
said.
Hotels
and restaurants can also reopen as long as they practice social distancing and
don’t have air conditioning running. For bars, night clubs, gyms, swimming
pools, saunas, arcades, shopping malls among others, will not be allowed to
reopen since it’s hard to enforce social distancing rules.
The air, land and water borders will remain closed so that no new additional cases are imported, according to the president. The 7 pm to 6:30 am curfew was also left intact for another 21 days as well as other restrictions outside those that he explicitly mentioned. – The Observer
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