The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni this evening has allowed a very limited number of businesses to reopen, as he extended the COVID-19 lockdown for another 14-days.
The businesses so far allowed to open are hardware shops, mechanic workshops and garages, metal and wood workshops, insurance companies, 30 lawyers to handle urgent matters, restaurants [but only allowed to do takeaways] and warehouses.
Similarly, the president said every person who leaves his/her home must wear a cloth face mask to stop the spread the COVID-19.
However the president said they debated and concluded that it wasn’t yet time to reopen both public and private transport because of the risk it poses.
“We have not yet thought it wise to allow public or private transport. People should use buses, either owned or hired by the employers, cycling to the workplace which is the healthiest and also walking to the factory and walking back,” Museveni said.
He also added that it was still very dangerous to reopen schools especially due to congestions in dormitories and day schools where children walk to and from school.
“We thought about the big groups such as the 15million grandchildren; I don’t want them to go back to these schools yet. I don’t want sick children If you have them going to school, we shall have public transport. Let the children stay at home, I’m more comfortable with them than going to school in this situation. Even if they miss a term or year, it’s better than to hear that they have a problem because of being too impatient,” Museveni said.
Museveni added that during the next 14-days, all the 35 measures that he announced between March 18-30 will remain in place. He said these will be reviewed towards the end of the 14 days.
On wearing the face masks, the president said it’s important in order to limit the spread of the virus in case anyone is infected.
“We are going to make it mandatory to cover the face with a cloth mask…because the virus rides on the droplets; it cannot fly by its self. The mask may become a seedbed, of the virus,” Museveni said.
He added that Uganda now has capacity to make sanitizers, personal protective equipment and face masks because of companies like Nytil that have joined the effort.
“38 factories are now making enough quantities of sanitizers, now the waragi that has been killing you is going to be useful. The work waragi has been doing I don’t support it. I’m very happy that waragi has found good use at last,” Museveni said.
Uganda has currently 89 confirmed covid-19 cases out of the 38,845 samples tested.
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A mandatory face mask is not bad so long as government supplies them for free.never think that every person manages to buy them because they’re expensive. Ugandans if something comes in and get Chance to sale products they sales them in high gear and prices. The problem we’re facing here president directives are not compulsory like other countries globally do take example of Rwanda. what government directs no one goes beyond it.many Ugandans are big headed they’ll not follow directives you just wait you’ll see the Film. its there to help everyone but some Ugandans will oppose it.that’s why you see during this lockdown some Ugandans couldn’t understand directives but do whatever comes in their brains not mind about the virus. even some Ugandans used to its for European countries which is true. many Ugandans misbehaves and its hard to control them.except when the president says its compulsory like other countries do maybe it work by putting strictly rules.but as know Ugandans who are tired of the regime we’ll see what’s going on.The favour to Ugandans has brought such situation to some Ugandans.