The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kyotera, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kyotera District COVID19 Task Force is accusing residents of frustrating their efforts to control the illegal entry of Tanzanian nationals into the country.
Maj. David Matovu, the Kyotera Resident District Commissioner, says some community members aid the illegal influx of Tanzanian nationals into the district, which compromises their efforts to stop the spread of Corona virus.
According to Matovu, the practice is common in Kabira and Nabigasa Sub-counties as well as Kakuuto County.
He says Tanzanians sneak into the country through the porous border points with the help of area residents.
Some community members ferry in the Tanzanians to work on their farms, plantations and other businesses.
Matovu argues that while different communities in border districts are trying their level best to fight the spread of COVID19, the residents in Kabira, Nabigasa and Kakuuto have remained adamant.
Joyce Nabbira, the Kabira Sub-county Speaker, says Tanzanian nationals sneak into Uganda almost each night through Bukaala, Ntoolo, Bugere and Kakunyu villages where they are sheltered by community members.
Nabbira says that apart from the Tanzanians, people from Congo, Rwanda and Burundi enter the sub county undetected and disappear within the community. She attributes the problem to the porous border with Tanzanian and resident’s support for strangers.
According to one of the area local leaders, some residents have families in Tanzania while some Tanzanians are married to Ugandans, which may be difficult to control their movements.
George Bakireke, the Kabira Sub-County LC V Councilor has appealed to the local leaders to be vigilant and report strangers in their communities to the concerned authorities.
He also wants the army and police to intensify night patrols along the porous border to prevent illegal entry. Uganda closed its borders in March this year as part of the Covid19 preventive measures.
Kyotera, which hosts Mutukula border, has registered over 10 Covid19 patients.
The patients were identified during the mass community surveillance testing program launching by the Health Ministry in Nangoma sub-county.
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