The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Police Force on Thursday halted movement of Ugandans and Congolese Nationals from entering Nebbi district over the Ebola threat, as the district elected a new district Chairperson.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Esrom William Alenyo who succumbed to accident injuries on 25th September 2018 at Mulago hospital.
Asuman Mugenyi, the Director Operations Uganda Police says Ugandan citizens who have relatives and friends in the DR Congo should not allow them to travel to Nebbi.
The directive comes after Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director General Health Services in the Ministry of Health put all districts bordering DRC on high alert following an outbreak of the deadly disease in the country.
Mugenyi says attempts to allow people outside the country especially from DR Congo to enter Uganda would expose registered and potential voters and scare them from smoothly participating in the elections.
Chris Barugahare, the West Nile regional Police Commander says there is heavy deployment of security personnel to contain unnecessary movement of people from outside the country.
“We have borrowed DPC’s and other officers from across the region and at least each of the ten Sub Counties going to the polls in Nebbi district has security personnel. Part of the reason is to curb unnecessary movement into the district. We know Ebola has not yet disappeared and we want to guard our people from being disrupted from the elections”, he said.
Uganda Radio Network reporter visited a number of villages in most of the Sub Counties in the district and observed heavy deployment of Police officers there.
Christopher Omara, the Nebbi RDC says besides the security of the voters and electoral commission officials in the area, government is also keen at monitoring that the country does not report any cases of the deadly Ebola virus, as government strives to eliminate threats of the virus in the country.
“Much as we are cognizant of security, our neighbouring country Congo is still being ravaged by Ebola and we are not far from there. We want to make sure that the local voters carefully take part in this electoral process”, he said this evening.
*****
URN
