Kampala city is increasingly becoming a hub for COVID-19 infections with a record 300 COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths.
City dwellers are in complete disregard of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that were issued by the Ministry of Health in an effort to stem the spread of disease.
The Minister for Kampala Betty Amongi reveals that the cabinet has resolved to institute a COVID-19 lockdown on Kampala Central Business District (CBD).
On Monday, the national task force is said to have agreed on reopening places of worship with a maximum of 70 people in attendance.
The lockdown will not stop the government from continuing with the phased easing of lockdown in other areas.
On Wednesday, President Museveni approved the reopening of institutions with finalists undertaking health-related courses.
The Joint Security task force revealed that 25 shopping arcades in Kampala that risk closure for not following the directives issued by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Police Spokesman Fred Enanga named the culprits that now face sanctioning as Nansamba Arcade, E Tower, Superior Complex, Sun City Plaza, Zainabu Aziza Plaza, Mini Price Plaza.
Also God’s Grace Arcade, Majestic Plaza, Rafic Arcade, Ssembatya Arcade, White House Arcade, Qualicel Arcade, French Plaza, Total Plaza, Shamba Arcade, Trade Link Complex and more others.
“We are generating this report to ensure that sanctions are taken against them and we are coming up with this new arrangement of naming and shaming,” Enanga said. ‘
Earlier this year, President Museveni ordered the closure of multiple businesses including arcades as a way of containing the spread of coronavirus into the community.
He issued Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs] that the arcade operators were to follow immediately they opened their businesses.
Indeed, 48 arcades were allowed to operate after fulfilling the standard operating standards against Coronavirus in mid-July 2020.
Some of these SOPs included hand-washing facilities, using temperature guns to check everybody entering the premises, wearing of face masks and social distancing among others.
However, Enanga also applauded another set of arcades for following all the SOPs that the government issued.
These include Mukwano mall, Mackay mall, Equatorial mall, Tropical plaza, Sanana supermarket, Kooki tower, Urban supermarket, Mabirizi Plaza, Prism Plaza, Arua park plaza, Kati Kati plaza, London Chambers and many others.
The police spokesperson mentioned that they will strengthen their operations of arresting and impounding motor vehicles and Boda Bodas that are flouting the rules.
Over 1,363 Boda Bodas were impounded last week for not following SOPs such as not carrying more than one passenger and moving past the 6 PM curfew time.
All these strict guidelines by the Uganda Police come at a time when the country’s levels of coronavirus cases are rising fast.
In a space of one week, more than 1000 people have tested positive for coronavirus while 29 have so far lost their lives.
So far Uganda has registered 2,972 coronavirus cases, 1,288 recoveries and 32 deaths.
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