By Rogers Wanambwa

KIU, Main Campus – Yesterday, during a nationally televised speech on COVID-19, the President of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni issued new directives including the closure of schools, higher institutions of learning and churches among other places.

 Below is a full list is the new directives to combat the rising COVID-19 cases:

 1. All schools and institutions of higher learning to close for 42 days from 7th June starting 8 am.
2. All teachers to fully be vaccinated before being accepted in schools.
3. Prayers in churches, mosques suspended for 42 days. Pray from home.
4. Public and cultural gatherings suspended for 42 days except for Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature meetings.
5. Travel from Category A countries suspended, except for returning Ugandans. India currently the only country in this category.
6. Agriculture activities to continue unhindered.
7. Non-agricultural activities like malls, supermarkets, construction, to continue with SoPs.
8. Factories, hotels, taxi parks to operate under strict SoPs.
9. Weddings allowed with 20 people maximum with SoPs. House parties are banned.
10. Burials, vigils should not exceed 20 mourners.
11. Weekly open-air markets, cattle auction markets suspended for 42 days.
12. All public transport between and across districts is suspended for 42 days effective June 10th.
13. Inter-district travel stopped for 42 days except within Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono. The exemption is cargo trucks, tourist vehicles, essential & emergency service vehicles.
14. Public transport within the same district allowed but with SoPs.
15. Cargo trucks allowed to carry two people.
16. Sports can go on but without spectators.
17. 30% physical presence at the office for 42 days. Appoint a compliance person.
18. Not more than three people in private vehicles including drivers. They also don’t move across districts.
19. Arcades, hardware shops, to operate under SoPs, and close at 7 pm. Owners to be held liable for the breach. Pharmacies to be exempted.
21. Salons, lodges, garages to operate till 7 pm. Bars however shouldn’t operate. Drunkards can’t understand SoPs.
22. Curfew starts at 9 pm to 5.30 am and will be vigorously enforced.
23. Health emergencies during curfew to be attended to by security.
24. Bodas can carry one passenger at a time and cease operation at 7 pm.

According to the President, the government is committed to vaccinating all the 21.9 million eligible Ugandans, starting with the priority groups of 4.8 million people.

Internet Photo