By Zainab Ali
Ugandans who lack ATM cards will have to look for alternative means of survival as most banks in Kampala didn’t open on Tuesday for operation leaving their desperate customers to the mercy of unstable ATM services.
The majority of the banks including the Central bank, Bank of Uganda have defied the presidential directive as one of the essential services that must stay open.
The Closed banks include Centenary, DFCU, Standard Chartered, Absa, among others while those that opened are Baroda, Equity, Tropical, and Housing Finance
Roads leading to most of these banks in the city center remain absolutely empty and deserted as the public is left confused about how the next two weeks will be cashless.
The president during a televised address on Monday evening at 8 pm shocked the majority of unprepared Ugandans when he drastically announced a national lockdown.
He instituted a 14-day ban on all movements in the country including for private cars, passenger motorcycles, close of all businesses except for a few essential services and government entities in his latest measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
He, however, said that established food markets in Kampala and other towns would continue operating provided they observe a distance of 4 meters from each individual.
Museveni added market vendors must arrange to stay near the markets and avoid returning to their homes for 14 days.
According to the president, Medical teams, veterinary services, Banks, Cleaning services, Garbage collectors, Fire Services, Door-to-Door delivery services, Petrol stations, KCCA and Uganda Revenue Authority, which were classified as essential services, will remain operational.
However, up to Eight banks remain closed with no prior communication to their esteemed customers who are now left stranded in the dark on how to manage their finances as the majority lack ATMs or cannot fully rely on them.
