After weeks and weeks of lock down to tame the deadly coronavirus tormenting the world, the population expected President Yoweri Museveni to flash their doors open.

President Museveni flanked by a couple of his cabinet, opened his long awaited speech at 9:30pm.

Uganda has 248 Covid-19 cases and no fatalities according to the ministry of health. Citizens have been concerned about the constant cases arising from the cross borders, mainly from truck drivers.

Ahead of his speech earlier Monday, the President and his health ministers had confirmed they had discovered a solution to the infections from the borders.

The ministry placed a faster testing machine to test drivers before they access the country. Those found positive will not be allowed to proceed into the country according to the authorities.

As expected, he did not disappoint Ugandans with his speech ‘telling them to expect a long speech’.

The President excited the population by announcing the opening of non-mall shops, allowing public transport, hotels and restaurants and private cars.

However, Museveni left the country puzzled tagging the opening to ‘issue of universal access to standard face masks’ which he expects to be resolved within two weeks.

The President said: “Once the issue of universal access to standard/recommended face masks is addressed.”

He stated: “The government will provide standard masks to all Ugandans aged 6 years and above, these will be distributed through the District Local Council system. Each person will be allocated one mask which must be worn all the time when in public.”

Museveni said: “The measures to ease lock down as addressed today will be activated only when each individual has received a standard mask distributed by the government of Uganda.”

The head of state revealed: “The national task force headed by the Rt Hon Prime Minister will meet and offer detailed SOPs in relation to these directives.”

KEY TAKE-ALWAYS FROM TONIGHT’S PRESIDENTIAL COVID-19 ADDRESS

Once the issue of universal access to standard/recommended face masks is addressed, then:

1. Shops selling general merchandize will open provided they are not in the shopping malls, shopping arcades and food markets. Shops in malls/arcades can’t open now because it is impossible to observe social distancing in shopping malls or arcades.

2. The heroic market women that have slept in the work places for all these days, will be allowed to go home and come back to work daily if they want to.

3. Public transport will resume but with strict regulations. Mini-buses, buses, taxis, tuku-tukus can operate provided they carry only a half of their normal capacity. Public transport won’t operate in border districts for another 21 days.

4. Boda bodas won’t carry passengers yet. They should continue to carry cargo as they have been doing during the time of the lock-down.

5. Bars, night-clubs, gyms, saunas, swimming pools and hair-salons, will stay closed for another 21 days since they cannot easily observe the rules of social distancing.

6. The International borders of Uganda and the airport will remain closed so that we do not import additional cases from outside.

7. Education institutions will open but only for finalists/candidate classes. There will be no first-term examinations. Social distancing is a must. Other learners will wait for now.

8. Curfew from 1900hours (Saa moja ya usiku) until 0630 hours (Saa kuminambiri na nusu za usiku), remains in place for another 21 days.

9. Food restaurants can open as long as the clients observe social-distancing and there is no air-conditioning which spreads the virus.

10. People with private cars will be allowed to drive as long as the car does not carry more than 3 people, including the driver.

11. All the other restrictions will remain in place for another 21 days.

NOTE: (a) Government is to provide free masks to all Ugandans aged six and above in two weeks’ time. They will be distributed through the LC system.

(b) The national taskforce headed by the Rt Hon Prime Minister will meet and offer detailed SOPs in relation to these directives.