Traders operating in arcades have committed to reopening their business despite a directive from the government to keep them closed till further notice.
The traders under their body Kampala City Traders Association -KACITA have stated that effective Tuesday 14th July 2020, they will all resume business.
This follows a 5-day ultimatum given to the government by the traders on Wednesday last week to reopen arcades or they stage a massive protest at Kampala city center.
The move to re-open business is contained in a written statement addressed to all traders encouraging them to start operation with standard operating procedures as recommended by the Ministry of Health-MOH.
The statement released on Monday morning reads in part;
”All traders operating in arcades come open shop Tomorrow Tuesday, July 14th, 2020 as we follow the directives of the Ministry of Health”.
Secretary-General KACITA, Musoke Thaddeus, has confirmed the defiant reopening but with strict guidance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Arcades were closed in March 2020 among other entities during a nationwide lockdown on COVID-19 by president Yoweri Museveni.
However, while easing the lockdown, the president announced that only shopping malls were resumed and not arcades because of the crowds they attract.
The president’s directive to keep arcades closed has since drawn criticism and tantrums from a section of traders operating arcades who have always protested the move claiming they are being discriminated against.
