Police in Kampala have confirmed impounding over 1200 motorcycles in joint security operations last night while enforcing the curfew.
The operation was conducted by the Uganda Police, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, Local Defence Units –LDU and the prisons services.
It followed a warning by security that they were intensifying night operations in the enforcement of curfew to prevent the spread of COVID 19 after new strains were discovered.
Roadblocks were erected at various roads at exactly 6 pm, forcing riders to abandon their motorcycles in the middle of the roads to escape the wrath of the armed personnel.
The motorcycles were loaded on towing vehicles and driven to nearby police stations.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire says this was done to minimize the abuse of curfew time.
During the same operations, 33 vehicles were impounded while more than 50 suspects were arrested for failing to comply with the Ministry of Health guidelines against the spread of COVID-19.
“After intensifying operations on curfew in Kampala Metropolitan Area, our division police have impounded 1,200 motorcycles and 33 motor vehicles. Most motorists will be issued with express penalty fines while others will be arraigned in courts of law on allegations of doing negligent acts likely to spread Covid-19,” Owoyesigyire said.
Several motorcycles were found parked at police stations such as Wandegeya, Jinja Road, Kira Road, CPS Kampala, Old Kampala, Katwe and Nateete. Jinja Road and Katwe had more than 100 motorcycles while other police stations had over 50 motorcycles.
Security sources who participated in the operation last night said that more than 100 drivers spent the night at nearby police stations for defying the 9 p.m. curfew.
Uganda has maintained a nighttime curfew running from 9 p.m. until 5: 30 a.m. every day, as one of the measures put in place by the government to restrict movement and control the spread of coronavirus disease.
