Fine Offenders Of SOP’s
President Yoweri Museveni has vowed to fine any one found disrespecting the COVID19 guidelines .
While addressing the nation on the state of Covid 19 in Uganda following the second wave,the president issued fresh swift measures to curb the spread of covid19.
Museveni said Uganda has been hit hard by a second wave of the pandemic resulting from new strains that have since entered the country, these include Indian, South African, Nigerian, Uk variants among others.
He noted that these variants are mostly affecting younger persons between the ages of 10-39 years .
Therefore ,the president said arresting and filling up prisons with people breaching guidelines is not helping .
Museveni says instead of arresting, persons disrespecting the standard operating procedures-Sop’s will be punished by paying fines under the ministry of finance.
”Violation of these measures will lead to fines that will be given out soon in a Statutory Instrument signed by the Permanent Secretary (PS) Treasury. Those who do not care about the health of Ugandans will pay financially.
All the above directives, except where explicitly stated, take IMMEDIATE EFFECT. The government will continuously observe the compliance and make necessary adjustments accordingly.”Museveni stated
He added that the fines will cut across all sectors for breaching SOP’s .
”The enforcement of the above directives does not only lie with the law enforcers but also the owners of public transport organizations, owners of premises, and individuals. If you fail to comply within one week, I will enforce total lockdown.”he added
Below is the list of measures issued, to be adhered to with immediate effect.
1. All schools and institutions of learning have been closed for 42 days. and all teachers should get compulsory vaccination before opening.
2. Communal prayers in Mosques, Churches, or in Stadium and other open-air, venues are suspended for 42 days.
3. All Public and cultural gatherings including conferences are suspended for 42 days.
4. Travel from Category 1 countries, as defined by the Ministry of Health, remain suspended except returning Ugandans. At the moment, only India is listed as category A.
5. Agricultural activities which are: cultivating or ploughing gardens, herding livestock (whether free-range or zero-grazing) and fishing for fish-farming to continue because, fortunately, most of them do not encourage crowding.
6.The non-agricultural activities that will be allowed to continue are: factory activities, construction activities, shopping malls, super-markets to continue while observing SOPs issued by the Ministry of Health.
7.These gathering points such as factories hotels, large plantations, markets, taxi parks, etc., should be allowed to operate under strict observance of SOPS.
These must observe strict SoPs, failure to comply within a week will lead to complete closure.
8. Marriage ceremonies, parties, and all other social gatherings are only allowed with a maximum of 20 people under strict observance of SOPs. House parties are strictly banned and this must be enforced without fail. All guests should wear masks and keep their physical distance.
9.Number of persons at burials, vigils, and funerals should NOT exceed 20 people. All should wear masks and socials distance.
10. Weekly non-food markets (Mibuulo Markets) are suspended for 42 days throughout the country.
11. Also suspended for 42 days are the monthly cattle auction Markets ebikomera.
12. All public transport (Buses, Taxis, Boda Bodas) between and across districts are suspended for 42 days effective 10th June 2021. This is to allow our children to go home.
Fine Offenders Of SOP’s
13. All inter-district travel banned except travel within Kampala Metropolitan (Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono). only Cargo trucks with only 2 people, Registered tourist vehicles and Essential and Emergency Services vehicles can move.
14. Public transport within the same district is allowed with strict observance of SOPs.
failure to strictly observe the SOPs in the public transport sector will lead to a total suspension of public transport. Tourist vehicles must observe the SOPs.
15. Bars, discos, music shows, cinemas, and concerts remain closed.
16. Sports events will operate under strict observance of SOPs with no spectators, ALL players must have a negative PCR test.
17.All public places (markets, Offices, shopping malls) are directed to maintain strict hygiene, ensure people coming in are sanitized before entry, physical distancing and appropriate use of face masks at all times.
18. Encourage people to work from home whenever possible and revert to 30% physical presence at the workplace for 42 days.
19. Institutions, Organizations, and workplaces to have person/s dedicated to compliance.
20. Private vehicles should be restricted to not more than 3 people including the driver.
21.Ambulances, security vehicles, and garbage collection vehicles are allowed to operate normally.
22.Shopping arcades, hardware shops, and any other commercial entity to operate under strict observance of SoPs and must close at 7 pm countrywide. Failure to comply will lead to total closure. Owners and managers will be held liable for breach of SoPs.Exception be given to Pharmacies to operate beyond 7 pm.
23. Supermarkets will remain open and operate with strict observance of SoPs and close at 7 pm. Owners must enforce the use of masks and sanitizers in the workplace at all times.
24. The food markets should continue operating but enforce SoPs. The market leaders will be held liable for non-compliance to SoPs.
24. Salons, lodges, and garages are allowed to operate up to 7 pm with strict SoPs.
25. Lodges should be allowed to operate but the bars in these places should not be operational.
26. Factories are allowed to continue operating under strict observance of SoPs and where need arises work in shifts.
27. Construction sites are allowed to continue under strict observance of SoPs.
28. We shall continue to work with the EAC member states to strengthen cross-border surveillance.
29. Private cars are allowed to cross the border provided they observe SoPs and occupants have a negative PCR test result.
30.Curfew shall remain at 21:00 HRS to 05:30 HRS and vigorously enforced except for cargo trucks, Lorries, pick-ups, trains, and aircraft.
31. For health emergencies during curfew, this will be dealt with by security on case by case basis.
32. Boda-Bodas are allowed to transport goods and/or one passenger up to 6 pm for the next 42 days. Failure to comply within one week will lead to complete closure.
33. All these directives take immediate effect from tomorrow Monday 7th of June.
Enforce directive and the responsibility should lie with owners of premises and with security.
