Police has started a crackdown on all sectors recently reopened by President that will be found flouting the Covid19 e Standard Operation Procedures -SOPs and other guidelines.
During his most recent address on covid 19, President Yoweri Museveni eased the lockdown further by reopening mainly places of worship, games, and betting places, weekly markets, gyms besides the already opened sectors.
The president allowed for places of worship to hold gatherings of not more than 200 persons with strict adherence to SOPs.Betting and gaming places were directed not to accommodate people inside.
However, Police authorities say they have observed extreme laxity on the part of locals in observing the necessary procedures.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says following the extended reopening, they have realized disorganization and recklessness in most areas.
Enanga while addressing a presser at police headquarters in Naguru says the investigation team sent to monitor places of worship and betting places found that SOP’s were not followed.
‘Enanga said: ‘‘so far the reports that we are getting countrywide indicate that there is a blatant disregard for Sop’s, a number of churches monitored yesterday had more than 200 people, and preachers, choir members were seen conducting church business without masks. in betting shops you find that people are actually packed, watching football with no adherence to social distancing.”
He says the same laziness has extended to Boda Boda riders, motorists, and pedestrians who are found roaming freely during hours of curfew.
He says: ”This comes in addition to biennial riding where Boda riders now have more than 2 passengers at a time and are now disregarding curfew time of 6 pm, then motorists and pedestrians, some pedestrians by 7 pm still have their shops open, people have relaxed to a very big extent. then bars operating stealthy and Taxis not observing the 10 percent capacity.”
Enanga now says the leadership of Joint Security Agencies will crack down on motorists,boda’ riders, and pedestrians moving by 7 pm that they will be arrested if found walking late.
He says the leadership of the Uganda Police Force has directed Regional and District Commanders to intensify the enforcement of the Covid-19 operations on the roads and in all areas across the country.
Minah Nalule
