The Minister for ICT and National guidance Dr Chris Baryomunsi has asked Ugandans to exercise discipline in observing all the Ministry of Health guidelines as the economy reopens fully on Monday next week.
While addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Fiday, Baryomunsi said the directive issued by the President during his 2021, end of year address to reopen the entertainment sector on January 24, still remains.
“We expect now the remaining areas with exception of the Bodabodas who are still subjected to curfew, the rest of the places will now open, so the position the President announced remains the same. But you also recall that he mentioned should the situation get worse, there is a risk of restriction again,”
He asked the public to be mindful of standard operating procedures to fight Covid 19. He cautioned the public to embrace Covid 19 vaccination, wear masks consistently, and wash hands and social distance.
“As we open the economy lets observe preventive measures like churches and prayer places were restricted to only 200 people, but now with the reopening, churches should not fill people to the brim but observe Sop’s, and avoid certain congregations you don’t have to go to,”
He also cautioned revellers going to concerts and bars to ensure all the sop’s are observed. Baryomunsi encouraged persons above 18 years to go for covid 19 vaccination.
The Uganda National Cultural Centre -UNCC, Ministry of Gender and the Ministry of Health have released a statment blocking unvacinated persons from attending concerts without proof of vaccination.
They have also listed directives to be followed by those in the events and entertainment sector as the reoening takes effect .
Apart from the vaccination of revellers, the agencies have said that all artists must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or must present a negative result from tests conducted within 72 hours from the day of the performance. The interaction between revellers and the artists has also been discouraged before, during or after the event.
Event organizers have also been asked to ensure that there is a space measuring not less than three meters between the stage and the audience. All revellers will also be required to wear face masks throughout the show and there should be compulsory sanitizing at the entrance.
Compiled by Minah Nalule
