By Kevin Patrice
As the 14 day lockdown extension announced by President Museveni on May 4 nears it’s expiration, the president has been reportedly advised on what ought to be done a midst growing resistance from the population over the prolonged lockdown leading to public anger and desperation.
We have reliably been informed that in the Cabinet meeting convened at State House in Entebbe on Friday 15,Museveni was advised to lift the current lockdown though gradually in phases so as not to compromise public safety.
Currently, Uganda has confirmed 227 COVID-19 cases, but not a single one of them has been confirmed from the community in a period of 15 days, as truck drivers have been solely responsible for the increase of the cases in the country.
With this in mind, it was brought to the President’s notice that Uganda would be free from COVID-19 if it were not for the imported truck driver cases.
This is why Cabinet feels it is okay to further ease the lockdown, with public offices, and private transport set to be opened, with revised operation hours of up to 8 p.m., but to operate according to the Ministry of Health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) carrying not more than three people.
A we have also reliably learnt that the ban on ublic gatherings will stay. Public transport will also remain closed a long with other high concentration points like schools bar and night clubs. The curphew I also expected to remain in place though in revised terms.
The recent reactions from Ugandans allover the country has generally been proving how the lockdown was growing rapidly unpopular,with many suggesting that the risk of contracting the said dangerous disease was more bearable that starving in their houses as job stations remained cut off.
People have further accused government of failing to manage foreign travellers who have been the main cause of infections in the recent times and unsteady transfer the pain upon the innocent Ugandans by locking them in their houses. For this,angry people mainly of social media have rubbishes the efforts of Health Minister Ruth Acheng as still wanting and gone a head to demand that she tenders in her resignation since it’s clearly evident that she has failed.
With Museveni expected to address the country on the state of affairs on Coronavirus,a lot of changes are expected,mainly geared towards averting public anger over the prolonged lockdown which has propagated discomfort among the local population.
President Museveni will also be conscious to ease the lockdown while at the same time maintaining the safety of the public. As such, emphasis will be diverted towards strictly screening the cargo truck drivers a head of their entry into the country.Early this week,it was reported that truck drivers will be only allowed to continue into the country on presenting a COVID19 test certificate showing they are negative.
About Author
