By Mariam Mutooro
President Yoweri Museveni has in a move to further combat the spread of the Coronavirus announced a ban on public transport with strict restrictions of markets also communicated on Wednesday 25 March.
Earlier in the day,the President had held a meeting with his ministers on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the way forward on the way forward amidst increasing cases of COVID-19, during which the more decision on public transportat and markets was arrived at.
It had been announced early on Wednesday afternoon that the now has 14 confirmed cases of the virus, following the addition of 5 new cases besides the existing 9.
The move by the president is believed to be premisced on the fact that some of the cases registered are from across the country meaning that a shutdown on public transport would limit the mobility of the desease.
The latest cases announced on Wednesday by the Health Ministry came from as far as West Nile, over 400 kilometers from Entebbe International Airport.
In his state of the nation address on Wednesday 25,Museveni advised that markets be closed to all non food items for the next 14 days
Meanwhile the president was advised to close markets and for only food sections to remain functioning.
Meanwhile the weekly Cabinet meeting has been greatly downsized to only be accommodating ministers with matters on the order paper (order of business).
“We shall not all be going to Cabinet. Only those with items on the order paper will be attending on alternating basis,” a source said.
Ministries, government departments and agencies are going to be given orders to only allow few critical staffs to report for daily duty at their offices.
Some departments like the Uganda Revenue authority will however be allowed to operate though they would determine the number of people needed to run their activities as shifts will be introduced so as to accord resting opportunities to all the staff.
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