By Our Reporter
Kampala: “For now, we have no scheduled address. The moment it is captured/scheduled, we shall let you know.”
The much-anticipated 2nd lockdown that was expected to be announced today through Presidential address on the COVID-19 situation in the country will not be announced, a senior State House official has confirmed that the address is not scheduled.
The Senior Press Secretary to the President, Don Wanyama, said in a message to journalists: “For now, we have no scheduled address.
The moment it is captured/scheduled, we shall let you know.”President Yoweri Museveni last week said he would update the country on the COVID-19 situation this week.
Kampala City Traders Association (Kacita) have protested any future plan by government to reinstate the Covid-19 lockdown, saying Ugandans can now live with the pandemic.
Kacita asked government to consider holding accountable the landlords whose premises have been cited for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) for prevention of Covid-19 instead of focusing only on traders.
Mr Thadeus Musoke Keno, the Kacita secretary general, yesterday said the previous lockdown had shattered the traders’ livelihood and businesses, adding that the reinstatement would be tragic, unreasonable and ruinous.
“Kacita strongly disagrees with any programme or arrangement of calling for a second lockdown. The lockdown is not the best alternative. Other countries like United States of America, Germany and Kenya have managed to live with the virus amid high cases [and deaths],” he said.
“Traders have just acquired more loans to meet their rental and bank obligations. Getting them to another lockdown without providing a solution is a big threat not only to the business community but the entire country,” Mr Musoke added.
He blamed government for failing to mitigate the interest rates and penalties that banks are imposing on traders who acquired loans before the lockdown.
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