President Yoweri Museveni on Friday evening announced fresh guidelines to follow allowing public transport to reopen at half capacity as one of the measures aimed at stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Uganda.
On June 18, 2021, Museveni imposed a 42-day lockdown barring inter-district movements, public transport, public gatherings, and institutions (including places of worship and schools) for a period of six weeks.
Museveni in a televised address said all commuter taxis, buses, passenger trains and motorcycles commonly known as boda bodas are allowed to resume operations, carrying passengers at half capacity (50%), under strict observance of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
The private vehicles are allowed to move across the district borders provided they do not carry more than three people including the driver. This means, the inter district travel ban has been lifted in the new guidelines announced.
Below is a list of new guidelines announced by the President as of Friday July 30, 2021
- Curfew time maintained between 7pm – 5pm, this according to Museveni is aimed at preventing breaching the covid-19 regulations, thuggery, and too much socialization anticipated to be active once the curfew is lifted.
- Boda bodas allowed to move upto 18:00hrs (6pm), carrying only one passenger at a time, or cargo. This, Museveni says should strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs), i.e, both the rider and passenger MUST wear a mask, or else the directive will be reversed.
- Kikuubo traders to reopen their shops for wholesale trade only, and, under the condition that roadside vending outside is banned to avoid congestion. Museveni also urged traders to adapt to ecommerce in the new normal.
- Malls, Arcades, Plaza, Tower Building, and Business trading centers to reopen under strict adherence to SOPs, with Washing points to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation, register traders and who owners in the arcades.
- Burial restrictions, small wedding maintained to only 20 people, until the population is adequately vaccinated
- Places of Worship to remain closed until further notice.
- Outdoor events like football, pool tables, allowed under strict observance of SOPs, however, casinos, betting houses, Kasinos, bars, and cinema halls all remain closed until further notice.
- Restaurants, Salons allowed to continue operations under strict observance of SOPs.
- Schools, and Universities to remain CLOSED until an adequate population of students, teachers are vaccinated against Covid-19. Virtual learning emphasized to ensure continuity in education. The president said, schools will only reopen after a 60 day of the covid-19 situation in educational institutions.
- Inter-district travel ban lifted, and private vehicles, boda bodas allowed to cross district borders, still strict observance of the SOPs.
- Entebbe International Airport to remain open for inward and outward passenger flights.
- Cargo trucks still allowed to cross borders, with only two peoples (Driver and turnboy).
- Effective Monday August, 2, 2021, public transport (buses and taxi), to reopen with 50% capacity, under a two weeks observance. Taxi and Bus driver associations must ensure full observance of the SOPs, and turn off air-conditioning facilities to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
- Food markets continue to operate under observance of SOPs.
- Seasonal public markets to stay closed until further communication.
- Conferences, workshops and seminars remain closed, with exception of clearance by the Ministry of Health. Virtual conferences are advised in the meantime.
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