As you are all aware, last week the Directorate of Operations called for an intensified enforcement of the curfew across the country, as government further eases the lockdown with the expansion and re-opening with schools with semi- candidates classes across the Country.We congratulate all semi candiadtes and School Administrators upon the reopening of semi candidate classes and urge tyhem to adhere to SOPs issued by the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Health. The Anti-covid19 task teams will be conducting inspections to establish levels of compliance.
Although there’s much anxiety and lockdown fatigue, the public should be encouraged by the decrease in caseload due to the efforts from Ministry of Health. However, the rates of recoveries are still low. There are also threats of new variants on the African Continent which calls for vigilance.In addition, non-compliance to the curfew timings has allowed for crimes to start creeping back slowly; especially simple robberies, Aggravated robberies, Theft of boda bodas and murders etc.
Our frontline officers have been tasked to increase checks and raids to counter all violators of the curfew timings of 9pm – 6am. Most notably are bars, discotheques, concerts and related entertainment, public gatherings of not more than 200 persons. We also are targeting motorists who are not observing the load capacity of 70% especially in taxis, mini-buses and buses as well as saloon cars.
In addition, movement of trucks carrying sand, shall be disrupted due to our stop and search operations, following intelligence that they were facilitating burglaries and house breakings through the transportation of stolen house hold properties. The suspected stolen items like laptops, computers, Tvs, fridges etc are concealed in sand and transported.
As for bodabodas, their timing of 6pm still stands. Therefore, all those riders and passengers who continue to take advantage of the curfew time, should anticipate, disruptions in their movements. Some of the bodabodas switch off lights and ride under the cover of darkness, which places other road users, the rider and the passengers at greater risks.
The curfew enforcement will continue this week, with penalties for those found breaching the rules, including charging them to court under section 117 of the Penal code act, for negligent acts likely to spread an infectious disease and disobedience of lawful orders under the public health controls. We urge all Ugandans to follow the Covid-19 protocols of wearing a face mask; observe proper hygiene, social distancing and the curfew timings.
CP Fred Enanga
Police Spokesperson
1st March 2021
