President Museveni has been advised to “partially” lift the lockdown imposed about two months ago.
The National Taskforce put in place to coordinate a multi-institutional response to the pandemic met with President Museveni this week.
Officials who attended the meeting said that they advised the president to restore public transport and open up arcades especially kikuubo area.
The experts include professional scientists, representatives from various government agencies including Office of the Prime Minister, Ministries of Health, Education, Trade, Finance, Tourism, Public Service and joint security agencies among others.
They advised Museveni to also allow inter-district movements considering that COVID-19 cases have gone down over the last one week.
The President was also briefed about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations and progress of importing more vaccines and boosting the bed capacity in public health facilities.
“The final decision rests with the president,” said a high level source who spoke on condition of anonymity so as to speak freely.
“We told him that it is imperative to allow people move and trade but that social functions should remain suspended until we get out of this deadly wave.”
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 27 July 2021 confirmed 160 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are now 93,282.
At least 2,363 have so far died to covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. The test positivity rate has dropped to about 6% from over 10% a month ago.
The lockdown has brought untold suffering to millions of Ugandans, with majority struggling to survive.
The National Planning Authority (NPA) recently advised government to consider a partial easing of the lockdown measures, striking a balance between economic factors and health benefits.
This idea looks at easing movement including public and private transport, within regions and/or districts e.g Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), districts and other metropoles, and keeping other containment measures of school closure, prohibition of public gatherings, places of worship closure, in place.
“The movement across borders of identified regions and districts should be strictly enforced and only goods allowed to continue with the border movement,” said NPA.
“This measure brings the cases down to a daily average of about 60 new cases and weekly average of about 400. With GKMA contributing about 60% of the country’s GDP, this option, together with the opening up of other cities and/or their metropoles will aid in gradually reviving the economy while keeping and adding on to the health benefits that have been gained over the last 42 days.”
Moses Ssekito, a computer dealer in Kikuubo says his shop is his only source of income. However, since the lockdown, the mall in which he operates has been under key and lock.
“Let government open up our businesses but enforce strict compliance to SOPS,” said Ssekito, adding, “Rent is accumulating while we are not working and our families need support.”
Daisy Atwine, a supermarket owner in Ntinda, Kampala, said she ran out of stock due to the locking of Kikuubo area.
“This means most of my clients miss out on essentials they have been buying regularly. My sales have gone down yet I have to pay rent and workers at the end of the month.”
Landlords for majority of Ugandans who are now stuck at home have not showed any plans to forfeit rent dues occasioned by the lockdown.
Manufacturers are struggling with distribution of their goods considering that kikuubo remains closed.
Dangers of opening up
NPA boss Dr Joseph Muvawala warned against fully opening-up (zero lockdown measures) with full movement across the country; places of worship, work places, public gatherings and lifting every restriction to movement.
“This measure is good in reviving the economy but will reverse all the health benefits obtained in the last 42 days in terms of containing the COVID-19 spread,” he observed.
“It can be observed … that within 28 days new cases will average about 500 cases per day with a weekly average of around 2,000. This measure will take the country directly into the 3rd COVID wave,” he added.
However, continuing with a full lockdown, according to Muvawala, projects a continued decline of cases to about 30 new daily infections and a weekly average of 246 in the coming 28 days.
“This measure has serious health benefits but negative economic consequences,” he added.
President Museveni will address the country this Friday at 8:00pm on the covid-19 situation in Uganda.
Fellow Countrymen, Countrywomen, and Bazukulu, I will address the country on Friday the 30th July at 8:00pm. I have asked that the address be broadcast on the different TVs and Radio stations for your convenience. Please ensure that you tune in. pic.twitter.com/Gt0PCDYRde
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) July 29, 2021
“I have asked that the address be broadcast on the different TVs and Radio stations for your convenience,” he said on Twitter.
