Ministry of Health To Jail Ugandans Moving Without Masking Up
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, implemented lockdowns, curfew, banning of both private and public transport systems, mass gatherings and use of face masks to minimize spread.
In Uganda, the use of face masks was made compulsory to all Ugandans aged 6years and above.
In June this year, Uganda implemented a second lockdown having realized second wave of COVID-19 which is still claiming lives of citizens on a daily basis.
President museveni suspended all Public and cultural gatherings including conferences for 42 days across the country as a way of controlling the spread of the second wave of Coronavirus. The schools and institutions of high learning were also been closed for 42 days effective from June 2021.
Strict preventive measures were be adhered by everyone.
“Violation of these measures will lead to fines. Instead of arresting people and filling jails, this time you will have to pay. Why do we waste time with arresting these people? The Secretary for treasury will issue a statutory instrument and when you violate you are fined.” Museveni added.
However, the ministries of health having realized that majority are just becoming stubborn especially on masking up issue, whoever found without a face mask to face up to two months jail time according to the health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.
Dr Aceng made the announcement while addressing the nation on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country on Friday evening.
She revealed that the ministry had issued new statutory Instruments on public health rules to be used to control the spread of COVID-19 whoever is found breaking the new rules according to Dr Aceng, is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding two months.
Dr Aceng also added that the new statutory rules will be place for the period of the lockdown.
“A person who operates a place or who conducts any activity or event specified in subrule (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding two months,” Aceng warned.
Activities marked subrule (1) according to Dr Aceng include operating bars, night clubs, discotheques and cinema halls, prayers in open and closed spaces, seminars, workshops, conferences and cultural related meetings, concerts, gym and massage parlors and pre-primary schools.
Apparently, coronavirus cases in Uganda have reached 82,082, death cases 1,111 and recovered cases are 54,158 according to the ministry of health report as on 3rd/July/2021.
