Cabinet has agreed to lift the lock-down, but in a phased manner.
In a meeting chaired by President Museveni, cabinet agreed that each sector of government will develop a plan for phased re-opening of the country.
The current 21-day extension of the lockdown ends on May 5 and according to a report seen by this website, the Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda recommended that since the country has seemingly contained the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, with the remaining few cases reported among Tanzanian and Kenyan taxi drivers, the country can gradually return to normalcy.
The Cabinet sub-committee is comprised of, among others, Ministers David Bahati (State, Planning), Chris Baryomunsi (Housing), Evelyn Anite (Investment), Amelia Kyambadde Trade and industry), Jane Ruth Aceng/Moriku Kaducu (health) and Diana Atwine ( health).
A source who attended the meeting said President Museveni tasked the ministers to present sector plans at a special cabinet meeting set for May 2nd for a decision to be taken on the phased implementation when the current lockdown ends.
According to sub-committee, public transport, which includes boda boda, commuter taxis and buses can return to work next week but under strict working conditions. For the commuter taxis and buses, the sub-committee recommends strict social distancing, with a few passengers on board.
The sub-committee recommends that taxis can carry 9 passengers each instead of the usual 14 and that buses can also carry half of their capacity.
The sub-committee also recommended that private vehicles should also be allowed to move but must not carry more than three people each.
On schools and other higher institutions of learning, the sub-committee recommends that those with boarding sections alone can be allowed to reopen but with restrictions not to allow visitors during this period. Those with day section should remain closed.
In an effort to tackle the spread of the coronavirus into Uganda from neighboring countries, cabinet has reportedly agreed that each truck will be allowed to have only a driver and they will be tested at the border before entering the country.
Truck drivers are among the few workers who were allowed to continue operating during the lockdown. However, there has been growing concern after nearly all the new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the last two weeks were cargo truck drivers bringing in essential commodities from Kenya and Tanzania.
To address this, implementation of relay driving has been proposed by the various EAC countries.
