President Yoweri Museveni has on Monday May 18 announced new measure to ease the lockdown but said that the measures are tied up by absence of masks.
“Opening up is tied to the masks. And the masks will be ready in two weeks, starting May 19,” he said
“We believe that with the [proper] mask, you do not infect others and you also do not get infected, on top of all the other measures.”
He assured the country that all Ugandans aged six and above will be given free facemasks in a bid to protect themselves against the spread of the virus.
“This mask must be worn all the time when you are in public. Whether you are sneezing, talking or coughing. Since many people raised the issue that they cannot afford these masks, the gov’t has decided to provide these masks to all Ugandans 6 years and above,” Mr Museveni said.
According to the president, children less than age six cannot safely wear these masks.
“These masks, like mosquito nets, will be distributed through the LC system. One mask per person of age 6 and above will be given. It must be worn all the time when you are in public,” he said.
Therefore…moving forward from 20th May 2020 – tomorrow (May 19), given the knowledge we now have, we shall move as follows..
Once issues of the masks is addressed, shops selling general merchandise will open if they are not in shopping arcades, food markets and arcades.
Public transport will resume around June 2, 2020 after all Ugandans get face masks.
“The masks will take two weeks to be ready. Two weeks will be … like June 2. However, this opening of public transport will not be allowed in the border districts of Uganda for another 21 days. And when the taxis resume, I don’t want to hear of brokers and these noisemakers in the park. Since it is impossible to space out the passenger and the boda boda rider, boda bodas and tuk tuks will not be allowed to carry passengers,” he said.
Bars, salons, gyms and swimming pools will remain closed for the next 21 days.
“For the bars and salons, since they cannot observe the rules of social distancing, they will not be allowed to open for another 21 days, this includes, gyms and swimming pools,” Mr Museveni said.
People with private cars will be allowed to drive as long as the car doesn’t carry more than three people.
“Three people includes the driver. This will require you to wear a proper mask,” Mr Museveni said.
The president also said curfew will remain unchanged for another 21 days.
