Covid-19: Government sets tough conditions for travel

Jun 16, 2021

β€œFor example, if one wants to travel from Kisoro to Kabale or to Mbarara for an emergency, they will not have to first travel to Kampala to seek permission, the district task force can handle the matter.”

NewVision Reporter
Journalist @NewVision

The Government has clarified on the issuance of cross-district travel permits, especially for emergency movements, indicating that all those seeking to travel must have a negative COVID-19 test certificate.

The Police director for operations, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Edward Ochom, said the Inter-Agency National Taskforce on COVID-19, headed by Maj. Gen. Robert Rusoke, has held a number of meetings and discussed emerging issues on the control of the spread of the disease.

 

He said they also discussed the matter over who should issue cross[1]district travel permits and that the meeting agreed to decentralise the mandate to the district task forces.

Ochom, however, said the district task force teams have been instructed to follow strict guidelines and ensure that the people applying for the permits adhere to the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

He said one of the restrictions they agreed on is that whoever seeks to travel to another district, apart from Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono, must show proof of COVID-19 negative results, which he said is intended to limit the spread of the disease from one district to another.

Ochom stressed that those seeking clearance to travel must have tested negative and show proof, which he said was also for personal benefit to ensure that the travellers are free of the virus and that there is no likely risk of spreading the virus to people where they are travelling.

“It does not make sense to clear a sick person to travel to another district when he will be infecting others wherever he or she will be going.

The purpose of these restrictions is to control the spread of the disease,” he stressed.

Ochom noted that other conditions included the vehicle (car) not carrying more than three people, including the driver and that the occupants must adhere to the SOPs, such as wearing of face masks.

The trucks, according to the presidential directives, must carry two people, including the driver.

 

Decentralising permits

Explain why issuance of permits was decentralized, Ochom said it was to avoid inconveniencing people by requiring them to seek intervention from the centre in Kampala.

“For example, if one wants to travel from Kisoro to Kabale or to Mbarara for an emergency, they will not have to first travel to Kampala to seek permission, the district task force can handle the matter, but follow all guidelines as issued by the President,” Ochom said.

He, however, said there were several other sources where one can apply for the travel permits.

Ochom said one of the sources is his office (Police directorate of operations) at Naguru Police headquarters in Kampala, which he said is also handling the permits on behalf of the IGP, Okoth Ochola.

He, however, warned that the permits were being issued with strict guidelines.

 

Confusion

The clarification followed confusion over the issuance of cross-district travel permits, where resident district commissioners (RDCs) were barred from issuing travel permits across districts.

Farouk Kirunda, the State House deputy press secretary, told New Vision on Saturday that any emergency travels cannot be cleared by RDCs, pointing out that they have no capacity or authority to issue cross-district travels.

He added that doctors will handle medical issues and also authorise referrals in case the needed medical services are not available in the district, adding that doctors should be the ones to do the referrals.

Kirunda said the security personnel will be able to see the documents from the doctors and not stop patients from moving.

He, however, clarified that the President did not stop people from seeking medical services.

Haji Yunus Kakande, the permanent secretary Office of the President, clarified on Monday that RDCs were stopped from issuing cross-travel permits for non-essential movements.

He explained that the RDCs would only authorise movements for emergency cases, including transportation of dead bodies or a limited number of mourners going for burial.

Kakande said the RDCs, who fall under his office, had been permitted to authorise emergency travel if one has a critical patient and needs to cross from one district to another for urgent medical attention.

“Some RDCs got confused and wanted to engage in many things, but we have said for one transporting a dead body or moving a sick person, these are emergency travels and they can clear them,” he said, adding that the Government cannot stop people from transporting their dead.

“If we stop people from transporting dead bodies, then we shall have another big problem, where shall we keep the bodies?” he wondered.

Maj. Gen. Robert Rusoke, the head of the Inter-Agency Joint Task force, said they had agreed to handle only emergencies, but after analysing the situation on ground, the health ministry will issue a clarification on the matter.

He said currently, the Police director for operations and the works ministry permanent secretary, Bageya Waiswa, were the one issuing emergency travel permits.

When contacted, however, Bageya denied handling any travel permits.

He said President Yoweri Museveni, who issued the guidelines last Sunday, had not authorised him or the ministry to do so.

Emmanuel Ainebyona, the health ministry spokesperson, however, said health workers with emergency cases must move with their identification cards and will be cleared by security once they present them.

 

Partial lockdown

During his address, the President declared a partial lockdown starting last Thursday.

Consequently, schools closed and movement of people from one district to another was banned, effective Friday, except for Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

Museveni also reminded the population to be vigilant and implement the SOPs, such as washing of hands, wearing of masks and social distancing.

The President said most of the cases of the coronavirus disease were concentrated around Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono, which is the heart of economic activities in Uganda.

He also discouraged people from moving into and out of Kampala and Greater Kampala.

Museveni said the resident district commissioners should oversee the implementation of the directives, together with the district COVID-19 task forces.

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