The new tough guidelines that were put in place over the travel permits and inter-district movement to curb the spread of Covid-19 have left the people of Jinja and Buikwe districts stranded.

However, Jinja city and Buikwe bicycle riders and pedestrians have been crossing the three bridges connecting the two districts while observing the standard operating procedures.

On Monday morning, pedestrians, together with the bicycle riders from both districts, were blocked.

Security officers, headed by the Jinja district Police commander, Maurice Niyonzima, deployed on the three bridges which connect Buikwe to Jinja.

Niyonzima said the deployment followed the new directives, which prohibit people from crossing the borders of their districts.

Movement blocked

Only essential workers, patients, people with luggage and those with identity cards showing they worked in Jinja or Buikwe were allowed to cross.

Hassan Baligeya, a resident of Njeru and a trader at Umbercoat Market, was among the pedestrians that were denied entry into Jinja.

He said he tried to explain to the security officers to allow him go and sell his merchandise, in vain.

Ssalongo Wanga, a resident of Njeru, said he left his children bedridden in a clinic and went to Jinja to explain the situation to his bosses, but he was denied access and his hope of getting money to treat his children was stifled.

Jaliati Muwanika said she runs a restaurant at the Nile in Njeru and wanted to go to Umbercoat Market to buy food for her customers, but her pleas to the Police fell on deaf ears.