The joint security task force has warned security personnel against misusing private motor vehicles and institutional vehicles during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, saying they risk being arrested.

The task force spokesperson, Fred Enanga, also warned security personnel against displaying security jackets in their cars while on non-official business.

“Although the guidance (on movement of vehicles) excludes security organs such as the Uganda police force, the army and Uganda prisons service, any security personnel found misusing private motor vehicles and or institutional vehicles shall be arrested,” Enanga stated.

He added; “The habit of displaying security jackets in cars while on non-official business must stop. All our Alert Squads are ready to counter such acts of professional misconduct, apart from Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) personnel.”

During his address on June 18, President Yoweri Museveni locked down the entire country, and stopped all vehicle movements apart from those carrying goods and licensed tourist vans.

Only vehicles carrying essential workers were allowed to move, but will be issued with stickers from the works and transport ministry.         

Museveni locked down the country as a way of containing the surging COVID-19 infections and deaths. The rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths is due to the emergence of new virus variants from mainly the UK, South Africa, India, and Nigeria.

A total of 680 people have succumbed to the virus ever since it broke out in the country in March last year, with the last 20 deaths recorded as of June 19. However, 49,794 out of the 72,679 COVID-19 confirmed cases have recovered, the health ministry data shows.

“Results of COVID-19 tests done on June 19, 2021, confirmed 1,136 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 72,679. There were 20 new deaths and 1,099 active cases in hospitals,” the health ministry noted. A total of 831,146 Ugandans have been vaccinated so far.

According to the health ministry, 42 deaths were reported on June 18, another 34 deaths on June 17, while 49 deaths were reported on June 16.