Families, churches and other public places that fail to adhere to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures will be required to pay fines, according to the draft statutory instrument meant to help enforce the COVID-19 lockdown.

According to the draft by the finance and health ministries, it is proposed that a family that holds a party attended by more than 10 people will be required to pay a fine and could be barred from accessing the home until the fine if fully paid. The exact amount of the fines for breach of the COVID-19 guidelines are yet to be fixed, according to the draft proposal.

According to the proposed penalties, the offenders will be required to pay fines either through mobile money or a Uganda Revenue Authority website.

“The person or Police officer enforcing the law will generate a ticket number which he will issue to the offender for them to effect payment.

This is after the enforcing officer has written the details of the offender in a book. The offender then enters a short code and reference number generated to process payment.

The policeman will then use the reference number to ascertain whether payment has been made by way of a message on the phone,” the proposal states.

“Where an individual defaults on the payment, he or she should be detained until payment is affected,” the draft says.

Addressng the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda last week, President Yoweri Museveni directed the permanent secretary of the finance ministry to issue an instrument specifying the offences and attendant fines.

The finance ministry, however, after consultation with the Solicitor General discovered that in order to affect the penalties, it was the health ministry that has the mandate to act under the Public Health Act.

According to the proposals, fines will be imposed on bars, places of entertainment and education institutions, among others.

Others breaches to attract fines include bodabodas carrying passengers and private motor vehicles carrying more than three persons, among others.