The Police in Kampala on Tuesday evening (August 3) arrested over 100 pedestrians for flouting curfew time instituted as a measure to fight COVID-19.

Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) deputy spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said the suspects who are currently detained at different police divisions, will be prosecuted.

Also, police impounded 339 motor vehicles and 265 motorcycles for flouting curfew time, revealed Owoyesigyire.

“Yesterday the territorial Police of Kampala Metropolitan conducted operations geared to compliance of COVID-19 guidelines. A total of 339 motor vehicles and 265 motorcycles were impounded with in KMP Policing area,” said Owoyesigyire.

Owoyesigyire said Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) tickets will be issued against the impounded vehicles and motorcycles, while the arrested pedestrians will be arraigned in courts of law.

While these operations continue, he said police still cautions and reminds the public to plan their time very well in order to avoid being inconvenienced.

Last weekend, a total of 696 motor vehicles and 3,952 motorcycles were last weekend impounded for flouting COVID-19 measures, especially driving past the curfew time.

 “A total of 696 motor vehicles were impounded, out of which 559 were issued with EPS tickets, 137 motorists were cautioned. A total of 3952 motorcycles were impounded, out of which 2,551 were issued with EPS tickets, 835 riders were cautioned and 299 motorcycles are still unclaimed,” Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, told the media on Monday.

Vehicles are supposed to stop moving at 7:00pm, while motorcycles are supposed to move up to 6:00pm. Curfew starts at 7:00pm and ends at 5:30am. However, due to heavy traffic on most roads in and around Kampala, the 7:00pm curfew time reaches when most vehicles are still stuck in jam.

The impounding of vehicles and motorcycles comes at the time when Enanga has also vowed to ensure that all private and public motor vehicles operate at the recommended capacity effective August 2.

While easing some of the lockdown restrictions on Friday (July 30) after a 42-day lockdown, President Yoweri Museveni allowed boda bodas to carry only one passenger, and two persons for cargo trucks.

The president also allowed private vehicles to carry three people including the driver, and public transport vehicles to operate at 50% capacity. Unlike this time, while easing the lockdown last year, Museveni pushed the curfew time from 7:00pm to 9:00pm due to heavy traffic jam.