Police, Army disperse crowds in the city centre

HEALTH  VIRUS

KAMPALA - The Police and the Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF) spent the biggest part of Wednesday morning running battles with crowds as people kept pouring into the city centre in large number.

All the roads leading to the city and small ‘panya' routes were jammed with people walking, riding bicycles and motorcycles. 

Security men directing people to go back home to avoid crowding in the city centre

 
The Police, Local Defense Unit and UPDF were concerned that people had treated Wednesday as a normal working day, following the easing of some measures by President Museveni on Tuesday evening.

The President on Tuesday night announced that some restrictions were going to be eased. "Starting with May 26, all private cars will be allowed to move while public transport will resume on June 4," the president announced in a televised address.

On several occasions, the security men dispersed traders who had gathered outside their shops around commercial arcades.

Private security guards also barred traders from opening their shops saying they were under instructions from landlords not to open for anyone.  

During the patrols, the police arrested several people and whisked them away. LDUs were also seen running after people who had managed to sneak into the city.

 
People who had walked to the city, however, pleaded with the security personnel asking them to allow them to work, saying they no longer had money to sustain their families.

Others said ever since their shops were closed after the President announced a lockdown on March 20, 2020, many of their merchandise had either expired or gone bad.

These include perishable goods that have limited lifespan, many of which have expired during the lockdown period.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire said the security patrols were conducted to check on people's compliance with the president's guidelines on COVID-19.

He said the few shops that were allowed to operate must follow the ministry of health measures including social distancing, provision of sanitizers or water and soap for their customers and other measures.

 
He said it was not the first time that security personnel were making patrols, but this time they were also looking for people idling in the city.

He said a big number of people had made it a habit to walk to the city and gather around the Constitutional Square, in the arcade corridors and outside the shops, without following social distancing.

"We have been asking people who are not doing anything to return home and avoid gathering on the streets because the lockdown is still in place," he said.

He said the security personnel were also telling people to wear masks. "We want people to come to the city when they have something to do, not just sitting on verandas because by doing so they risk contracting the coronavirus," he explained.