Only inspected, cleared arcades to reopen — govt

BUSINESS        COVID-19

City arcade owners must comply with the COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) before they are allowed to reopen.

While inspecting arcades recently, Dr Emmiliano Ahimbisibwe, the manager in charge of health inspection and education at KCCA, who is also heading the COVID-19 arcade inspection teams, said buildings will only be reopened after being inspected and cleared.

"We came up with a list of SOPs and forwarded them in advance to all arcade owners so as to give them time to prepare and put in place what was demanded," Ahimbisibwe said.

However, the taskforce, which inspected over 15 arcades discovered that some arcade owners are reluctant to implement the SOPs. Traders have for long petitioned the Government to open arcades, which were closed in March.

Muzamiru Kwebiiha Abwooli, a member of the taskforce representing Kampala Arcades Advocacy, said some arcade owners had downplayed the exercise and were reluctant to put in place SOPs as directed.

He said some arcade owners were harbouring false hope that they will be allowed to open without making adjustments and becoming compliant.

Kwebiiha said the taskforce had decided to inspect arcades without prior warning, but found that they were not implementing the SOPs.

"We are now inspecting arcades at the invitation of the owners who feel they are ready," he said.

The task force, which was split into four teams to expedite the process, inspected Royal Plaza, Grand Plaza, City House, Market Plaza, Magoba Arcade, Park Enkadde Plaza, Gazaland, Nabukeera, French Plaza, Total Arcade, Temuseo Plaza and Kizito Plaza. Others were Binco Plaza, Boost House, Giant Plaza, Grand Corner and Naiga Arcade.

Ahimbisibwe explained that whether the arcades open now or in the near future, they must meet the set standards including flush toilets, ventilators and other facilities.

"We have seen premises with toilets that don't flush. Whoever uses them must scoop water from a container and pour it into the toilet. This is unacceptable in a modern city," he said.  

Kwebiiha faulted KCCA for allowing many arcades to operate without basics such as toilets, ventilators and other requirements, even before the outbreak of COVID-19.

 "We discovered that most arcades do not qualify to reopen because they lack most of the required facilities. Even those which have them, they are substandard," he said.

The team insisted that arcades must have one-way entry and exit routes.

Jeff Drani, one of the team leaders, asked owners to separate plastic dustbins from other bins, pin up stickers and signposts about social distancing in prominent positions and have isolation rooms for evacuation, just in case a client or tenant is found to have coronavirus symptoms.

Abdul Hadhi, the property manager for Royal Plaza and Market Plaza, said they had put in place all the SOPs, but others will be implemented when they are allowed to open. 

"We have prepared for social distancing, but we cannot demonstrate it, until we open," he said.

On the ground

 We discovered that most arcades do not qualify to reopen because they lack most of the required facilities, even those which have them, they are substandard," he said.

The team insisted that arcades must have one-way entry and exit routes.