According to Covid19 preventive guidelines announced by President, Yoweri Museveni the truck drivers are expected to stay within their trucks and drive directly to their final destination for fear of spreading infection.
Residents of Bweyogerere
in Kira Municipality in Wakiso district have raised fears of contracting Corona
virus from cargo truck drivers who leave Namboole Stadium to buy drinks and
food in the neighborhood. Namboole stadium is one of the designated parking
areas for transit cargo trucks.
The Works and Transport
Ministry designated several parking areas for truckers as part of the measures
to minimise their interaction with the community. According to Covid19
preventive guidelines announced by President, Yoweri Museveni the truck drivers
are expected to stay within their trucks and drive directly to their final
destination for fear of spreading infection.
However, a number of
residents neighboring the stadium, the truck drivers have kept moving in and
out of the facility and mix with residents. According to the residents, some of
the truckers who don’t even wear protective gears like face masks move to the
near-by Jokers markets in search of food stuffs, drinks and commercial sex
workers.
Zaina Nakabuye, who
operates a restaurant at Jokas market appeals to government to deploy security
to restrain the truck drivers and limit their interaction with the local
community.
//Cue in: "Bafuluma
wabweru …
Cue out…security,”//
Barbra Nangooma,
another resident want the truck drivers to be relocated to other designated
areas, saying they expose residents to Covid19 infection.
//Cue in; " babatujilewo…
Cue out…tuliberalikivu.”//
Ronald Mwanje, the Bweyogerere
A LC I Chairperson told URN that they tried to reach out to the District Police
Commander in vain to request for more security deployment at Namboole stadium
following numerous complaints from residents against the truck drivers.
“We have called the DPC
but even his calls are not going through. These truck drivers close the road in
search of alcohol and cigarette. They are going to cause trouble for us,” Mwanje
said.
Julius Mutebe, the
Mayor Kira Municipality has also confirmed receiving complaints about truck
drivers moving freely without any restrictions, saying he has already notified
the Kira municipality Covid19 Task force.
//Cue in; "Tugenda
tula nga task force…
Cue out…complaints.”//
About 40 truck drivers
including Kenyans, Tanzanians, Burundians and Ugandans among others have since
tested positive for Covid-19. Uganda has since registered 114 Covid19 cases.
Mugisha James
Freelancer