Members of the business community and travellers are finding difficulty in wearing face masks or installing water strands at shops, markets and supermarkets across the districts of Mbarara, Ntungamo, Bushenyi and Rwampara. vehicles are also carrying more than the acceptable number of passengers, in disregard of both load and curfew guidelines.
Chairpersons of District COVID-19
task forces in Ankole region have acknowledged difficulties in enforcing many
of the standard Operating Procedures by the Ministry of Health.
Members of the business community
and travellers are finding difficulty in wearing face masks or installing water strands
at shops, markets and supermarkets across the districts of Mbarara, Ntungamo,
Bushenyi and Rwampara. Vehicles are also
carrying more than the acceptable number of passengers, in disregard of both
load and curfew guidelines.
According to the guidelines, motor
vehicles are only allowed to carry half of their usual load, as they enforce social
distancing and avoid person to person contact. But according to Rwampara Resident
District Commissioner Remmy Turyabagyenyi Kateera the task force is over
stretched due to limited enforcement personnel.
As a result, Kateera says, they
have opted to look on even as people break the Standard Operating Procedures.
//Cue in; “we still have…
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He attributes this to the fact
that nobody has succumbed to Coronavirus but hastily says they have started
working on the mindset of the people towards Covid-19.
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In Mbarara, James Mwesigye, the
chairperson of the task force said that many people cannot afford the cost of
masks and many of the people breaking the guidelines are pushed to the edge by
financial struggles and hardships.
//Cue in; “like now what…
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Ntungamo District COVID-19 task
force chairperson George Bakunda says they are failing to implement the
guidelines mostly with Bodaboda riders, and at burial ceremonies were people
are gathering in numbers.
//Cue in; “in Ntungamo
unfortunately…
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Lee Kakonge, a resident of Ishaka
says people are no longer thinking about the restrictions in the absence of
food to feed their families. Many cannot buy face masks while those operating
bars have opted to disregard the presidential directives so that they can earn
a living and sustain their livelihood.
//Cue in; “people no longer…
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Serdius Oukunda Salongo, the Chairperson
of Bodaboda operators in Mbarara Municipality says that they were carrying passengers
long before the president allowed them to resume operations because they are
left with no option.
//Cue in; “oba nitukyeta
kyabutagane…
Cue out…naza kuronda
akahunga.”//
Mbarara District Health officer Dr
Peter Sebutinde said that unlike the beginning when everyone was cautious, many
of the people in the region have moved on and forgotten washing hands and the
other guidelines.
