KAMPALA —Deputy Resident City Commissioner Kampala Nakawa, Herbert Anderson Burora has directed Forest Mall and Shoprite Lugogo to shut operations with immediate effect over alleged violation of Coronavirus containment protocols announced by the President.
In a later dated Tuesday July 13, Mr. Burora indicated that effective Wednesday July 14, both Shoprite and Forest Mall will be closed until further notice.
“Following my conversation with you on July 06, 2021, on phone over security concerns following the 18/ 06/ 2021 presidential directives, where the President guided the country and issued express directives and guidelines for the 42 days lockdown, it is unfortunate that they were not followed by management of the premises,” Mr. Burora wrote while applying deterrent measures against both shopping facilities for breaching the set protocols.
Burora indicated that the shopping facilities will not reopen until clients especially financial institutions on the have provided transport to their workers and that they have installed all SOPs as guided by health standards
He said private cars are barred from both facilities apart from those identify with essential services within the premises.
“All restaurants shall prove social distancing measures as apposed to the existing arrangement,” he further directed.
He also said Pharmacies on the both facilities will be open upon workers identifying themselves.
Uganda imposed more stringent measures to control COVID-19 transmission after it recorded over 1500 new cases per day – its highest tally ever, mostly among people aged between 20 and 39 years.
President Yoweri Museveni instituted a 42-day lockdown during which time all schools and institutions of higher learning have remained closed.
Museveni warned the public to either comply or face a total lockdown and fines: “Failure to observe the stated directives, I will direct a total lockdown. Those who do not care for the health of Ugandans will pay financially.”
Museveni said the government is committed to vaccinating all the 21.9 million eligible Ugandans, starting with the priority groups of 4.8 million people.
The country is also trying to avoid wastage of COVID-19 vaccines by reassigning vaccines from low to high absorption areas.
Districts that have a below 50 percent uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Uganda will have them withdrawn and redeployed elsewhere unless they act immediately, the Ministry of Health said.
Over 60% of cases have come from Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Gulu, Masaka and Oyam districts.
