Traders in Kampala under their umbrella body Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) say it’s not necessary to impose a second lock down as a measure against rising COVID-19 cases.
Speculation has been rife in recent days of a lock down following a spike in COVID19 cases especially in Kampala City. Uganda has so far registered a total of 2,263 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to address the nation on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country this week.
Addressing the media today, KACITA Secretary General Thadious Musoke said a lock down is not the best option, given that many other hard hit countries like the US, Europe have managed to live with the virus and most African countries are also coping with it.
He therefore reasons that Uganda should also not resort to another lockdown as it comes with different social economic problems.
Musoke proposes that government punishes those who have failed to comply with the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
“Non-compliant entities and the public can be held accountable by enforcement agencies like police, the Army, and KCCA other than letting traders suffer again” Said Musoke.
He argued that during the previous lock down time, government failed to intervene in traders’ issues like loans and rent among others.
Musoke calls upon people to be vigilant because Covid-19 is real.