Uganda Under Lockdown, Museveni Bans All Private Cars

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially placed Uganda under a 14-day lockdown by banning all movement by private cars.

The move by strongman Museveni to ban private cars comes a few days after the grounding of all public transport across the country to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

According to Museveni, allowing private cars to operate has made some owners turn their cars into taxis hence increasing the chances of spreading the deadly Coronavirus.

Museveni did not give notice for the lockdown saying doing so would have given people in cities time to run into the villages hence endangering more people.

“After much consideration, we have decided to prohibit all people-to-people movement including those using private means. This is because some car owners have turned their cars into taxis,” he said through his Twitter handle.

Uganda has also banned gatherings of more than five people with those found breaking that rule arrested and “quarantined in cells” for 14 days.

“Gatherings of more than five people are hereby prohibited. We have introduced a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am and we expect all of you to stay indoors except for cargo transporters,” said Museveni.

Boda Boda operators in Uganda will be allowed to operate to facilitate the movement of people but under strict rules and regulations. Military vehicles will also be dispatched to help in an emergency such as providing ambulance services.

Uganda now has 33 confirmed cases of Coronavirus as the government says efforts are underway to test more people as well completely limiting the movement of people to avoid the spread.

Globally, the number of confirmed cases stands at 785,807 (Tuesday) with experts warning of it hitting a million within the week. The number of deaths as a result of Coronavirus is 37,820 while a total of 165,659 individuals have recovered.

Closer home, Kenya has 50 confirmed cases with a curfew of 7 pm to 5 am but still allows free movement of people.

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