Ugandan authorities urge compliance as #EndLockdownNow trends
Ugandan police have urged citizens to continue adhering to lockdown restrictions ahead of the presidential address on Friday night as #EndLockdownNow trends on social media
CAPE TOWN, July 30 (ANA) – Ugandan police have urged citizens to continue adhering to lockdown restrictions ahead of the presidential address on Friday night as #EndLockdownNow trends on social media.
The Uganda Police Force (UPF) on Friday urged the public to practise caution and to ignore the call by “selected politicians” who have encouraged citizens to resume business and other activities in defiance of lockdown regulations.
“The lifting of the lockdown restrictions without a proper plan means throwing away all protection, which is very dangerous and risky for the health and safety of Ugandans and visitors in the country,” the UPF said.
The UPF asked Ugandans to wait for the address by President Yoweri Museveni on Friday night as the 42-day lockdown draws to an end.
Museveni’s address will be aired on all television and radio stations at 8pm Uganda time, according to a social media post by the president.
Earlier this week, local news publication Daily Monitor reported that motorcycle drivers have warned Museveni that should the lockdown continue, the public will march on State House.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) statistics illustrate a downward pattern since the 42-day lockdown began on June 18.
NTV Uganda reported on Friday that “Uganda Medical Association has recommended that lockdown be lifted carefully, with investment in the health sectors prioritised”.
#EndLockdownNow was trending on Twitter in Uganda on Friday.
“A small group of Ugandans benefit from the lockdowns and the majority are starving to death,” said one Twitter user.
“The livelihood of people has been greatly affected. #EndLockdownNow,” wrote another.
Seventy-three percent of people voted in favour of relaxing the lockdown in Daily Monitor’s social media poll at the time of writing.
As of July 27, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has reported a cumulative total of more than 93,000 Covid-19 confirmed cases, with 2,632 associated deaths and over a million doses of vaccines being administered.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher
