MPs want 'irrelevant' COVID-19 curfew scrapped
- Written by URN
A police roadblock
Members of parliament want the 9pm-4.30am curfew lifted, saying it is no longer relevant since the COVID-19 vaccination has commenced, and that Uganda has also made great strides in combatting the spread of the virus.
The matter of national importance was raised during plenary by Gilbert Olanya the Kilak South MP who says that the curfew is being used to violate rights of Ugandans, curtail mothers and women who are coming from the market and extort money from Ugandans.
According to Olanya, the curfew needs to be lifted since it is being misused by the security officers to extort money from businesses and locals.
"Roadblocks are being mounted everywhere, after 9 pm anyone stopped at the roadblock, that person must part with money…The curfew time is doing more harm to Ugandans than good. My prayer is that government should stop the police officers from extorting money from the community. Secondly, government should really disband the so-called curfew. Rt. Hon. speaker you are aware that big markets are open, workshops are going on in fact people are going on with their normal life. Why is this curfew time still being implemented," Olanya said.
Herbert Kinobere the Kibuku County MP says for violating the curfew, Ugandans are being tied with their hands at the back with ropes, bringing back memories of slave trade. He says the arrested persons are only released after paying money to the security officers.
"You find them squatting and waiting for what? The issue is they don’t take the people arrested to the police station. You call your relative, they come with money [and] you’re released. Their bonds are always at night. The minister should come out and clarify whether we have the curfew and the police officers manning the curfew," said Kinobere.
Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa says that last week on Wednesday she presented a petition from the private sector on the curfew, and cabinet tasked the national task force on COVID-19 to review the standard operating procedure on COVID-19 including the curfew.
"The manner in which the curfew is being managed. This was after the presentation from the ministry of Health on the progress of COVID-19, and madam speaker cabinet decided that the national Taskforce of COVID-19 sits and reviews all those standard operating procedures to make sure that some of them are withdrawn because we’re progressing very well," Nankabirwa said.
The speaker Rebecca Kadaga questioned the relevance of curfew at this time, saying this matter should be handled quickly. She says it is really disturbing that even when one goes upcountry they have to spend the night there since they can't return at night.
She says that there is no need to contain people's movement anymore as it touches on the human rights of Ugandans. She tasked government to come with an answer next Tuesday.
"Hon minister this is a matter that is really urgent, we don’t think we need to meet for very long over the matter. It is a clear matter. What is the use of the curfew now? There’s isn’t. There is no need to confine people anymore. So update us before the end of next week," Kadaga said.
Cyrus Aogon the Kumi Municipality MP says that it is time to remove the curfew and allow Ugandans to recover from the economic hardships brought about by the lockdown.
Comments
nstead these MPs must control their "runaway police behaviour". How many people direct the police in this country, anyway? More than five if you ask me; this gives them mixed messages.
Corona is progressing in many countries around the world and it's a long way to getting rid of it
Scientists claim that only by mid 2022 the world will return to normality
Then ,as they predict, mankind will unleash irrational behaviour and celebrate just won freedom Until that time it is premature to abolish contingency measures Again in Europe, for instance, people didnot follow health emergency measures by going to skiing like they used before and ignored restrictions and caused huge rise of infections.
Birthday parties,sport events, musical festivals are huge source of infections
Therefore health measures introduced by our Ministry of Health should remain in force until end of this year and even longer depending on herd immunity achieved.
The whole generation is getting spoiled, All children are now street children save for the few from rich families. There is NO reason whatsoever that stops children from resuming classes.
All children must have gone back to school long ago like in our neighboring countries . Many things are going wrong right now in this country by simply our constitution failing to plan for the transition. What are MPs who lost doing in Parliament for Heaven's sake?.
They are just antagonizing our future because they now the future belongs to others who have already warmed to take their seats.
Now that Police is stopping them from going to Bars is when they wake up forgetting that removing this Curfew was long overdue since its more dangerous to Business and our economy that has been affected by COVID-19 .
The focus of Govt is now on how they can manipulate Ugandans and swear in a president who was rejected by the people.
Thanks!
Can you imagine if tribal leaders stand down or forced to & Ugandans UNITE to say NO to Museveni NOW?
Presidential/parliamentary elections will never change anything in Museveni's Uganda!
One understands that this curfew is one of the many controls being used indirectly in Buganda without using it elsewhere in Uganda. In other words, one does not break the law and pays a handsome fine in Acholiland, if one walks during the night from 9.00pm to 6.00am!
It is now common sight that a boda boda motorcyclist carries three passengers all without masks during day and no one arrests them !!!
Just thanking you for this very useful contribution. Corona is actually getting stronger.
Italy has tightened SOPs including curfew and a ban on travel across provinces.