A joint security team arrested at least 37 bar owners and managers in Kampala over defying President Museveni's directive on the closure of bars in a bid to fight coronavirus pandemic.
Uganda has so far confirmed one case of coronavirus disease abbreviated as Covid-19. Over 311,994 coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide with more than 13,071 deaths as at March 22.
Assistant superintendent of police Ivan Nduhura, also commander operations at Kampala central police station said the 37 bar owners and managers were arrested on Saturday and detained at CPS, Katwe and Kabalagala. He declined to divulge into details of the offences the suspects had committed.
In his Wednesday 14 directive on fighting and preventing the spread of coronavirus, Museveni said one of the frontlines of fighting the virus is stopping merry-making in discos, clubs, bars, sports events music shows, cinemas and concerts.
"These are very dangerous gathering points with the virus around. Drunkards sit close to one another. They speak with saliva coming out of their mouth. They are a danger to themselves. All these are suspended for a month," Museveni said.
A day after Museveni's guidelines, inspector general of police Martins Okoth Ochola summoned a special police policy advisory committee meeting attended by directors and commanders where they deliberated about implementing the orders.
The police meeting chaired by Ochola formed a task team headed by the chief of joint staff Brig Jack Bakashumba, to liaise with the ministry of Health and uphold the standard operating procedures on establishments like; factories, hotels and large plantations.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga issued a statement explaining that PAC had resolved to ensure fishermen at landing sites, cattle keepers, and operators of public transport such as buses, taxis and boda bodas, hotels and restaurants strictly observe the new protocols by the ministry of Health.
Kampala Metropolitan Police working alongside Kampala Capital City Authority launched an operation against all bars that now regarded as illegally operating where people were chased out in some cases using sticks and batons.
In Hoima in western Uganda, 45 people were also arrested for defying the same directives. The suspects including bar operators, attendants and town dwellers were arrested during a joint operation conducted by police, Uganda People's Defense Forces soldiers and other security agencies.
The operation was carried out on Saturday night in the four divisions of Hoima Municipality including Mparo, Bujumbura, Busiisi and Kahoora.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says that the suspects were found operating bars while others were found drinking alcohol. During the operation, over 20 bars were closed.
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