Passengers supposedly quarantined inside Kirigime guest house in Kabale district in western Uganda are freely mingling with hawkers and are constantly going out to shop in total disregard of set guidelines of avoiding contact with the public.
The 94 were confined at Katuna border on March 22, while travelling in two Jaguar buses from Rwanda to Uganda. They were later isolated at Kirigime guest house where they are to be monitored by coronavirus surveillance teams in the area for at least 14 days.
The 94 were confined at Katuna border on March 22, while travelling in two Jaguar buses from Rwanda to Uganda. They were later isolated at Kirigime guest house where they are to be monitored by coronavirus surveillance teams in the area for at least 14 days.
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, government imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travellers entering the country. These are supposed to be kept away from the public as they are being monitored for any signs of the coronavirus that include dry cough, fever and shortness on breath until the end of their quarantine.
However, our reporter has learnt that some of the passengers sneak out of the guest house into Kabale town where they are seen shopping, using mobile money services and drinking alcohol.
One of the quarantined passengers who only identified himself as Hebert said that security officers guarding the guest house, secretly allow hawkers to gain access to the hotel and sell clothes to the quarantined passengers.
He adds that the passengers also share utensils during the time of meals and touch each other as opposed to the social distancing that was advised as a preventive measure against coronavirus. He adds that they are rarely visited by health workers.
"When it gets to meals, we're touching the same flasks to pour tea into our cups. We're using the same spoons to stir sugar. We're sitting around the same tables - like so close to each, having fun with each other. Some are actually buying alcohol. It is not anywhere close to a quarantine." he said.
However, our reporter has learnt that some of the passengers sneak out of the guest house into Kabale town where they are seen shopping, using mobile money services and drinking alcohol.
One of the quarantined passengers who only identified himself as Hebert said that security officers guarding the guest house, secretly allow hawkers to gain access to the hotel and sell clothes to the quarantined passengers.
He adds that the passengers also share utensils during the time of meals and touch each other as opposed to the social distancing that was advised as a preventive measure against coronavirus. He adds that they are rarely visited by health workers.
"When it gets to meals, we're touching the same flasks to pour tea into our cups. We're using the same spoons to stir sugar. We're sitting around the same tables - like so close to each, having fun with each other. Some are actually buying alcohol. It is not anywhere close to a quarantine." he said.
"My worry is that there is no medical doctor on the ground which I would presume that someone should be there monitoring. But we have people from the general public walking in to for example vend clothes..they are letting people selling clothes into an area that should be cut off from the general public," he added.
Kabale resident district commissioner Darius Nadinda says that he has received similar reports that hawkers gain access into the guest house and sell clothes to quarantined passengers.
Nandinda, however, says that he has already tasked the office of the Kabale district police commander and Kigezi regional police commander to investigate the matter so that the police officers involved in such anomalies, are arrested and charged accordingly.
Kabale resident district commissioner Darius Nadinda says that he has received similar reports that hawkers gain access into the guest house and sell clothes to quarantined passengers.
Nandinda, however, says that he has already tasked the office of the Kabale district police commander and Kigezi regional police commander to investigate the matter so that the police officers involved in such anomalies, are arrested and charged accordingly.
"This is not a joke if anyone has been joking, please please we must stop this. Kigirime guest house Mr DPC am told the hawkers entered and interacted with people under quarantine. This is very bad," said Nandinda.
Kabale DPC Brian Ampeire admits that a hawker entered into the hotel and sold clothes to the quarantined passengers. He however says that the hawker gained access in collaboration with the hotel management without first consulting security.
Ampeire says that he has registered cases where some of the quarantined passengers demand to get out of the hotel to seek for ARV drugs and hair shaving services. He, however, maintained that none of the passengers has ever moved out of the hotel because the main gates are always closed.
Acting Kabale district health officer Alfred Besigensi says that some of the utensils are shared by family members who stay in double rooms. He added that people have a right to talk to each other as long as they keep a required distance. He also says that none of the passengers at Kirigime guest house has shown any sign of the COVID-19.
Kabale DPC Brian Ampeire admits that a hawker entered into the hotel and sold clothes to the quarantined passengers. He however says that the hawker gained access in collaboration with the hotel management without first consulting security.
Ampeire says that he has registered cases where some of the quarantined passengers demand to get out of the hotel to seek for ARV drugs and hair shaving services. He, however, maintained that none of the passengers has ever moved out of the hotel because the main gates are always closed.
Acting Kabale district health officer Alfred Besigensi says that some of the utensils are shared by family members who stay in double rooms. He added that people have a right to talk to each other as long as they keep a required distance. He also says that none of the passengers at Kirigime guest house has shown any sign of the COVID-19.
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