Uganda : Transport pass or epic fail

Kampala a ghost city during lockdown

By Kawe Komugisha

Kampala, Uganda (RTN)- For almost two months, Ugandans have felt like prisoners in their own homes. Unable to move due to the presidential directives to suspend public transport as well as movement of private cars.

Many Ugandans have found this challenging especially due to the need for basic necessities. Many of them have been forced to trek quite the distance to the nearest trading centres and supermarkets which may not necessarily be so near, depending on where one lives. Another concern that has been expressed is in the healthcare sector, with sick people especially the terminally ill finding a challenge to ferry themselves to healthcare centres.

The government has done its best to rectify the situation by providing cars for this purpose. And now, after a long wait, private cars are permitted to move with not more than three passengers, driver inclusive. This was music to the ears of many Ugandans, who can now move freely.

The challenge now is the issue of the 7pm curfew that is part of the part of the presidential directives. The heavy traffic has seen numerous people fail to beat the curfew time.

This can be attributed to the fact that since only three people are allowed to be present in a car at a time, this means that there are more cars on the road than usual. Many drivers are appealing to the government to revise this curfew time as many of them spent the night in police custody due to their failure to beat the curfew time.

Needless to say, this is really a suggestion that should be explored, especially with the reopening of schools and universities just around the corner. Public transport is expected to open on 2^nd June but at half capacity and hopefully this will bring back some form of normalcy or at least help Ugandans to adjust to the new normal.

Ugandans will be expected to wear face masks in public places as well as in public transport vehicles. The government is expected to start distribution of masks on 2^nd June, but many Ugandans are still in doubt, only time will tell whether everything will go according to plan or we will hear the infamous 14 or 21 days again.