President Yoweri Museveni has directed that all schools and institutions of learning will resume operations starting from January 10.
“The pre-primary, primary and secondary schools to be opened to learners starting on January, 10. Sports events and cinema halls will also be allowed to open but with SOPs,” Museveni made the remarks during a televised address to the Nation to mark the end of the year 2021.
He said much as he had promised full reopening of the economy in January, he said experts saw it wise to continue doing it in a phased manner.
The president said the earlier guidelines taken were vital for all stakeholders including government to get a clear picture of the new virus.
“The tough measures we took were in order to buy time to find better solution. We didn’t take measures to stay like that. It was a surprise attack by the enemy and had to lie low, buy time and see how to fight better. The initial way was to scatter people so they are not concentrated. We think now we have got some solution like vaccinating of 22million above 18 years of age,” Museveni said.
As a result, he said all other sectors of the economy that are still facing restrictions will be freed but in a staggered manner. In particular, he said the transport sector which has been operating at half capacity will be allowed to operate at full capacity on condition both the travelers and the operators are fully vaccinated, except those below 18 years of age.
“Also they should obey necessary SOPs like wearing of masks and washing of hands,” Museveni said adding that the respective ministries of health, education and transport will work out on how best to enforce these guidelines.
On other sectors including the bars and concerts, he said these will be allowed to operate two weeks after the opening of schools. On the curfew, he said this will also be lifted two weeks after schools have resumed but warned the boda bodas will continue stopping at 7pm.
“Curfew will be lifted for everybody when the performing arts resume (2 weeks after schools open), apart from boda-bodas. Bodas will have curfew from 7pm to 5am,” he added.
The president however, raised that all these measures can be revised once government notices a rapid surge in Covid19 infections.
Meanwhile, this comes at a time when the health ministry Friday announced 1,658 new cases from tests done on 29 December 2021 pushing the cumulative confirmed cases to 140,737.
The Ministry also confirmed three new deaths from the virus pushing the death toll in Uganda to 3,294 cases.