Gen Katumba Wamala: We may halt public transport again

The minister of Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala has said government may consider halting public transport due to failure by some taxi operators and passengers to follow Covid-19 preventive measures.

In a tweet, Wamala wrote: "With the increasing cases of community transmission, we may be forced to halt public transport."

When public transport was reopened over a month ago, operators were told to carry half capacity, to have sanitisers and to ensure that passengers wear mask.

Yet there appears to be a laxity in following these guidelines.

Fellow Ugandans, it has come to my attention that some taxi operators and motorists are not obeying the #COVID19 guidelines in place. With the increasing cases of community transmission, we may be forced to halt public transport.#StaySafeUGGod bless you!

— General Edward Katumba Wamala (@GenWamala) August 17, 2020

Over the last couple of weeks there has been a surge in a number of Covid-19 infections in Kampala and the metropolitan area. Currently Uganda has reported a total of 1500 Covid-19 infections and 13 deaths.

However, eight of the 13 deaths reported so far are from the city and surrounding areas.