Museveni asks Covid taskforce to look into phased reopening of schools
President Museveni has instructed the national taskforce on Coronavirus to review the possibility of phased reopening of schools starting with candidate classes and clinical medical students, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Judith Nabakooba has said.
“The taskforce has also been tasked to review the status of other remaining sectors such as churches, weekly markets, the tourism sector and Entebbe international airport. The review will also include the status of the entertainment industry such as bars, cinemas, nightclubs, and sports events,”Nabakooba said in a statement.
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She said that thereafter, the team will provide a report to the President next week before he addresses the country on the next step.
On Saturday, Museveni hinted at reopening school, places of worship and bars during the national prayer day held at State House in Entebbe.
“The problem is just discipline. Recently we had youth elections and eight million Ugandans took part but it was done properly,”Museveni said.
He noted that having seen the youth elections where over eight million people participated and there was no case of spread of the virus, discipline is key in fighting the virus.
The President said he was happy with religious leaders for becoming custodians of their own health by sensitizing other people in their communities against the spread of the virus.
“That is how it should be. We(national task force) shall meet on Tuesday and shall look at all those issues. We shall look at the schools, churches and the bars and see what to do,” he said.
According to the President, the Tuesday meeting will decide whether the schools, bars and churches can be reopened now.
Schools, churches, mosques and entertainment places were closed in March, as one of the ways to control the spread of Coronavirus by avoiding large crowds.
Following the closure of educational institutions, many teachers, especially those in private institutions have resorted to doing odd jobs, including bricklaying and vending of items like clothes to earn a living.
