The owners of bars and entertainment places in Uganda have asked government to allow them to open with strict adherence to the Covid 19 SOPs as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
At a press conference held at Atmosphere Lounge in Kololo this morning, the association Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr. Patrick Musinguzi said that the bars have the capacity to implement the required SOPs and protect its employees and customers from the COVID-19 epidemic and can therefore, be open with strict preconditions.
“We are aware that COVID 19 is serious and applaud President Yoweri Museveni and the government for the measures put in place to protect the lives of Ugandans. We realize that this epidemic is not ending soon. Our members wish to make a plea to government that we will do everything they require of us to keep customers safe when we are opened,” Mr. Musinguzi said.
George Waiswa the association Secretary General said bars and restaurants remain one of the biggest employers of youths in this country with over 2 million people employed as cleaners, bouncers, service people, chefs, accountants, store people, security and over 2.5 million people in the supply chain.
Bars are a key player in the hospitality industry which sustains over 6.3 million people in form of ripple effect to manufacturers, grain farmers, contracted distributors and stockiest plus all their beneficiaries.
“All these people are now suffering. Their families are suffering because they are out of work. Most don’t have any other skill. It’s a risk for our young generation who constitute the biggest percentage of our employees. This is especially a challenge for some of the females who are single parents” He added.