With Covid-19 cases declining, President Yoweri Museveni yesterday evening addressed the country where he eased restriction on various sectors while others remained closed.
The notable sector that remained closed is the Education sector. Museveni revealed that primary and secondary schools shall open in January 2022 upon satisfactory vaccination targets of close to 5million people in eligible groups.
However, higher institutions will reopen next month.
“Post-secondary institutions of learning to open with effect from 1st November on condition that all teachers, staff, and students are vaccinated. The rest of the learning institutions will open in January 2022,” said President Museveni.
Museveni broke the hearts of revelers once against declining to open concerts, disco halls, performing artists and beaches, Bars, Cinemas, and bibanda (local Cinema halls). He sustained that they will remain closed until at least the 4.8 million priority population is vaccinated.
“Bars and discos are high-risk areas where individuals have no sobriety to observe SOPs. We can review after vaccination of 4.8m people – most likely by December 2021,” said Museveni.
On a good note, he reopened Places of worship as long as they follow strict adherence to can SOPs guidelines like; limiting the number to 200 people.
He also allowed weekly and monthly markets can now open with strict adherence to SOPs. Curfew time remains between 7pm and 5am. Boda Boda must stop operating at 6pm.
Casino and gaming center businesses were also allowed to resume operation up to 6 pm.
On vaccines, Museveni revealed Uganda expects 12 million doses of vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac) between now and December. So far, only 1.78 million people have been vaccinated although the majority of them still await the second jab.
He directed district officials and authorities to mobilize eligible groups for vaccination.
“I direct with immediate effect, all RDCs, CAOs, DHOs to carry out intensive mobilization for all eligible groups to go for vaccination, they should ensure that no vaccines expire. If any vaccine expires in your area, I will deal with you,” he said.