The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda People’s Congress-UPC has called upon the government to consider extending the start of curfew hours from 7pm to 10pm purposely to allow evening classes resume with no interruptions.
Muzeyi Faizo, Head of Media and Communications at UPC, reasons that most of higher learning institutions’ students are privately sponsored, they utilize morning hours to work, that is why there is need to revisit the curfew hours to enable them look for resources to finance their education, balance work and studies as well as decongesting classes.
Faizo who was addressing the weekly party presser on Wednesday midmorning at their headquarters at Uganda House, hinged his call on President Museveni’s directive that gave a green light for institutions of higher learning to resume studies on November 1, 2021, but stayed the start of curfew hours at 7pm.
However in an interview, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson told URN that there are other modalities of not allowing students study beyond curfew like having online studies go on.
Ainebyoona acknowledged the importance of curfew in limiting uncontrolled gatherings and movements at night, but they hope to have vaccinated students and their lecturers by the time institutions reopen.
He adds that it is too early to call for lifting of curfew hours, and that the guidance to do so will be offered when the institutions finally reopen.
Luke Owosigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson said that every person would love the country to go back as it was before COVID-19 restrictions, but as police, they simply comply with the guidelines as issued by the president.
In an interview with URN, Owoyesigyire explained that if curfew is lifted, they will man the situation as it was before, and so currently are enforcing the existing guidelines.
Muzeeyi Faizo further reasons that limiting the worship places and public gatherings to 200 persons may again jeopardize the successes achieved in the fight against the spread of corona virus.
UPC thinks that public gatherings should not be limited to 200 persons, but based on the size of the venue of such meetings or prayers as there are some places that cannot even accommodate the approved number.
It should be recalled that last week on Wednesday, while addressing the nation on COVID-19 and related restrictions, President Museveni allowed places of worship to reopen with not beyond 200 people in attendance, among other guidelines.
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