Lt Col Henry Obbo, one of the Joint Task Force spokespersons, said they are monitoring all the markets in Kampala at the National Closed Circuit Television –CCTV Command Centre but most of them are not following the orders.
The security Joint Task Force –JTF has threatened to shut or take over management of five Kampala markets for not implementing President Museveni’s Covid19 guidelines on physical distancing.
Lt Col Henry Obbo, one of the Joint Task Force spokespersons, said they are monitoring all the markets in Kampala at the National Closed Circuit Television –CCTV Command Centre but most of them are not following the orders.
Apart from Nakasero Market, Obbo said no market in Kampala has bothered to create a four metres physical distance from one trader to another or from one buyer to another.
UPDF, Police said people in markets such as Kawempe, Kaleerwe, Usafi and others are always congested mostly in the morning hours.
The JTF said in the cited markets there is zero distancing something that poses a risk to all Ugandans since one infected person can infect dozens crowded in these markets. Obbo said leaders in the name markets have been warned and urged to act swiftly or else security agencies will make things work forcefully.
A visit to some of the named markets showed physical distance is still a challenge to both traders and buyers. At Kisenyi and Owino markets, traders were congested. Traders fought hard to grab buyers’ attention.
St Balikuddembe also known Owino Market Chairman, Godfrey Kayongo, admitted that physical distancing was still a challenge for traders and their customers. Kayongo said all traders were fighting to sell their products near the entrance thus causing crowding.
UPDF Land Forces mouthpiece, Lt Col Henry Obbo 
Owino Market Chairman Kayongo 
Food stuff dealers, buyers crowded at Owino
Mandatory Hand-washing in all Markets
Usafi Market, Musa Muleme, said they were focusing on washing hands a reason soap and water jerry cans have been put at the entrance of the market and taxi park even though the park is almost empty. Muleme added that they had not bothered much about social distancing because markets are nearly empty ever since the President banned public transport.
“We have a small number of people in this market. There is no business because the park is not operating. Food sellers also have very few customers. But we shall try to sensitize the few people in this market to practice physical distancing,” Muleme said.
The JTF has given two days’ ultimatum to market leaders to ensure things work out before the security agencies make a final decision to either shut the markets or force the guidelines to be followed.
Uganda has so far registered 44 Covid19 cases while global infections stand at 938000, death stand at 48,000 and recovered stand at 194000. In Africa South Africa takes lead in positive cases followed by Egypt.
Even though physical distancing remains a challenge in markets, leaders have put water and soap at all entrances for traders and buyers to wash their hands before gaining access.
They have also deployed some youth who monitor whoever is entering to ensure he or she washes hands first.
Kato Joseph
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