Traders in Mbale City Vow to Start Work Amidist New Lock Down



By: Egonda Emmanuel Anelka
A section of traders especially those with shops that were closed over the COVID-19 outbreak want government to relax some of the guidelines saying many Ugandans have no food to eat.

Yesterday while addressing the country, President Yoweri Museveni announced a 21 day extension to the guidelines which include a night curfew, suspension of public transport like buses, taxis and special hire vehicles. Commercial motorcycle riders (Boda Boda) are also required to stop their work at 2pm.
Shops that deal in non food items and garages were also closed. Now this morning some mechanics at Mbale Garage were seen repairing vehicles but later dispersed by Police.

Several shop keepers also went to town and were seen in groups threatening to pour their families on the street protesting the 21 day extension. A trader only identified as Mariam says government should allow the Boda Boda riders to carry only one passenger. She also says the closure of shops dealing in non food items requires government to provide food relief persons affected country wide since many people are starving.

Geoffrey Nambafu an aspirant for the Mbale Municipality Parliamentary seat says government should start thinking about people whose work was suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Nambafu says District Task Forces that are receiving relief should devise a way of supporting people with food.

Lieutenant Jude Wandera the Uganda People’s Defense Forces Spokesman for Elgon and Bukedi regions has advised the traders not to think of going on the streets but rather channel their grievances to the District COVID-19 Task Force.
Location: Mbale, Uganda

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