23 men who were picked up by the Security Inter-Agency Joint Task Force are being questioned over congesting in a school-like-dormitory setting within a small house despite the directive and guidelines of observing social distance as one of the measures of curbing the spread of COVID-19 in Uganda.
The suspects were picked from Nkokonjeru, Nsangi, in Wakiso District. They are currently detained at Nsangi Police Post.
According to a statement released by Patrick Onyango the KMP Spokesperson and his military counterpart Lt Col Henry Obbo Public Information Officer, Land Forces, the assembly of twenty-three adult males with no known kinship linkages and their unusual home environment indicate that they could have been engaging in some criminal activities, a matter that Police is investigating.
They will appear in court tomorrow Tuesday 31 March 2020 on charges of: Doing neglect act likely to spread infection of disease contrary to Section 171 of Penal Code Act, Disobedience of lawful order, And, any other charges that may arise from investigations by the close of today’s business.
“The Security Joint Task Force hereby re-echoes the directive of observing social distance and hence passes an early warning to all individuals and companies accommodating in school-like-dormitories and any type of dormitories to immediately disperse to avoid arrest and being charged” the statement indicates.
They further reminded the management of factories to ensure the work environment in their institutions are in conformity with the safety directives issued by the President and the guidelines by the Ministry of Health. Food Market leaders are also beseeched to ensure the traders and their customers observe the safety guidelines against the spread of COVID – 19.
“We reiterate our gratitude to the concerned members of the public who have always reached us to report cases of non-compliance by some individuals on the observance of the measures the nation has embraced to defeat COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The public can contact the Security Joint Task Force on Telephone numbers: 0800300100, 0800300102, 0753997665, 0714012734” the duo noted.
