The Joint Security Task Force arrested a number of Ugandans who were found hiding in bars drinking, during last week. These were in the areas of Nansana, Mpigi, Mbale, Bushenyi and Amuru among other areas.
Fred Enanga the police spokesperson told the media in Kampala on Monday morning, that those arrested were flouting the presidential guidelines on COVID-19.
Some of those arrested were found walking or riding bikes past the curfew time. We had some people who were walking business as usual after 7pm” Enanga says.
In Nansana, 186 people were arrested for loitering, others were in shops and bars while 2 motorcycles were impounded. In Mbale, 11 suspects were arrested for violating the curfew and one motorcycle was impounded, in Mitooma district in the trading centers of Nyarubare, Karangara 5 people were arrested for violating the curfew, in Bushenyi 14 suspects were arrested after they were found drinking in bars. Police also arrested 7 suspects in Mpigi and these were found operating bars.
Enanga has also warned celebrities who are allegedly hosting house parties that they will be arrested.
In Kampala Metropolitan area, police arrested 464 for flouting the guidelines. These were arrested during an operation mounted by police on Thursday. The suspects were moving past curfew time, while others were using forged stickers.
On Friday, 690 people were also arrested in Kampala Metropolitan alone. This brings the number to 1,154 in just two days. “We are not going to allow this behavior to continue. Out of those ones, we have given Kampala Metropolitan police a task to thoroughly screen and find out those who are habitual criminals, those repeatedly violating guidelines, those who are notorious found with drugs, sharp objects and weapons are screened out and taken to Court” Enanga said.
He however says that compared to the other week, there was a general reduction in the number of cases of violation, explaining that a total of 24 incidents were reported throughout the country, compared to 43 in the previous week.