31 people have been picked up by Police in Kitgum district after they were found partying and drinking alcohol in a pub.
According to Kitgum Resident District Commissioner William Komakech, the suspects who include nine women and 22 men were picked from Corner Pub in Central division, Kitgum Municipality on Thursday night.
He says that the arrest followed an operation conducted by security personnel after a tip off.
Komakech added that three government motorcycles were also recovered packed at the pub's entrance.
The suspects are wanted for violating the presidential directives on social gathering in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
They will be tasked to pay a fine of Shillings 200,000 each for breaking the guidelines and authorities are considering revoking the trading license of the pub owner for breaking the directive requiring bars and pubs to remain closed.
"This time around they must pay a fine of Shillings 200,000 each. The licence of the bar owner will be revoked and his operation ceased," Komakech said on Friday.
The suspects are currently being held at Kitgum Central Police station.
In a District COVID-19 task Force meeting earlier today, Komakech noted that enforcement of COVID-19 guidelines by the police had become challenging because the patrol pick-up had broken down.
The RDC further revealed that his request to the district Chief Administrative officer, Martin Jacan Gwokto to support the police with a vehicle didn't yield fruits, following breakdown of police patrol pick-up two weeks ago.
Kitgum District Health Officer, Dr. Henry Okello Otto says that they have so far registered 20 cases of COVID-19 in just one week, a trend he described as worrying.
