By Naboth Isaac Niwagaba.
apearlnews.com
The new Kabale Resident District Commissioner Godfrey Nyakahuma has expressed shock over the laxity in implementation of the Presidential directives on COVID 19 prevention in the area after finding out that Bars and Weekly Markets are operating normally.
President Yoweri Museveni on 30th July 2021, declared partial lifting of the COVID-19 lock down during a televised address in which he left the weekly markets and bars closed. However, according to Nyakahuma, in Kabale, some weekly markets had resumed operation and bars were open 24 hours which consequently contributed to the current COVID-19 prevalence rate in Kabale District which is 2nd highest in the country.
According to reports, at 20%, Kabale District Hospital Admissions for COVID-19 are only second to Mbale District and also higher than 8% National prevalence rate that was announced by President Museveni during his last televised address on the pandemic.
Former Bugiri RDC Nyakahuma who recently replaced Darius Nandinda in Kabale, noted that there was gross violation of COVID-19 guidelines in the District where burial and wedding ceremonies were also attracting guests in hundreds and thousands.
He said, the laxity must have contributed to the increase in the spread of COVID-19 in Kabale before he vowed to ensure that the situation returns to normal.
In the COVID-19 Task Force Meeting held at Kabale District Meeting Hall today, a resolution was passed to ban all none food markets operating in the District and ensure that all bars are closed. According to Nyakahuma, burial ceremonies will be strictly limited to 20 people and the proceedings must not go beyond 11:00 am.
Some of the markets he declared closed included Kabanyonyi in Buhara Sub-county which attracts Traders from neighboring districts as well as Rwanda in the North of Kabale District. Others are Habubare and Bigaaga Markets in Rubaya Sub-county, Maziba market in Maziba Sub-county,
Harutinda market in Kitumba and Mayengo market in Kamuganguzi Sub county.
Nyakahuma said they had resolved to call a meeting of Sub County Chiefs and Officers in Charge of Sub County Police posts to agree on enforcement procedures.
The Kabale District Health Officer Alfred Besigensi said the RDC was right to feel shocked because the COVID-19 prevalence rate in Kabale was alarming. Besigensi admitted that Kabale’s 20 % rate of COVID-19 infection was questionable compared to 1% of Bugiri District where Nyakahuma was coming from.
According to Besigensi, Kabale Regional Referral Hospital is currently admitting 4 people out of 15 who test positive on a daily basis. In total, Kabale District has 164 active cases where 51 are admitted in hospitals and 103 under Home Based Care.
Cumulatively, Kabale District has registered 2,410 COVID cases and 98 deaths due to COVID-19.
