By Ben Musanje
Uganda Police have clarified the categories of people who will be exempted from the movement restrictions during the second National Cleaning Day scheduled for Saturday, August 29, warning the public against unnecessary confrontations with security personnel enforcing the exercise.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said traffic movement will be restricted countrywide between 7am and 10am on Saturday to allow communities to participate in the cleaning exercise.
During the three-hour period, vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and vessels will not be allowed to move on roads or water bodies, except in emergency situations and for specifically exempted categories.
“We encourage members of the public to remain within their localities, to participate in the exercise, and then resume normal activities after 10am,” Rusoke said.
He explained that patients travelling to hospitals for medical attention will be allowed to move, provided they can reasonably explain their circumstances to officers enforcing the restrictions.
People attending scheduled medical treatment have also been exempted, although Rusoke advised them to carry medical documentation to avoid unnecessary disputes with security personnel.
Medical personnel, he added, include not only doctors but also nurses, radiographers and other health workers on duty. Such workers have been advised to carry valid identification documents.
Other exempted categories include emergency service vehicles, security personnel, private security guards on duty and personal security officers.
Cross-border vehicular traffic will also be allowed to proceed, provided the vehicles remain on their legitimate international routes. Rusoke warned that international buses found deviating into local communities could be stopped.
Personnel travelling abroad and foreign tourists, including tourists travelling to or from destinations such as Bwindi and Murchison Falls, will also be permitted to proceed with their journeys.
Journalists on duty have equally been exempted to enable them to cover the National Cleaning Day activities.
However, Rusoke said the exemption is specifically for journalists engaged in official duties and should not be used as a cover for private activities.
He stressed that all exempted persons should carry valid identification or supporting documents and urged the public to remain civil when interacting with police officers.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid confrontations or altercations with the security personnel deployed to enforce the directive,” Rusoke said, adding that people with concerns should seek guidance from superior officers rather than resorting to physical confrontation.
Seventh Day Adventists, weddings and funerals
On concerns raised over Seventh Day Adventists who observe Saturday as their Sabbath and therefore attend church services on that day, Rusoke said the organizing committee had not yet made a final decision on whether they would be exempted.
He said he would present the concern to the committee and report back on the position.
Rusoke similarly advised people planning weddings and funeral rites on Saturday to consider changing the dates or adjusting the hours of the events to avoid conflict with the cleaning exercise.
The clarification is expected to affect thousands of people whose religious, social and ceremonial activities ordinarily take place on Saturdays.
Boda bodas to remain restricted
Rusoke also ruled out the use of boda bodas to transport people who fall under the exempted categories.
He said motorcycles would still be stopped during the 7am to 10am restriction and could be impounded, even where they are carrying people who qualify for exemption.
He advised exempted persons to make alternative arrangements for transport and ensure they can adequately demonstrate their exemption when stopped by officers.
Police have urged members of the public to plan their journeys in advance and organize their activities around the three-hour restriction.
The second National Cleaning Day will run from 7am to 10am on Saturday, August 29, after which normal movement and activities are expected to resume. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
