Transport ministry releases list of resting places for truck drivers

In a bid to control the spread of COVID-19, the ministry of works and transport has issued a list of designated places where truck drivers are expected to rest as they travel to various destinations.

 

The 12 resting places are spread in different parts of the country where truck drivers moving in and out of the country pass.

 

While announcing a new lockdown on June 18, President Yoweri Museveni said truck drivers were among those exempted from the lockdown and were allowed to transport goods throughout the country because Uganda is a landlocked country.

 

Susan Kataike, the works ministry spokesperson said in a notice yesterday (June 19); “as guided by President Museveni on June 18, below are the seclusion/resting centres for truck drivers. Uganda Police has already been notified for enforcement.”

 

List of designated resting places

 

-Nakalama, Iganga district

 

-Kyetume, Mukono district

 

-Lukaya, Kalungu district

 

-Rwebitete, Kiruhura district

 

-Rwentobo, Ntungamo district

 

-Kyamukonda, Nakasongola district

 

-Nora, Oyam district

 

-Pakwach railway Station, Pakwach district

 

-Oculoi, Soroti district

 

-CAWODISA, Mubende district

 

-Nyakabirizi, Bushenyi district

 

-Elegu, Amuru district

 

COVID-19 situation

 

A total of 49,327 out of the 70,176 COVID-19 confirmed cases have recovered, the health ministry data shows.

 

A total of 626 people have succumbed to the virus ever since it broke out in the country in March last year, with the last 42 deaths recorded as of yesterday (June 19).

 

“Results of COVID-19 tests done on June 17, 2021 confirmed 1,397 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 70,176. There were 42 new deaths and 1,015 active cases in hospitals,” the health ministry noted. A total of 821,659 Ugandans have been vaccinated so far.

 

According to the health ministry, 42 deaths have been reported on June 18. Another 34 deaths were reported on June 17, while 49 deaths were reported on June 16.

 

This comes at a time when Uganda received another batch of 175,200 AstraZeneca vaccine doses on June 16, and it is expecting 688,000 mores doses. According to President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda needs to vaccinate at least 4.8 million people before COVID-19 measures can be relaxed.

 

To start with are frontline workers who include; teachers, security personnel, and health workers. Also, those above 50 years and persons with comorbidities (other underlying illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and HIV) will be given priority.

 

The rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths is due to the emergence of new virus variants from mainly the UK, South Africa, India, and Nigeria.

 

 On June 6, President Museveni issued new measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, and they include; ban on gatherings, closure of schools, churches and mosques, as well as stopping inter-district movements for 42 days, among others. Museveni on June 18 announced a total lockdown of the nation as a way to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.