Uganda begins gradual relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown

Uganda has started easing its COVID-19 lockdown on Tuesday after President Yoweri Museveni declared the virus "tamed", according to reports.

Dubbed one of the strictest lockdowns in Africa, Uganda imposed a 45-day total restriction, including the shuttering of all but absolutely essential businesses, dusk-to-dawn curfews, and bans on both private and public transport vehicles.

As at the time of the report, the country of 42 million reported 97 confirmed cases and no deaths and Museveni said it was now better equipped to trace and detect new infections faster.

“We have somehow tamed the virus,” Museveni said in a televised address late on Monday.

“It is high time we ... start slowly and carefully to open up, but without undoing our achievements.”

During his Monday address, Museveni revealed that warehouses, wholesale shops, garages, insurance firms are now allowed to reopen.

In addition, the president made the wearing of face masks in public as a control measure against COVID-19, stating that Ugandans can wear washable, reusable cloth masks that are manufactured locally.

All other lockdown measures, including the closure of international borders, a ban on public and private transport, a ban on gatherings and a dusk-to-dawn curfew remain in place for another 14 days.

According to the President, all schools in the country will remain shut.

Reuters/BBC