CHIMPREPORTS
President Museveni has finally ordered the full reopening of schools, bars and public transport.
Museveni said primary, pre-primary and secondary schools will open on January 10.
Bars, social places, cinemas, concerts and performing arts which have been closed since March 2020, will resume business on January 24.
“The transport sector which has been operating at 50% shall open fully with observation of SOPs such as wearing masks,” said Museveni.
“Proof of full vaccination by travelers will be required. Students above 18 years should be vaccinated before returning to school,” he emphasized.
In his national address this Friday night, Museveni was quick to warn that
This was revealed by Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi in Kanungu District.
“I don’t want to preempt the president’s speech but what I can say is that we will open schools on January 10,” said Baryomunsi.
“Parents should look for school fees to enable kids to return to school,” he added.
Museveni said curfew would be lifted for everybody except boda bodas. This will happen after reopening of schools and social gatherings.
Some of these measures may be reversed if the ICU and HDU cases increase steadily (above 50% occupancy), according to Museveni.
The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions is a huge relief to struggling enterprises and millions of people earning from the entertainment industry, especially the lucrative nightlife.
Museveni’s remarks come amid a public outcry over the protracted closure of private and public schools, leaving the education sector in ruin.
Education
Evidence shows that the children’s numeracy and literacy levels fall with many facing the risk of never attending school again.
ChimpReports understands operators of private schools have lost billions of shillings in revenue while others are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.
Parents are worried about the future of their children.
During the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown in March 2020, over 15 million learners were sent home. Subsequently, Uganda was ranked among the top 20 countries with the highest number of days of full school closures between March 2020 and February 2021.
Data from the UNESCO Global Monitoring of School Closures Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic report (2021) highlights that children in Uganda missed 149 school days during that period.
Unicef said behind the missed school days lay a bigger challenge for the country’s school children with the media awash with reports of child neglect and abuse – physical, sexual, and psychological.
The Situation of, and Impact of COVID 19 on School going Girls and Young Women in Uganda reports that between March 2020 and June 2021, there was a 22.5 per cent increase in pregnancy among girls aged 10-24 seeking first antenatal care from 80,653 to 98,810.
source https://perilofafrica.com/2021/12/museveni-reopens-schools-popular-nightlife.html