URN
Sections of the public in Karamoja have expressed mixed feelings about the enforcement of Covid-19 guidelines which will affect the celebrations Christmas, this year, despite the fact that about 2o of every 100 persons are vaccinated.
Regional Police Spokesperson Michael Longole maintains that Police will be enforcing the Covid-19 guidelines, directives and SOPs to the dot without any compromise.
Police says it is taking a keen interest in churches, bars and the curfew hours as they plan to secure the festive season and ensure the safety of the public, warning that all those who defy will be arrested and charged in accordance with the Covid-19 directives.
A section of the public however feels that the restrictions should be relaxed to allow people celebrate Christmas and New Year happily as most people have missed big celebrations for almost two years.
In Moroto, an opinion leader Mark Loburu who is commonly known as Buruman and is a resident of Kakoliye in South Division says that the police should relax guidelines on Church affairs to allow Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. He feels restricting numbers to just 200 may keep many Christians from celebrating Mass as there are few Churches in Moroto and other areas in Karamoja.
Loburu also says people are going to have another difficult time in terms of socializing as they have been away from each other and would want to use the opportunity of this festive period to socialize and meet each other after a long time.
But another section of the public feels that there is actually no need for the public to be excited as Christmas is just one of the experiences many people have passed through. Michael Minjo urges that over excitement always fetches troubles which he thinks are not necessary.
There is also a section of the public who expressed no reaction at all saying they wouldn’t know what to say. Samuel Ovuru is one such a resident in Moroto.
On Christmas Eve, Longole told URN in an exclusive interview that police would enforce to the dot the Presidents’ directives on Corona. He said only 200 Church goers would be entertained in a Church at a a time and there would be no shortcuts.
On curfew time and bar operations, Longole says police is fully prepared to enforce the regulations as spelt without any compromise.
According to the guidelines, Curfew time starts from 7 pm going up to 5.30 am while churches and mosques are required to contain only 200 believers at a time.
Religious leaders told URN they have programmed at least four services to ensure social distancing and appealed to the Christians to follow the SOPs set by the ministry of health including wearing of masks during a congregation or gatherings.
