On 31 March 2021, President Yoweri Museveni ordered nationwide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and all private vehicles were banned from roads.
This required that authorised cars only carry three passengers as some people were using their vehicles to transport others, hence increasing the risk of spreading the virus.
He added that the 14 days would be used to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases.
He also ordered the closure of all shopping malls, arcades, hardware shops, businesses selling non-food items, salons, lodges, bars and garages for those 14 days.
In his directives, the President also ordered all security organs to join hands to carry out the operation on those who abuse his directives and oppose the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
William Lwembuga, 50, a police officer attached to Seeta Nazigo Police Post, Nakisunga Sub-county in Mukono District, during a curfew operation on Valentine’s Day, he was attacked by a mob that was breaching the Covid-19 directives.
Lwembuga was with his boss, the officer in-charge of operation at Mukono Police Division, ASP Michael Wandulu. They were ordering people to close all the shops and arresting boda boda cyclists who were moving past curfew time in Nakosi Village, Nama Sub-county.
This is when an unknown mob teamed up and attacked him with iron bars and hit him on the head, leaving him unconscious.
After attacking him, the mob escaped during the scuffle and no one was arrested. Lwembuga was rushed to Mukono General Hospital for treatment but later transferred to CPR Medical Center.
ASP Ismeal Kifudde, the OC of Mukono, said that it is becoming difficult to enforce lockdown regulations due to the few police and LDU officers.
“People operate their bars secretly at night and even during the day,” he said.
Kifudde added that violation of the Covid-19 directives and failure to adhere to the Ministry of Health safety guidelines of wearing masks, keeping social distance, and regular hand washing, may spark infections among the population again.
The Local Council Chairperson of Nakosi Village, Mr Johnmary Mayumba, blamed the residents over attacking the security personnel and also injuring them as they were carrying out their duties.
He also attacked police officers from Seeta Nazigo for beating people during enforcement of the curfew, which he said was inhumane.
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