Bus and taxi parks in Gulu City have been deserted as transport operators heed to the Presidential directive to ban inter-district movements to control the spread of Covid-19.
On Sunday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni pronounced nationwide lockdown measures which included banning inter-district movements of public transport means and closed education institutions and worship, among others to contain the spread of the virus.
While closures of the public places took effect on Monday, the operations of public transport were extended up to Thursday 10 to enable students to travel to their homes.
On Friday morning, we conducted a spot visit to the terminals that include Buganda Pub Bus Park, Elegu stage, Pader stage, Kitgum stage and Adjumani stage.
Several operators had driven their buses and taxis that ply inter-district routes to private parking yards in observance of the directives.
Patrick Bongomin, the Manager of Makome Bus Company said they have parked all their fleets with exception of cargo trucks.
Bernard Omugo, the Manager of Larem Bus Safaris says they parked all their fleets on Thursday and hoping to resume operations when the President lifts the ban on public transport.
Denis Ocen, a private taxi operator who plies the Gulu-Omoro-Pader route via Awere and Rackoko said he has also parked to abide by the President’s directives, adding that he will wait patiently for an of the 42-days ultimatum.
But several taxis hailing from neighbouring districts like Amuru, Omoro and Nwoya were seen leaving very early in the morning to dodge traffic deployments on the way that may result in heft fines.
David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson observed that the level of compliance to the Presidential directives is encouraging and urged members of the public to observe directives to avoid conflicting with Samuel Odong.
Across the streets of Gulu City, only boda-boda riders and private cars carrying the required number of occupants and taxis plying St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor route remain actively operating following the Standard Operating Procedures.
