Masaka: Fred Bamwine Stops LCs from Issuing Travel Permits

Masaka City Resident Commissioner, Fred Bamwine has stopped lower local council leaders from issuing travel permits citing misuse of authority.

Bamwine, who also chairs the COVID-19 Taskforce, has instructed security to confiscate all travel permits issued by village and parish leaders and ask the bearers to return to their homes.

According to Bamwine, many local leaders are issuing travel permits to persons without genuine cause for movement, which he says has lately contributed to congestions of people and vehicles on roads and trading centers. 

He says that the presence of many vehicles on roads is frustrating their efforts to enforce COVID-19 prevention guidelines measures. 

Bamwine has expressed concern about the people’s unwillingness to disclose their status and fully adhere to the home-based care treatment instructions, something that has contributed to high COVID-19 community transmissions in the area. 

Local leaders have cautioned Bamwine against issuing ruthless instructions to security operatives, which may lead to gross violation of people’s rights in the guise of enforcing COVID-19 regulations.

Vincent Agaba, the Nnume Village Secretary dismisses claims of issuing unnecessary travel permits, arguing that they are only issued to persons under unavoidable circumstances.  

He narrates that many of the people they give the permit approach them with visible symptoms or bodies that require burials, arguing that the decision to stop them from issuing the permits will instead increase suffering within the communities.