Police have denied granting bonds to more than 2,100 people, who were arrested in bars and other entertainment places at weekend in total contravention of the Ministry of Health guidelines against the spread of coronavirus.
Over the weekend, Uganda police force arrested a total of 2124 people for violating Coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures.
“We arrested 2124 people well as 405 motor vehicles and 2888 motorcycles were impounded. The arrested people will be arraigned in courts of law well as the vehicles and motorcycles will be issued with Express Penalty Scheme fines,”Enanga said.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, over 700 were arrested in Kampala alone for violating the Covid-19 guidelines.
“The biggest number was arrested while in bars during the weekend and also driving vehicles beyond curfew while intoxicated. They are to be arraigned in courts of law today afternoon for allegedly doing a negligent act likely to spread an infection of disease,”Owoyesigyire said.
Earlier this week, Operations Director Edward Ochom had warned members of the public that they would not forgive those who do not comply with the guidelines.
Mr Fred Enanga, the police spokesman, said the only exit for the suspects is through court.
“We have started taking the suspects to court for disobeying lawful orders,” Mr Enanga said yesterday.
Police also impounded 450 cars and 2,000 motorcycles that were being driven past 9pm.
Unlike in the previous operations, the motorcyclists were not arrested but their bikes were impounded and will only be released after they have paid traffic express penalty tickets. Traffic officers fine a boda boda rider between Shs50, 000 and Shs100, 000 for operating during curfew.
Motorcyclists and non-essential drivers are supposed to stop working at 6pm and 9pm, respectively but they say they are delayed by traffic jams.
Following the surge in Covid-19 cases in Uganda, police stepped up their operations against violators of Ministry of Health guidelines.
Uganda has registered 47,147 cumulative cases of Covid-19 and 362 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.