Aboneka Writes

On Monday 18th May 2020; the President made some further directives on COVID-19 to wit; mandatory use of the facial masks. He continued to say that the masks are those only provided for by the Government (even without showing a sample). These will only be ready in two weeks time. The time for distribution to every Ugandan is unknown just as the food has not reached all the intended 1.5 million Ugandans in 2 months. What shall happen to the distribution of masks to the entire Country? The Stautory Instrument made by the Minister on May 8th makes it mandatory for every one to wear a facial mask while in Public but the same instrument does not define what a mask is or what categories of masks are acceptable! This loophole is susceptible to abuse by the enforcement agencies. By Government making it mandatory for everyone to wear only a Government manufactured mask, is it trying to define what a mask is? Unless the Stautory Instrument is amended to include what amounts to a mask, any piece

Since the official announcement of COVID-19 by the Minister of Health on March 13th 2020, there were a number of measures taken as a means to prevent the spread of the Pandemic. As required by the law (section 10 of the Public Health Act) that the Minister by way of order has to announce an epidemic, the Minister indeed by the way of order, Public The Public Health (Notification of COVID – 19) Order, 2020 declared COVD-19 as a notifiable disease for the purpose of the Public Health Act. Further, the Order brought into application the Public Health Act to wit-Section 11 (Power to make Rules), Part IV (Prevention and Suppression of Infectious Diseases) and section 36 (Power to Enforce Precautions at Boarders) of the Public Health Act and are now applicable to to COVID – 19. This therefore means that the management of COVID-19 is now by way of law(s) exercised by the Minister of Health. The right to free movement, leave and return to ones’ country The right to free movement emanate