By Davis Mugasha |
The Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) has issued new guidelines for the movement of vehicles during the ongoing lockdown in Uganda.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, while announcing a new lockdown that will last for 42 days on Friday, banned all private and public vehicles on the roads. He said only essential workers will be allowed to move on the roads.
The essential workers include; medics, journalists, utility providers-water, electricity and telecoms, cargo trucks, security (army, police and prisons), manufacturers and government employees.
A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works and Transport over the weekend states that all stickers and/ or permissions that were issued in the first Lockdown (2020) are now invalid and should be removed from allvehicles.
The statement adds that the MOWT has developed an online application where details of all persons and vehicles permitted to move during the ongoing lockdown shall be captured. The entity will apply for a travel permit by sending an email to Ministry of Works and Transport at: clearance@works.go.ug.
“The entity must attach a scanned copy on its headed paper with full address (contacts and full physical address) and submit to: clearance@works.go.ug. The statement adds that the Ministry of Works has the discretion of either approving or rejecting the application. “Applications, issuance and enforcement of permissions shall be managed using the application,” the statement reads in part.
It adds that essential workers in Government MDAs and other workers in the private sector will be issued permission through the online application. “Individuals can verify the status of authenticity of their travel authorizations by scanning the embedded QR Code. Verification of travel verifications can also be done by SMS,” the statement adds.
The permission shall be strictly used for movement of workers from home to office and back within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area. The new guidelines exclude security organs like the army, police and prisons.
The Ministry has also advised all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), private sector and NGOs to reduce staff that will be physical at office to minimum levels of at most 10%. The ministry has encouraged the organisations to allow most of the staff to work from home. “Leaders of essential workers in the Private Sector and NGOs shall compile lists (Application Forms) of persons and vehicles to move within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area and submit them to the Ministry of Works and Transport via the web portal,” the statement adds. “The list (Application Form) shall include the Name, Organization, National ID Number and or Passport Number, Title Designation of the Employee, total Number of Employees, Employees for whom travel clearance is sought, and Registration Number of the vehicle to be used,” it adds.
However, all applications from the Private Sector shall be channeled through the relevant regulators or associations such as Uganda Media Centre for media houses, Uganda Manufacturers Association for manufacturers, industries and factories, Uganda Communications Commission for Telecom companies and couriers to mention but a few.
“Emergencies for any person who wishes to travel outside Kampala for burial and medical reasons shall apply using online to obtain special permission from the Ministry of works and transport,” the statement adds.
Requests from other districts outside Kampala shall be handled by the regional and district taskforces which should set the framework based on LC1 recommendations, district health officers and RDCs.
The diplomatic corps and UN officials intending to travel by vehicle will only use vehicles that are registered under the diplomatic number plates and their movements shall be limited to only Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
“Travel of diplomats beyond the Greater Kampala are not encouraged at this time but in the event of emergency, the concerned diplomatic mission shall notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email to: protocoluganda@gmail.com with a copy to: ps@mofa.go.ug,” the statement reads.
The Ministry has said the application process had been moved online to avoid large queues and physical contact at the Ministry offices.