The government of Uganda will provide free face masks to Ugandans aged s years and above to protect citizens against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced this on Monday.
“… These will be distributed through the District Local Council system. Each person will be allocated one mask which must be worn all the time when in public,” Museveni said on his social media accounts.
President Museveni further said the lockdown in the country will be eased once everyone in the country has received a mask. Additionally, he stressed the importance of wearing masks and urged Ugandans to use them whenever they are in public.
“The measures to ease lockdown as addressed today will be activated only when each individual has received a standard mask distributed by the government of Uganda,” he asserted.
While giving an update of the measures the government has taken to combat Covid-19, Museveni said the free face-masks will take two weeks to be ready. The president revealed that the directive to offer free face-masks to Ugandans was issued after people complained of not being able to afford them.
“This mask must be worn all the time when you are in public. Whether you are sneezing, talking or coughing. Since many people raised the issue that they cannot afford these masks, the government has decided to provide these masks to all Ugandans six years and above,” Museveni said.
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Despite the lock-down being eased, Museveni said salons, bars, gyms and swimming pools will not be allowed to open for another 21 days because they cannot observe the social distancing rules.
Additionally, private cars are only allowed to carry a maximum of three passengers, including the driver.
