Armed to the tooth Updf and police officers have today Wednesday June 24 in the ewe morning hours seized Gulu district bus terminals blocking travel routes to Kampala and other neighbouring districts.
Maj Santos Okot Lapolo, the RDC Gulu district together with his Corona virus District Task Force, Updf and police stormed the bus and Taxi parks stopping them from travelling citing out the increasing numbers of covid-19 in the district which have caused a lockdown.
Several passengers had earlier this morning thronged Lamogi Ber Bus Terminal, Gulu Main Bus Park and other commuter Taxi parks to book for passengers service vehicles destined to different districts in the country when all of the sudden security blocked travels.These were left stranded with no travel options.
Adbdul Kawuta, the driver of the Gate Way Bus Reg No.UAY 397D which left Gulu for Mbale district via Soroti reportedly told a local media that he was stopped by traffic police at Layibi Roundabout on the border of Gulu and Omoro who later asked him to reverse to Gulu as there was no movements allowed.
He added that the 28passengers on board were returned to Gulu and refunded their transport fares worth Ugx50,000.
Kawutu blames defying of the lockdown directives on officials who did not inform public transport operators on the new phase of the lockdown imposed in the district.
Bus companies which have been affected by the lockdown includes; Gaaga, Larem, Homeland, Opit, Zawadi,Makome and GatecWay Buses among others.
On Monday, president Museveni while addressing the nation on COVID-19 updates eased lockdown for over 30 districts on borders allowing movements for public and private transports in the areas whereas other Eight districts were left restricted.
However, Maj Santos Okot Lapolo argues that Gulu is among the Eight districts that have been locked down by President Museveni on Monday for being high risk districts to covid-19.
Legislators from the Northern region including Betty AOL Ocean, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Kilak South County MP Hon Gilbert Oulanya condemned the acts of the Updf and police to heavily deploy in the district.
They urged that Gulu has registered few community cases of COVID-19 therefore wondered why it would still be put under total lockdown.
