Uganda maintains COVID-19 curfew

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni recently addressed the nation for the 16th time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. In a two-hour televised address, he provided updates on the existing measures in place to combat the effects of the virus on the fragile economy. The key takeaways from his speech included the continuation of a partial lockdown, with a curfew in place from 7pm to 6am. Certain sectors of the economy, such as downtown businesses in Kampala, remain closed. The President emphasized the need for thorough preparations before reopening these sectors to prevent a resurgence of the virus. He also highlighted plans to aid businesses affected by the lockdown and announced measures regarding public transportation, education, and the upcoming elections. Amidst these updates, the business community in Kampala, including transport operators and traders, expressed frustration and sought solutions to address their financial challenges. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the government's budgetary planning and the need for supplementary budgets to align with national priorities and revenue projections. The ongoing negotiations between the government, businesses, and other stakeholders underscore the complexity of managing the country's economic recovery amidst the pandemic.